Mini review on blood-brain barrier penetration of pyridinium aldoximes.

This paper reviews the blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration of newly developed pyridinium aldoximes. Pyridinium aldoximes are highly charged hydrophilic compounds used in the treatment of subjects exposed to organophosphonates because they are effective as acetylcholinesterase reactivators. Pyridinium aldoximes have antidotal effects against poisoning with cholinesterase inhibitors, a frequent problem affecting people working with organophosphate-based insecticides and pesticides. Toxic organophosphonate products such as sarin and tabun can be used by terrorists as chemical warfare agents. This poses a severe challenge to all innocent and peace-loving people worldwide. This review gives a brief summary of BBB transporters and description of the current in vitro and in vivo methods for the characterization of BBB penetration of established and novel pyridinium aldoximes. The authors provide a putative mechanism of penetration, outline some future ways of formulation and discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of increasing BBB penetration.

Synthesis and glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor activity of functionalized 1,4-benzodioxanes.

A series of novel 1,4-benzodioxanes 11a-e and rac-12a-d carrying thiazolidine-2,4-dione moiety was synthesized and their glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor activity was also evaluated.

New insight into the biosynthesis of flavanolignans in the white-flowered variant of Silybum marianum.

It has been demonstrated that besides the known flavanolignan constituents of the white-flowered variant of Silybum marianum, (-)-silandrin A (3a) and (-)-isosilandrin A (4a); their trans-benzodioxane diastereomers, (-)-silandrin B (3b) and (-)-isosilandrin B (4b), are also produced by the plant. Moreover, the isolation of their cis-benzodioxane diastereomers, (-)-isocisilandrin (5) and cisilandrin (6), confirm that the previously proposed biosynthetic pathway involving a nonselective O-beta coupling is correct.

Structure prerequisite for antioxidant activity of silybin in different biochemical systems in vitro.

Structural analogues (flavanone: 2-4 and flavone: 5 and 6, respectively) of silybin (1a) were synthesized and tested for inhibitory activity on O(2)(-) release and PKC translocation in PMA-stimulated neutrophils as well as xanthine oxidase activity in order to identify the molecular structures responsible for the antioxidant property of silybin. Concerning the prevention of hem-mediated oxidative modification of LDL by silybin, the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of its structural analogues was also determined. We demonstrated that the basic skeleton of 1a (4) is responsible for its inhibitory activity on O(2)(-) release in PMA-stimulated neutrophils via inhibition of PKC translocation, since introduction of a double bound and hydroxyl groups at C-5 and C-7 position (5 and 6) did not result in further increase in inhibition of O(2)(-) release. It has been shown that the presence of the phenolic hydroxyl group at C-5 and C-7 of 1a is essential for the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. Moreover, introduction of a double bond into the C-ring of 2 and 3, resulting in flavone derivatives (5 and 6), markedly enhanced the antioxidant effect in all the tested systems. Finally, silybin (1a) and its flavon derivatives (5 and 6) directly scavenged hydroxyl radicals as well. On the basis of these results it might be concluded that different moiety of silybin is responsible for inhibition of overproduction of O(2)(-) in stimulated neutrophils, xanthine oxidase activity, and for prevention of hem-mediated oxidative modification of LDL.

In vitro search for synergy between flavonoids and epirubicin on multidrug-resistant cancer cells.

The drug accumulation of a human multidrug resistance 1 (mdr1) gene-transfected mouse lymphoma cell line and a multidrug resistance protein (MRP)-expressing human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was compared in the presence of sixteen flavonoids and five isoflavonoids. The expression of the 170-kDa P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (MDR1) and 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein (MRP) in both cell lines was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. The rhodamine 123 accumulation of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-expressing cells increased up to 46.4, while 2,7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxy-fluorescein acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF-AM) accumulation of the MRP-expressing cells increased up to 1.6, in fluorescence activity ratio (FAR). Major P-gp-mediated efflux pump modifiers are formononetin, amorphigenin, rotenone and chrysin, while MRP-mediated efflux pump modifiers are formononetin, afrormosin, robinin, kaempferol and epigallocatechin. In antiproliferative assay, afrormosin, amorphigenin, chrysin and rotenone exhibited the strongest antiproliferative effects in L5178 (max. ID50: 19.70) and MDA-MB-231 cell lines (max. ID50: 55.47). In a checkerboard microplate method in vitro, furthermore, the most effective multidrug resistance (MDR) resistance modifiers, amorphigenin, formononetin, rotenone and chrysin, were assayed for their antiproliferative effects in combination with epirubicin. Rotenone and afrormosin showed additive effects. Chrysin and amorphigenin on the mouse lymphoma cell line and formononetin on the MDA-MB-231 cell line synergistically enhanced the effect of epirubicin.

