Inhibitory and Inductive Effects of Extract and Its Flavonoid Constituents on Cytochrome P450s and UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases.

(OFI) is grown abundantly in arid areas and its fruits are regarded as an important food and nutrient source owing to the presence of flavonoids, minerals, and proteins. The previous report that OFI exerts phytoestrogenic activity makes it plausible for OFI-containing supplements to be used as alternative estrogen replacement therapy. In the case of polypharmacy with the consumption of OFI-containing botanicals in post- or peri-menopausal women, it is critical to determine the potential drug-OFI interaction due to the modulation of drug metabolism.

Hepatic Metabolism of Sakuranetin and Its Modulating Effects on Cytochrome P450s and UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases.

Sakuranetin (SKN), found in cherry trees and rice, is a flavanone with various pharmacological activities. It is biosynthesized from naringenin in rice or cherry trees, and the metabolism of SKN has been studied in non-human species. The present study aimed to investigate the metabolic pathways of SKN in human liver microsomes and identify the phase I and phase II metabolites, as well as evaluate the potential for drug⁻herb interactions through the modulation of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs).

2-Methylacrylamide as a bioisoster of thiourea group for 1,3-dibenzylthioureido TRPV1 receptor antagonists.

In order to replace thiourea group with the more drug-like moiety for 1,3-dibenzylthioureas having TRPV1 antagonist activity, we introduced a set of functional groups between the two aromatic rings based on bioisosteric replacement. The synthesized bioisosteres of 1,3-dibenzylthioureas were tested for their antagonist activities on TRPV1 by Ca-influx assay using neonatal rat cultured spinal sensory neurons. Among the tested 14 kinds of bioisosters, 2-methylacrylamide group was the best candidate to replace thiourea group.

Asymmetric synthesis of H1 receptor antagonist (R,R)-clemastine.

The first asymmetric synthesis of (R,R)-clemastine (1) has been accomplished by the coupling of (R)-tertiary alcohol 2 and (R)-chloroethylpyrrolidine 3 via O-alkylation. (R)-Tertiary alcohol 2 was synthesized by stereoselective alkylation of chiral α-benzyloxy ketone with Grignard reagent via chelation-controlled 1,4-asymmetric induction. In the reaction, chiral benzyl group acts as a chiral auxiliary as well as a protecting group.

Psoralidin, a coumestan analogue, as a novel potent estrogen receptor signaling molecule isolated from Psoralea corylifolia.

A novel biological activity of psoralidin as an agonist for both estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ agonist has been demonstrated in our study. Psoralidin has been characterized as a full ER agonist, which activates the classical ER-signaling pathway in both ER-positive human breast and endometrial cell lines as well as non-human cultured cells transiently expressing either ERα or ERβ. The estrogenic activity was determined using the relative expression levels of either reporter or the endogenous genes dependent on the agonist-bound ER to the estrogen response element (ERE).

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of cyclopropyl analogues of stilbene with raloxifene side chain as subtype-selective ligands for estrogen receptor.

We have designed the cyclopropane analog of stilbene as subtype-selective ligands for estrogen receptor based on the bioisosterism that cyclopropane could act as alkene bioisoster. Three cyclopropane analogs were prepared efficiently starting from 4-benzyloxybenzaldehyde, and evaluated for their binding to estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ. These cyclopropane analogs were also found to be full agonists in estrogen receptor-mediated gene transcription assay.

Heterocycle-linked phenylbenzyl amides as novel TRPV1 antagonists and their TRPV1 binding modes: constraint-induced enhancement of in vitro and in vivo activities.

A series of heterocycle-linked constrained phenylbenzyl amides were found to be TRPV1 antagonists with promising in vivo profiles. In particular, one of the analogues containing a furan linker exhibited excellent TRPV1 antagonistic activity and in vivo analgesic efficacy. In addition, the binding modes of dibenzyl thiourea, benzylphenethyl amide, and furan-linked phenylbenzyl amide were examined by using the flexible docking study within the rTRPV1 homology model.

Chain branching approach in structure modification of TRPV1 receptor antagonist MK056 and its analogs.

