Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of dihydroquercetin esters

Abstract Flavonoids display various beneficial biological properties, such as antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity, which make them useful ingredients in foods, pharmaceuticals, and functional cosmetics. In particular, dihydroquercetin (DHQ) is found in various forms, and its derivatives exhibit interesting biological properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of acetylated and butyrylated dihydroquercetin derivatives and their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The DHQ derivatives were identified using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies and high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The chemical stabilities of the acetylated dihydroquercetin derivatives were found to depend on the number of acetate groups, with 3,3',4',4,7-pentaacetyldihydroquercetin found to be the most stable acetylated dihydroquercetin. Furthermore, 7,3',4'-triacetyl- dihydroquercetin exhibited potent antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 56.67 ± 4.79 µg/mL in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay, with DHQ exhibiting a value of 32.41 ± 3.35 µg/mL. The reactive-oxygen-species-scavenging activity of 7,3',4'-triacetyldihydroquercetin was highest among the esters in the ferric reducing ability of plasma assay, but lower than that of DHQ. Overall, both DHQ and 7,3',4'-triacetyldihydroquercetin exhibited antimicrobial behavior against S. aureus and P. acnes using the paper disc assay. DHQ displayed a higher antimicrobial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 625 µg/mL (P. acnes), 2,500 µg/mL (S. aureus), and 5,000 µg/mL (E. coli). DHQ and acetylated dihydroquercetins are potentially useful as complex antioxidant and antimicrobial materials

Desenvolvimento de inibidores duais de histona desacetilase 6 (HDAC6) e tirosina quinase (TQ) com vistas ao tratamento do câncer / Design of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) and tyrosine kinase (TK) dual inhibitors for cancer treatment

Câncer é a denominação atribuída a um conjunto de doenças que são responsáveis pela segunda maior causa de morte no Brasil e no mundo. A quimioterapia figura entre uma das estratégias utilizadas para o tratamento e cura do câncer, sendo amplamente empregada em estratégias terapêuticas isoladas, ou em associação à radioterapia e cirurgia. A enzima histona desacetilase 6 (HDAC6) é responsável por desacetilar a cadeia lateral de N-acetillisinas em -tubulinas, desempanhando papel crítico na dinâmica do citoesqueleto celular, estando superexpressa em uma série de neoplasias. Neste sentido, na última década os receptores tirosina quinase (TQ) foram os principais alvos de fármacos aprovados para o tratamento do câncer e de doenças autoimunes e continuam atraindo a atenção de grupos de pesquisa dada a exorbitante diversidade do quinoma humano. É sabido que a monoterapia seja com inibidores de HDAC, seja com inibidores TQ, apresenta problemas de toxicidade, reações adversas, ineficácia, resistência e/ou recidiva. Diversos estudos relatam o desenvolvimento de inibidores duais de HDAC-TQ, almejando tanto a simplificação do tratamento, quanto sinergismo terapêutico e redução de efeitos adversos. Assim, o presente trabalho apresenta o planejamento, síntese e avaliação da citotoxicidade de inibidores duais, potencialmente seletivos para HDAC6 e receptores TQ. No total, 23 compostos foram sintetizados entre 2 a 4 etapas. Todos os compostos finais foram caracterizados por RMN (1H e 13C) e espectrometria de massas de alta resolução (HRMS). A citotoxicidade foi determinada pelo ensaio de MTT, em linhagens derivadas de tumores sólidos (HCT116 e MCF-7) e hematológicos (Jurkat e Namalwa). Os compostos apresentaram citotoxicidade em concentrações micro e nanomolares em todas as linhagens testadas, sendo que a linhagem MCF-7 foi a mais resistente à ação dos compostos, e as linhagens hematológicas foram as mais sensíveis. Os inibidores 4d-f foram os mais ativos na triagem por MTT, com IC50 iguais a 20, 30 e 50 nM, respectivamente, em células Jurkat. Estudos mecanísticos do efeito citotóxico indicaram que os compostos 4d-f exercem atividade de forma tempo-dependente, e majoritariamente por ação antiproliferativa, embora estímulos apoptóticos também tenham sido observados nos estudos. Simulações de ancoramento molecular (docking) e de relação entre as estruturas químicas dos compostos e suas respectivas atividades biológicas (REA) permitiram identificar padrões moleculares, propriedades físico-químicas e eletrônicas que potencialmente possuem relação com a atividade biológica dos compostos, permitindo futuras otimizações do arcabouço molecular desta série de compostos. Tomados em conjunto, os resultados deste trabalho revelam o potencial terapêutico de inibidores duais de HDAC6-TQ. Notadamente, os compostos apresentados aqui podem ser os primeiros potenciais inibidores duais de HDAC6-TQ a serem reportados na literatura