Effect of silybin on phorbol myristate actetate-induced protein kinase C translocation, NADPH oxidase activity and apoptosis in human neutrophils.

Mechanism of the action of silybin (1) and its derivatives (2-4), possessing different lipid solubility in PMA-stimulated neutrophils was evaluated. Silybin (1) inhibited the calcium, phosphatidylserine- and diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase C translocation and the NADPH oxidase activity in PMA-stimulated neutrophils and resulted in decreased apoptosis. Furthermore, silybin (1) inhibited xanthine oxidase activity and hem-mediated oxidative degradation of low-density lipoprotein, as well. Its derivatives (2-4), possessing different lipid-solubility, affected all the studied parameters. The lipid solubility of silybin (1) was enhanced by methylation (5'7'4''trimethylsilybin: 2), whereas a decrease in lipid-solubility by acetylation of compound 2 (5',7,'4"-trimethylsilybin-acetate: 3) or all the hydroxyl groups of silybin (peracetyl-silybin: 4) attenuated the antioxidant capacity by decreasing the inhibition in PKC translocation and NADPH oxidase activation. All the derivatives of silybin (2-4) showed no inhibition in cell free systems; e.g. did not alter the xanthine oxidase activity and the hem-mediated oxidative degradation of LDL. In conclusion, the antioxidant activity of (1) might be due to its ability to inhibit PKC translocation and NADPH oxidase activation in PMA-stimulated neutrophils. The increase of lipid solubility of silybin (1) supports its penetration through cell membrane and enhances its inhibitory effects. This structural modification of (1) might have pharmacological consequences.

Inhibition of the superoxide anion release and hydrogen peroxide formation in PMNLs by flavonolignans.

The mixture of flavonolignans [Legalon: silybin (2a), isosilybin (3), silydianin (4) and silychristin (5)] and derivatives of silybin (2b-d) were assessed for their inhibitory activity on the oxidative burst of PMA-stimulated human PMNLs. The inhibitory effect of flavonolignans on O(2)(-) release were compared with that of vitamin E (1). The flavonolignans tested exhibited the following order in inhibition of O(2)(-) release by PMA-stimulated PMNLs: 5,7,4"- trimethylsilybin (2c) approximately vitamin E (1) > Legalon >or= peracetylsilybin (2b) > silybin (2a) > peracetyl-5,7,4"-trimethylsilybin (2d). The flavonolignans inhibited not only the O(2)(-) release, but also the H(2)O(2) formation in PMA-stimulated PMNLs. The inhibitory capacity of flavonolignans on H(2)O(2) formation was similar to their inhibitory capacity on O(2)(-) release. These data suggest that the flavonolignans have antioxidant properties on the PMNL oxidative burst. The fact that the trimethyl derivative of silybin (2c) has a greater inhibitory effect than silybin itself suggests that the efficacy of the antioxidant properties is dependent on the lipophilicity of the molecules. This is underlined by the fact that peracetylation of all of the hydroxyl groups in silybin resulted in a total loss of the antioxidant activity of the molecule. In summary, flavonolignans inhibit the oxidative burst of PMNLs, and this inhibitory effect depends on the chemical structure of the flavonolignans.

Chiroptical properties of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan and chromane chromophores in naturally occurring O-heterocycles.

