Pyrrolo-isoxazole: a key molecule with diverse biological actions.

Several scientists have synthesized molecules with pyrrolo- isoxazole nucleus and evaluated the molecules for different biological activities. The present review discusses these different compounds with pyrrolo-isoxazole containing nucleus for their neuroprotective, anti-stress, acetylcholinesterase and anti-amnestic, antihypertensive and antibacterial activities.

A review on cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the deficits in the cholinergic system and deposition of beta amyloid (Aß) in the form of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. Since the cholinergic system plays an important role in the regulation of learning and memory processes, it has been targetted for the design of anti-Alzheimer's drugs. Cholinesterase inhibitors enhance cholinergic transmission directly by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) which hydrolyses acetylcholine. Furthermore, it has been also demonstrated that both acetylcholinesterase and butrylcholinesterase (BuChE) play an important role in Aß-aggregation during the early stages of senile plaque formation. Therefore, AChE and BuChE inhibition have been documented as critical targets for the effective management of AD by an increase in the availability of acetylcholine in the brain regions and decrease in the Aß deposition. This review discusses the different classes of cholinesterase inhibitors including tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, xanthostigmine, para-aminobenzoic acid, coumarin, flavonoid, and pyrrolo-isoxazole analogues developed for the treatment of AD.

Synthesis and evaluation of substituted 4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl phenyl carbamates as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and anti- amnestic agents.

The study aimed to synthesize and evaluate substituted 4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl phenylcarbamates as potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors and anti-amnestic agents. The compounds were evaluated for AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activity in rat brain homogenate and plasma, respectively. The most potent test compound 4d was evaluated for memory testing in scopolamine-induced amnesia. The phenylcarbamate substituted coumarins (4a-4h) demonstrated more potent AChE inhibitory as compared to parent 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin. The introduction of phenylcarbamate moiety to coumarin template also significantly increased BuChE inhibitory activity, albeit less than AChE inhibitory activity with approximate BuChE/AChE selectivity ratio of 20. The compound 4d displayed the most potent AChE inhibitory activity with IC50 = 13.5 ± 1.7 nM, along with amelioration of amnesia in mice in terms of restoration of time spent in target quadrant and escap latency time. It is concluded that carbamate derivatives of coumarin may be employed as potential AChE inhibitors and anti-amnestic agents.

Mast cells: an expanding pathophysiological role from allergy to other disorders.

The mast cells are multi-effector cells with wide distribution in the different body parts and traditionally their role has been well-defined in the development of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions including bronchial asthma. Due to the availability of genetically modified mast cell-deficient mice, the broadened pathophysiological role of mast cells in diverse diseases has been revealed. Mast cells exert different physiological and pathophysiological roles by secreting their granular contents, including vasoactive amines, cytokines and chemokines, and various proteases, including tryptase and chymase. Furthermore, mast cells also synthesize plasma membrane-derived lipid mediators, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes, to produce diverse biological actions. The present review discusses the pathophysiological role of mast cells in different diseases, including atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, ischemia-reperfusion injury, male infertility, autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis), anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, nociception, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

A review on coumarins as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme inhibition is an important target for the management of Alzheimer disease (AD) and AChE inhibitors are the main stay drugs for its management. Coumarins are the phytochemicals with wide range of biological activities including AChE inhibition. The scientists have attempted to explore the coumarin template for synthesizing novel AChE inhibitors with additional pharmacological activities including decrease in beta-amyloid (Aß) deposition and beta-secretase inhibition that are also important for AD management. Most of the designed schemes have involved incorporation of a catalytic site interacting moiety at 3- and 4-positions of the coumarin ring. The present review describes these differently synthesized coumarin derivatives as AChE inhibitors for management of AD.

Synthesis and evaluation of hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazole-4,6-diones as anti-stress agents.

A series of 2,3-diphenyl-5-(naphthalen-1-yl)-4H-2,3,3a,5,6,6a-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazole-4,6-dione derivatives were synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine N-oxides with N-(α-naphthyl)maleimide. The pyrrolo-isoxazole derivatives were assigned cis- and trans- configurations (3-A and 3-B) with respect to proton C(3)-H on azomethinic carbon on the basis of their (1)H NMR. The reaction proceeds through cis- endo addition rule indicating the predominance of cis isomer. The cis- and trans- isomers of a prototype compound 3ai.e., compound 3a-A and compound 3a-B were evaluated for anti-stress activity in immobilization-induced acute stress. Compound 3a-A (5 and 10 mg/kg) and compound 3a-B (10 mg/kg) attenuated immobilization stress-induced behavioral alterations in Swiss albino mice suggesting that pyrrolo-isoxazole may serve as lead molecule for the development of anti-stress agents.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 4-[(3H,3aH,6aH)-3-phenyl)-4,6-dioxo-2-phenyldihydro-2H-pyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazol-5(3H,6H,6aH)-yl]benzoic acid derivatives as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and anti-amnestic agents.