Cancer is the name of a series of diseases that are the second main cause of death in Brazil and worldwide. Chemotherapy is one of the main strategies to treat and cure cancer, and has been widely applied as a single therapeutic agent, and in association with radiotherapy and surgery. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) deacetylates N-acetyllysine side chains of tubulin, playing crucial role on cytoskeletal dynamics, and could be overexpressed in several cancers. Tyrosine kinase receptors (TK) have been the main targets of FDA-approved drugs through the last decade for both cancer and autoimmune diseases, and have been attracting special attention of research groups due to the exorbitant diversity of the human kinome. It is known that either HDAC or TK single therapy have toxicity issues, adverse effects, inefficacy, resistance and/or recidive. Therefore, many studies report the design of HDAC-TK dual inhibitors aiming simpler treatments, synergism of action and side effects reduction. Herein, the design, synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of dual and selective HDAC6-TK inhibitors are presented. A total of 23 compounds were designed and synthesized through 2 to 4 steps. All final compounds were characterized by 1H/13C NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The cytotoxicity of compounds was determined by MTT assay for both solid (HCT116 and MCF-7 cells) and hematological cancers (Jurkat and Namalwa cells). Compounds exhibited micro and nanomolar ranges of cytotoxicity for all cell lines tested. MCF-7 cells were the most resistant against the treatment, and hematological cells were more susceptible to the cytotoxic effect of the compounds. Compounds 4d-f were the most actives in the MTT screening against Jurkat cells (IC50 = 20, 30 and 50 nM, respectively). Mechanistic studies regarding the cytotoxic effects of 4d-f indicated that the compounds induced cell death in a time-dependent manner mainly via cytostatic activity even though apoptotic stimuli were observed also. Molecular docking and structure-activity relationships (SARs) allowed the identification of molecular patterns, and physicochemical and electronic properties that potentially modulate the biological activity of these compounds, allowing further optimizations of the molecular scaffold for these series of compounds. Taken together, the results of this study reveal the therapeutic potential of HDAC6-TK dual inhibitors. Noteworthy, the compounds reported herein could be the first HDAC6-TK dual inhibitors ever reported in literature

Planejamento, síntese, modelagem molecular e avaliação biológica de novos potenciais inibidores duais HDAC/ MMP não-hidroxamatos / Design, synthesis, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of novel potential non-hydroxamate dual HDAC/ MMP inhibitors