The correlation between the helicity (absolute conformation) of the O-heterocyclic ring of chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan (1) and chromane (2) derivatives and their (1)L(b) band CD was investigated. The same helicity rule was found for both unsubstituted chromophores: P/M helicity of the heterocyclic ring leads to a negative/positive CD within the (1)L(b) band. While the substitution of the fused benzene ring by achiral substituents does not change this helicity rule for the chromane chromophore, it leads to its inversion for the 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan chromophores. On the basis of these observations, the published absolute configurations of natural flavonol and pterocarpan derivatives were confirmed and the configurational assignments of several natural neolignans revised.

Synthesis and biological activity of the structural analogues of (-)-cabenegrin A-I.

A series of phenylbutene and butanol derivatives (6a-j, 12, 13, 15, 17, 24b,c, 26, 27a,b) were prepared from the readily available resorcinol derivatives 2a-f and 7-hydroxy-chroman (18). The products were tested for inhibitory activity on the LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in the plasma in comparison with that of cabenegrin A-I (1a).

Antioxidant properties of 8.0.4'-neolignans.

A series of naturally occurring 8.0.4'-neolignans (1a-d, 1g, 2g, 2h) and their analogues (le-f, lh, 1i, 2a-f, 2i) have been synthesized in racemic form starting from commercially available phenols, such as eugenol, isoeugenol and 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol and from aromatic aldehydes, such as piperonal, veratraldehyde and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde. The inhibitory activity of these compounds on superoxide anion (O2.-) release by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) was tested and the structure-activity relationship was also studied.

Mass spectrometric studies of the pterocarpan skeleton.

The mass spectrometric characteristics of the pterocarpan skeleton have been studied with the aid of metastable decomposition (CAD-MIKES), high resolution mass measurements and specific deuterium labeling. New structural rotations have been postulated for the [M - H](+) ions which can explain the fragmentation routes for the pterocarpan skeleton.

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of flavanoid derivatives containing a 1,4-benzodioxane moiety.

Flavanoids bearing a 1,4-benzodioxane moiety [rac-15a, -16a, -17, -18, (-)-15a, (-)-16a] were prepared from protocatechualdehyde (5) and tested for inhibitory activity on the superoxide anion (O2.-) release by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs).

Simple synthesis of benzofuranoid neolignans from Myristica fragrans.

The total synthesis of four neolignans-fragnasols A (1), B (2), and C (3) and dehydrodiisoeugenol (4)-starting from the readily available phenol derivative isoeugenol (5) was accomplished. The key step of the synthesis of these natural products is a novel type of dimerization of 5 into 4 with iodobenzene diacetate.

Determination of the absolute configuration of synthetic pterocarpans by chiral HPLC using on-line CD detection.

Resolution of synthetic racemic pterocarpans was achieved by CD monitored HPLC using a chiral stationary phase. No sign of exciton coupling was seen in the CD spectra of the pterocarpan enantiomers. The predominance of the chromane chromophore was indicated by the high intensity of the (1) L(b) band. The chirality of both the chromane and dihydrobenzo[b]furane chromophores was found to be governed by the second chiral sphere. An oxygen atom in pseudoaxial position at the benzylic atom of the chroman ring system gave rise to an increased third-sphere contribution and the positive sign of the (1) L(b) and negative sign of the (1) L(a) band. This resulted in a general positive-negative-negative sign pattern of the (1) L(b), (1) L(a) and (1) B(b) bands of the second-eluted enantiomer of P helicity suggesting homochirality and the same absolute configuration of the chiral centers.

Biotransformation of the fungal toxin fomannoxin by conifer cell cultures.

Fomannoxin [(+/-)-5-Formyl-2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurane] is a phytotoxic secondary metabolite, which is produced by the forest pathogenic basidiomycete Heterobasidion annosum during the infection process. Fomannoxin shows growth-inhibiting effects on callus and suspension cultures of conifer cells. By investigating the interaction of the phytotoxin with Pinus sylvestris cells a detoxification of fomannoxin was detected, presumably as a defense reaction of the plant cells. Undifferentiated green cell lines of Pinus sylvestris were used as target cells. To provide rac-fomannoxin as a substrate a simple method for the chemical synthesis was developed. It was found that the aromatic aldehyde group is reduced by the plant cells producing the non-toxic fomannoxin alcohol which was isolated and identified by spectroscopy. After longer incubation times, also fomannoxin acid-beta-glucoside could be isolated as another detoxification metabolite. For comparison this glucoside was also synthesized.