A series of chain branched 1,3-dibenzylthiourea derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antagonist activity against TRPV1. The synthesized chain branched 1,3-dibenzylthioureas 9a-g were tested for their antagonist activities against TRPV1 by (45)Ca(2+)-influx assay using neonatal rat cultured spinal sensory neurons. Fluorinated ethyl-branched analog 9g showed the most potent antagonist activity with an IC(50) value of 0.

Design and synthesis of 3'-fluoropenciclovir analogues as antiviral agents.

Based on fluorine switch approach, a series of 3'-fluoropenciclovir analogues with different purine and pyrimidine bases were designed and synthesized. Direct reduction of beta-fluoroester to the corresponding 3-fluoroalcohol provided an easy and new entry pathway towards the synthesis of 3'-fluoropenciclovir analogues. The synthesized 3'-fluoropenciclovir analogues were evaluated for their antiviral activities against the poliovirus, HSV-1, HSV-2 and HIV.

Silicon switch approach in TRPV1 antagonist MK-056 and its analogues.

In searching for opportunities to exploit the benefits of silicon in TRPV1 research, we tried to investigate the pharmacological effects of sila-substitution (C/Si exchange) of tert-butyl group in the MK-056 series. Compound 13a, with a 4-positioned trimethylsilanyl group on the B ring in place of tert-butyl group, exhibited the most potent antagonist activity with IC(50) values of 0.15 microM, which is almost equipotent with that of MK-056.

Synthesis and structural optimization of multiple H-bonding region of diarylalkyl (thio)amides as novel TRPV1 antagonists.

Structural optimization of multiple H-bonding region and structure-activity relationship of diarylalkyl amides/thioamides as novel TRPV1 antagonists are described. In particular, we identified amide 34o and thioamides 35o and 35r, of which antagonistic activities were highly enhanced by an incorporation of cyano or vinyl-substituent to the multiple H-bonding region. They exhibited potent (45)Ca(2+) uptake inhibitions in rat DRG neuron with IC(50)s of 25, 32 and 28 nM, respectively.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel diarylalkyl amides as TRPV1 antagonists.

We have developed a new class of diarylalkyl amides as novel TRPV1 antagonists. They exhibited potent (45)Ca(2+) uptake inhibitions in rat DRG neuron. In particular, the amide 59 was identified as a potent antagonist with IC(50) of 57 nM.

Synthesis of phenylisothiourea derivatives as inhibitors of NO production in LPS activated macrophages.

A series of phenylisothioureas were synthesized as inhibitors of NO production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. We investigated the effect of lipophilic moiety and N- or S-substituents of the phenylisothioureas on the activity. Inhibitory activities of carbazole-linked phenylisothioureas were superior to the corresponding simple phenylisothiourea derivatives.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of C-benzylated flavonoids.

Some C-benzylated flavonoids based on gericudranin A were synthesized and evaluated their cytotoxic activities for the elucidation of structure-activity relationship. 2,4,6-Trihydroxyacetophenone was converted to target molecules in 6 approximately 7 steps via sequential protection, aldol condensation, cyclization, regioselective C-benzylation, and deprotection. The cellular growth inhibition of the synthetic C-benzylated flavonoids was investigated against sixteen human cancer cell lines.

In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of lignans isolated from Magnolia fargesii.

The overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) causes neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Four lignans, (+)-eudesmin (1), (+)-magnolin (2), (+)-yangambin (3) and a new structure named as epimagnolin B (4) were isolated from Magnolia fargesii (Magnoliaceae) as the inhibitors of NO production in LPS-activated microglia. The most potent compound 4 inhibited the production of NO and PGE(2) and the expression of respective enzyme iNOS and COX-2 through the suppression of I-kappaB-alpha degradation and nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB.

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by xanthanolides isolated from Xanthium strumarium.

Three sesquiterpenoids, xanthatin (1), xanthinosin (2), and 4-oxo-bedfordia acid (3) were isolated from Xanthium strumarium as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis in activated microglia (IC(50) values: 0.47, 11.2, 136.

Structure-activity relationships of 2-chloro-N6-substituted-4'-thioadenosine-5'-N,N-dialkyluronamides as human A3 adenosine receptor antagonists.