A inibição de alvos específicos como metaloproteinase de matriz (MMP) e histona desacetilase (HDAC) é amplamente estudada para impedir o progresso do câncer. Foi estabelecido que a inibição concomitante de MMP e HDAC é eficaz no combate de tumores sólidos e hematológicos. Ambos os alvos possuem um íon Zn2+ em seu sítio ativo, fundamental para a atividade destas enzimas. A alta afinidade dos inibidores conhecidos de MMP e de HDAC é conferida, principalmente, por um potente grupo ligante de zinco (ZBG). O ácido hidroxâmico é o ZBG mais potente conhecido atualmente, entretanto, este apresenta instabilidade farmacocinética, levando a ineficácia e genotoxicidade em testes clínicos. Frente a este contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo o planejamento, síntese, modelagem molecular e avaliação biológica de novos inibidores duais MMP/HDAC não-hidroxamatos. Os compostos foram planejados utilizando estratégias de hibridação molecular, a partir de arcabouços provenientes inibidores de HDAC e MMP, gerando compostos arilsulfonamídicos com variações no tipo de ZBG inserido e na sua respectiva posição relativa na estrutura geral. Foram sintetizados sete análogos, em duas a três etapas reacionais, utilizando métodos de sulfonilação e acoplamento com agentes condensantes, partindo dos ésteres para e meta aminobenzoicos. Os rendimentos globais variaram de 25% a 55% e os produtos obtidos foram caracterizados por RMN 1H e 13C, LC/MS, CLAE e ponto de fusão. Os compostos tiveram sua atividade citotóxica avaliada em células HOG (oligodendroma) e T98G (glioblastoma), dentre os quais o 6a, que possui o ZBG 2-amino anilida, foi o mais promissor, apresentando atividade nas duas linhagens na casa de nM. Ensaios de coordenação com Fe2+ comprovaram a capacidade quelante dos análogos contendo ácido hidroxâmico e dos demais compostos citotóxicos, 4a e 4b (ZBG-2, salicilal-hidrazona), o que não foi observado para o composto 6a. Os estudos de ancoramento molecular permitiram sugerir um modo de interação para todos os ZBG propostos frente aos respectivos alvos (HDAC e MMP), sendo observado que o ZBG 4 (2-amino anilida) faria a interação de modo monodentado com a HDAC, enquanto não seria possível o encaixe no sítio catalítico da MMP. Conclui-se, portanto, que o planejamento proposto permitiu a obtenção de compostos promissores como antitumorais, e que a substituição do ácido hidroxâmico por outros ZBG fornece moléculas ativas frente a células tumorais. Entretanto, a avaliação biológica frente à MMP e HDAC é necessária para confirmar o mecanismo de ação proposto

Inhibition of specific targets such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) is extensively studied regarding arrest cancer growth. Particularly, concomitant inhibition of MMP and HDAC is effective against solid and hematologic tumors. Both targets have an ion Zn2+ at their catalytic site, which is essential for respective enzymatic activity. High affinity of known MMP and HDAC inhibitors is mainly provided by a potent zinc binding group (ZBG). Hydroxamic acid is the most potent ZBG currently known; however, it presents low pharmacokinetics stability, which results in its ineffectiveness and genotoxicity along clinical trial. So, the aim of this work comprised the design, synthesis, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of novel potential non-hydroxamate dual HDAC/ MMP inhibitors. Compounds were designed by molecular hybridation, employing scaffolds from HDAC and MMP inhibitors, which provided arylsulfonamides with variation about the ZBG type and its respective relative position in the general structure. Seven compounds were synthesized, in two to three reaction steps, through methods that comprise sulfonilation and coupling with condensing agents, using para and meta-aminobenzoic esters as starting material. Compounds showed global yields around 25-55 % and were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, LC/MS, HPLC and melting point. Compounds were evaluated about their cytotoxicity against HOG (oligodendroma) and T98G (glioblastoma) cells, which 6a, with ZBG 2-aminobenzamide, was the most promising molecules, presenting activity against both cell lines at nM range. Coordination assays with Fe2+ proved the chelating capacity of hydroxamate analogues as well as the cytotoxic compounds, 4a and 4b (ZBG-2, salicylal-hydrazone), which was not observed about 6a. Molecular docking allowed to suggest an interaction model for all proposed ZBG with the respective targets (MMP and HDAC), showing that (ZBG-4) 2-aminobenzamide interacts with HDAC by monodentate way, but does not docks at MMP catalytic site. We conclude that the proposed design allowed obtaining promising compounds as antitumors agents, and the replacement of hydroxamic acid by other ZBG provide active molecules against tumor cells. However, biological evaluation against MMP and HDAC is necessary to confirm the proposed action mechanism