The present study was designed to synthesize and evaluate pyrrolo-isoxazole benzoic acid derivatives as potential acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors for the management of Alzheimer's disease. The synthesis of pyrrolo-isoxazole benzoic acid derivatives involved ring opening cyclization of p-aminobenzoic acid with maleic anhydride to yield maleanilic acid, which in turn afforded N-arylmaleimide via ring closed cyclization. Azomethine-N-oxides were obtained by condensation of N-arylhydroxylamine with differently substituted benzaldehydes followed by refluxing of N-arylmaleimide with differently substituted azomethine-N-oxides to pyrrolo-isoxazole benzoic acid derivatives as cis- and trans-stereoisomers. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for AChE inhibitory activity in rat brain homogenate with donepezil as standard AChE inhibitor. Thereafter, the most potent test compound was evaluated for in vitro butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and in vivo memory evaluation in scopolamine (0.4mg/kg)-induced amnesia in mice by employing Morris water maze test. All pyrrolo-isoxazole benzoic acid derivatives demonstrated potent AChE inhibitory activity. Most of compounds exhibited similar activity to donepezil and four of them (7h, 7i, 8i, and 8h, IC(50)=19.1±1.9-17.5±1.5nM) displayed higher inhibitory activity as compared to donepezil (21.5±3.2nM) with compound 8ia (IC(50)=17.5±1.5nM) being the most active one. The test compound 8ia also ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice in terms of restoration of time spent in target quadrant (TSTQ) and escape latency time (ELT). It may be concluded that pyrrolo-isoxazole benzoic acid derivatives may be employed as potential AChE inhibitors.

A review on animal models for screening potential anti-stress agents.

Stress is a state of threatened homeostasis that produces different physiological as well as pathological changes depending on severity, type and duration of stress. The animal models are pivotal for understanding the pathophysiology of stress-induced behavioral alterations and development of effective therapy for its optimal management. A battery of models has been developed to simulate the clinical pain conditions with diverse etiology. An ideal animal model should be able to reproduce each of the aspects of stress response and should be able to mimic the natural progression of the disease. The present review describes the different types of acute and chronic stress models including immersion in cold water with no escape, cold environment isolation, immobilization/restraint-induced stress, cold-water restraint stress, electric foot shock-induced stress, forced swimming-induced stress, food-deprived activity stress, neonatal isolation-induced stress, predatory stress, day-night light change-induced stress, noise-induced stress, model of post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic unpredictable stress models.

Adaptogenic potential of curcumin in experimental chronic stress and chronic unpredictable stress-induced memory deficits and alterations in functional homeostasis.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of curcumin in chronic stress and chronic unpredictable stress-induced memory deficits and alteration of functional homeostasis in mice. Chronic stress was induced by immobilizing the animal for 2 h daily for 10 days, whereas chronic unpredictable stress was induced by employing a battery of stressors of variable magnitude and time for 10 days. Curcumin was administered to drug-treated mice prior to induction of stress. Body weight, adrenal gland weight, ulcer index and biochemical levels of glucose, creatine kinase, cholesterol, corticosterone, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated to assess stress-induced functional changes. Memory deficits were evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) model. Chronic stress and chronic unpredictable stress significantly increased the levels of corticosterone, glucose and creatine kinase and decreased cholesterol levels. Moreover, chronic stress and chronic unpredictable stress resulted in severe memory deficits along with adrenal hypertrophy, weight loss and gastric ulceration. Chronic stress and chronic unpredictable stress also increased oxidative stress assessed in terms of increase in TBARS and decrease in GSH levels. Pretreatment with curcumin (25 and 50 mg/kg p.o.) attenuated chronic stress and chronic unpredictable stress-associated memory deficits, biochemical alterations, pathological outcomes and oxidative stress. It may be concluded that curcumin-mediated antioxidant actions and decrease in corticosterone secretion are responsible for its adaptogenic and memory restorative actions in chronic and chronic unpredictable stress.