Dihydroisocoumarins from fungi: isolation, structure elucidation, circular dichroism and biological activity.

Five known and three new dihydroisocoumarins were isolated from different fungi. The new isocoumarins are 5-chloro-6-hydroxymellein, 5-chloro-4,6-dihydroxymellein and 5,6-dihydroxymellein. The absolute configuration of these secondary metabolites was confirmed by CD measurements and in two cases by X-ray structure analysis.

Antiasthmatic acetophenones - an in vivo study on structure activity relationship.

The recently isolated acetophenone glucoside androsin, as the major antiasthmatic principle of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Scrophulariaceae), was used as a lead compound for detailed structure-activity relationship studies. More than 25 synthesized or commercially available acetophenones with modified substitution patterns were screened in the Plethysmographic guinea pig model using PAF and/or ovalbumin as challenging agents for the generation of bronchial constriction. Whereas the aglycones in most cases were more effective than the corresponding glycosides, substitution patterns in position 3 and 4 of the phenyl ring and the keto function attached to the phenyl ring were found to be essential for marked antiasthmatic effect. 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-acetophenone (acetosyringenin) showed the highest activity of all tested compounds. Initial in vitro studies on the mode of action could not sufficiently explain the mechanism of antiasthmatic activity.

Substituent effects in the free radical reactions of silybin: radiation-induced oxidation of the flavonoid at neutral pH.

Silybin dihemisuccinate sodium salt, a flavonoid used in human therapy of liver dysfunction, has an inhibitory effect in vivo on radiation-induced deactivation of enzymes and peroxidation of membrane lipids in rat liver microsomes. The reactivity of silybin and its phenolic OH groups towards free radicals (OH, N3., (SCN)2.-, Cl3CO2.) in aqueous solution was studied by pulse radiolysis. Absorption spectra for the phenoxyl-type radicals were assigned using structurally similar models. The one-electron reduction potential for silybin at pH 7 (E07 = 0.76 V), determined using the p-methoxy-phenoxyl/phenolate redox couple as reference standard (E07 = 0.72 V, Lind et al. 1990), is related to the 3'-methoxy-4'-OH structure, the exclusive target for one-electron oxidation at pH 7, while the 7-OH and 5-OH groups are prevented from oxidation by 4-keto substitution and intramolecular H-bonding, respectively. The free radical reactivity of silybin compares favourably with poly-OH-substituted flavonoids; however, the latter compounds have been reported to generate potentially toxic oxygen species at a biologically relevant pH.

Wedelolactone and coumestan derivatives as new antihepatotoxic and antiphlogistic principles.

For the study of structure-activity relationships, the antihepatotoxic wedelolactone (7-methoxy-5,11,12-trihydroxy-coumestan) and 6 coumestan derivatives were synthesized by the application of a modified method of Wanzlich. An evaluation of the biological characteristics of the synthetic compounds and acuminatin from Musa acuminata showed that most of the wedelolactone derivatives significantly protected primary cultured liver cells from the toxicity of CCl4, galactosamine (Galc), and phalloidin, and strongly inhibited the activity of 5-lipoxygenase in porcine leukocytes. The hepatocyte protective activity was dependent on the C-7 substitution with pharmacological efficacy decreasing in the following order: EtO greater than MeO greater than OH greater than CH3(CH2)9. In addition, a free OH at C-5 of the wedelolactone molecule was shown to be important in protecting hepatocytes from CCl4 and Galc damage. Similar observation regarding the effect of C-7 substitution in wedelolactone was obtained in the 5-lipoxygenase test. In general, an increase in the lipophilicity in ring A increased the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity. The synthetic wedelolactone was also found to have stimulatory effect on the RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei from hepatocytes.