Compostos carbonílicos α, ß-insaturados e hidrazonas sintéticas como antiparasitários / α, ß-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds and Synthetic hydrazones as antiparasitics

Apesar da grande relevância médica e social, e por serem responsáveis por grande parte das mortes em países subdesenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento as doenças negligenciadas (DN), ainda, não apresentam terapêutica eficaz. Dentre as diversas DN, doenças como a doença de Chagas, a Leishmaniose visceral e a malária, se destacam no cenário nacional, por terem alta incidência e prejuízos sociais. Os fármacos disponíveis para o tratamento destas parasitoses, apresentam alta toxicidade e, em alguns casos, resistência por parte dos parasitas. Assim sendo, faz-se necessário o planejamento e desenvolvimento de novos agentes quimioterápicos mais seguros e eficazes. Dentre as diferentes estratégias de planejamento de fármacos, selecionamos o planejamento de fármacos baseado na estrutura do ligante - LBDD (Ligand-Based Drug Design) - como base para desenvolvimento deste trabalho. Nesta estratégia, utiliza-se o conhecimento de moléculas (ligantes) e de suas atividades biológicas conhecidas previamente determinadas experimentalmente, como protótipos para a busca de novas entidades químicas com atividade biológica semelhante ou melhorada. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo a síntese e avaliação biológica de moléculas bioativas para o tratamento de doenças parasitárias. Baseando-se no conhecimento prévio da atividade antiparasitária de compostos carbonílicos α,ß-insaturados e hidrazonas, foram sintetizados séries de compostos destas classes químicas na busca de novos agentes quimioterápicos. Os compostos obtidos foram avaliados contra a forma epimastigota de Trypanosoma cruzi, promastigota de Leishmania donovani, amastigota de Leishmania infantum e, também, determinou-se o seu grau de citotoxicidade (CC50) frente a células de macrófago humanos diferenciado (THP-1). As 31 moléculas obtidas foram caracterizadas por técnicas de ponto de fusão, RMN 1H e RMN 13C e avaliada sua pureza por HPLC. Os compostos da classe da cinamoil-hidrazonas apresentaram-se como promissores antiparasitários, mostrando atividade frente a forma promastigota (Leishmania donovani), 4 dos 12 compostos foram ativos (IC50= 1,27 - 13,68 µM) e frente a forma amastigota (Leishmania infantum), 10 dos 12 compostos apresentaram atividade (9,09 - 63,5 µM). Mesmo apresentando citotoxicidade moderada (CC50 = 8,83 - 87,47 µM), os compostos obtiveram valores inferiores ao fármaco de referência (doxorubicina: CC50 = 0,26 µM). Diante do exposto, o planejamento de fármacos realizado por LBDD mostrou-se bem-sucedido, pois a classe de cinamoil-hidrazonas mostrou-se promissora como antiparasitários, visto sua atividade na escala de baixo micromolar e moderada citotoxicidade em células humanas. Esses resultados assinalam que a classe de compostos descrita está passível a continuar sendo investigada no intuito de aprimorar os protótipos obtidos na busca de novos agentes quimioterápicos antiparasitários e desvendar os mecanismos de ação leishmanicida

