Trans ε-viniferin is an amyloid-ß disaggregating and anti-inflammatory drug in a mouse primary cellular model of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by several cellular and molecular damage. Therefore, the therapeutic interest of multi-target molecules is increasingly justified. Polyphenols presenting multiple pharmacological effects would be more efficient. In this study, beneficial effects of trans ε-viniferin, a natural polyphenol were thus evaluated. This study reported that this stilbenoid (1) induced the disaggregation of amyloid ß (Aß) peptide and (2) rescued inflammation in murine primary neuronal cultures. These both effects are higher than those of resveratrol, and so, trans ε-viniferin could be a good therapeutic multi-target candidate.

Antifungal activity of resveratrol derivatives against Candida species.

trans-Resveratrol (1a) is a phytoalexin produced by plants in response to infections by pathogens. Its potential activity against clinically relevant opportunistic fungal pathogens has previously been poorly investigated. Evaluated herein are the candidacidal activities of oligomers (2a, 3-5) of 1a purified from Vitis vinifera grape canes and several analogues (1b-1j) of 1a obtained through semisynthesis using methylation and acetylation. Moreover, trans-ε-viniferin (2a), a dimer of 1a, was also subjected to methylation (2b) and acetylation (2c) under nonselective conditions. Neither the natural oligomers of 1a (2a, 3-5) nor the derivatives of 2a were active against Candida albicans SC5314. However, the dimethoxy resveratrol derivatives 1d and 1e exhibited antifungal activity against C. albicans with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 29-37 µg/mL and against 11 other Candida species. Compound 1e inhibited the yeast-to-hyphae morphogenetic transition of C. albicans at 14 µg/mL.