Despite to the great medical and social relevance and the amount of deaths in underdeveloped and developing countries, neglected diseases (ND) still do not have an effective therapy. Among the various ND, illnesses such as Chagas disease, visceral leishmaniasis and malaria holds a great importance in the Brazilian scenario due to high incidence and social damage. The drugs available for the treatment of these parasitosis present high toxicity and, in some cases, resistance by the pathogens. Thus, the planning and development of new, safer and more effective chemotherapeutic substances are urgent needed. Among the different drug planning strategies, we selected ligand-based drug design (LBDD) as the basis for the development of this work. In this strategy, we use the knowledge of molecules (ligands) and their known biological activities previously determined experimentally, as prototypes to search for new chemical entities with similar or improved biological activity. Therefore, the present work aimed the synthesis and biological evaluation of bioactive molecules for the treatment of parasitic diseases. Based on previous knowledge of the antiparasitic activity of α,ß-unsaturated and hydrazone carbonyl compounds, series of compounds of these chemical classes were synthesized in search of new chemotherapeutic agents. The compounds obtained were evaluated against the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani promastigote, Leishmania infantum amastigote and their cytotoxicity (CC50) against differentiated human macrophages (THP-1). The 31 molecules obtained were characterized by melting point, 1 H NMR and 13C NMR techniques and their purity were characterized by HPLC. The cinnamoyl hydrazone class compounds showed promising antiparasitic activity, showing activity against promastigote form (L. donovani), 4 of 12 compounds were active (IC50 = 1.27 - 13.68 µM) and amastigote form (L. infantum), 10 of the 12 compounds showed activity (9.09 - 63.5 µM). Even presenting moderate cytotoxicity (CC50 = 8.83 - 87.47 µM), the compounds had values below the reference drug (doxorubicin: CC50 = 0.26 µM). Considering the results, LBDD drug planning proved to be successful and the class of cinnamoyl hydrazones were promising as antiparasitics due to its activity in low micromolar scale and moderate cytotoxicity in human cells. These results indicate that the described class of compounds can be further investigated in order to improve the prototypes obtained in the search for new antiparasitic chemotherapeutic agents and to unravel the mechanisms of action of leishmanicidal molecules

7-epi-griffonilide, a new lactone from Bauhinia pentandra: complete 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments

ABSTRACT A new lactone, 7-epi-griffonilide (1), and six known compounds, 2, 3a - 3c, 4a and 4b, were isolated from the leaves of Bauhinia pentandra (Fabaceae). The structures elucidation of 1 and 2 were based on detailed 2D NMR techniques and spectral comparison with related compounds, leading to complete assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra.

Use of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy for studying metabolic diseases

Owing to the worldwide obesity epidemic and the sedentary lifestyle in industrialized countries, the number of people with metabolic diseases is explosively increasing. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which is fundamentally similar to magnetic resonance imaging, can detect metabolic changes in vivo noninvasively. With its noninvasive nature, 1H, 13C and 31P MRS are being actively utilized in clinical and biomedical metabolic studies to detect lipids and important metabolites without ionizing radiation. 1H MRS can quantify lipid content in liver and muscle and can detect other metabolites, such as 2-hydroxyglutarate, in vivo. Of interest, many studies have indicated that hepatic and intramyocellular lipid content is inversely correlated with insulin sensitivity in humans. Thus, lipid content can be utilized as an in vivo biomarker for detecting early insulin resistance. Employing 13C MRS, hepatic glycogen synthesis and breakdown can be directly detected, whereas 31P MRS provides in vivo adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis rates by saturation transfer methods in addition to ATP content. These in vivo data can be very difficult to assess by other methods and offer a critical piece of metabolic information. To aid the reader in understanding these new methods, fundamentals of MRS are described in this review in addition to promising future applications of MRS and its limitations.

Synthesis, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties of two organoselenium compounds

The aim of this study is synthesis of two different series of organoselenium compounds and available in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of these synthetic compounds. The synthetic compounds were identified by [1]HNMR [300 MHz], [13]C-NMR [75.5 MHz], FT-IR spectroscopic techniques and micro analysis. Antioxidant properties of two synthetic organoselenium compounds were determined by 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical method, reducing power assay and beta-carotene bleaching method as in vitro. Antimicrobial effects of samples were assessed by the agar dilution procedure and using gram positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeast strains. Although 1, 3-di-p-methoxybenzylpyrimidine- 2-selenone showed better antiradical activity in DPPH test and higher protective activity on beta- carotene, 1-isopropyl-3-methylbenzimidazole-2-selenone was found to be better in reducing power and antimicrobial activity