On the basis of potent and selective A(3) adenosine receptor (AR) antagonist, 2-chloro-N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)-4'-thioadenosine-5'-N,N-dimethyluronamide, structure-activity relationships were studied for a series of 5'-N,N-dialkyluronamide derivatives, synthesized from D-gulonic gamma-lactone. From this study, it was revealed that removal of the hydrogen bond-donating ability of the 5'-uronamide was essential for the pure A(3)AR antagonism. 5'-N,N-Dimethyluronamide derivatives exhibited higher binding affinity than larger 5'-N,N-dialkyl or 5'-N,N-cycloalkylamide derivatives, indicating that steric factors are crucial in binding to the human A(3)AR.

Stereoselective synthesis of (-)-hydroxyclemastine as a versatile intermediate for the H1 receptor antagonist clemastine.

Hydroxyclemastine was targeted as a versatile analogue of clemastine with H1 receptor antagonist activity. Stereoselective synthesis of (-)-hydroxyclemastine was performed in which the key step was chelation-controlled diastereoselective 1,2-addition of Grignard reagent to alpha-alkoxyketone.

In vitro and in vivo study of poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated ketoprofen to extend the duration of action.

Ketoprofen-polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugates (KPEG) were prepared and their potential as a prolonged release system was investigated. Three KPEG conjugates were synthesized from ketoprofen and methoxy PEG with three different molecular weights by esterification in the presence of DCC. The KPEG conjugates were characterized by FT-IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

Suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by yakuchinones and their analogues.

Analogues of yakuchinones were synthesized as inhibitors of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells. We prepared stronger inhibitors than the original natural molecules, yakuchinones A and B reported from Alpinia oxyphylla.

Heme oxygenase 1 mediates anti-inflammatory effects of 2',4',6'-tris(methoxymethoxy) chalcone.

We report that the synthetic chalcone 2',4',6'-tris(methoxymethoxy) chalcone (TMMC) is an anti-inflammatory compound that reduces nitric oxide (NO) production by inhibiting of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression, and that TMMC decreases the degradation of the inhibitory factor kappaB, leading to inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB translocation into the nucleus in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. We also demonstrate that TMMC by itself is a potent inducer of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1).

Novel "protecting group-dependent" alkylation-RCM strategy to medium-sized oxacycles: first total synthesis of --isoprelaurefucin.

[reaction: see text] A novel "protecting group-dependent" alkylation strategy was developed for complementary diastereoselective syntheses of alpha,alpha'-syn- and alpha,alpha'-anti-bis-alkenes 2 and 3, which represent ring-closing metathesis (RCM) substrates for medium-sized oxacycles. This principle has been applied to a stereoselective and concise total synthesis of (-)-isoprelaurefucin (4) in 14 steps in 12% overall yield from known epoxide 8.

Novel potent antagonists of transient receptor potential channel, vanilloid subfamily member 1: structure-activity relationship of 1,3-diarylalkyl thioureas possessing new vanilloid equivalents.

Recently, 1,3-diarylalkyl thioureas have merged as one of the promising nonvanilloid TRPV1 antagonists possessing excellent therapeutic potential in pain regulation. In this paper, the full structure-activity relationship for TRPV1 antagonism of a novel series of 1,3-diarylalky thioureas is reported. Exploration of the structure-activity relationship, by systemically modulating three essential pharmacophoric regions, led to six examples of 1,3-dibenzyl thioureas, which exhibit Ca(2+) uptake inhibition in rat DRG neuron with IC(50) between 10 and 100 nM.

Synthesis and conformational study of 2-trityloxymethyltetrahydrofurans as key intermediates for antiviral nucleosides.

We wanted to elucidate the reason why the trityloxymethyl substituent in gamma-trityloxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone takes a sterically unfavorable specific conformation, and so we synthesized 5-trityloxymethyldihydrofuran-3-one, 3-(trityloxymethyl)-4-butanolide and 2-trityloxymethyl-tetrahydrofuran and we then analyzed their conformation by 1H-NMR analysis.

Biarylcarboxybenzamide derivatives as potent vanilloid receptor (VR1) antagonistic ligands.

Seventeen biarylcarboxybenzamide derivatives were prepared for the study of their agonistic/antagonistic activities to the vanilloid receptor (VR1) in rat DRG neurons. The replacement of the piperazine moiety of the lead compound 1 with phenyl ring showed quite enhanced antagonistic activity. Among the prepared derivatives, N-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4-pyridine-2-yl-benzamide (2, IC(50)=31 nM) and N-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4-(3-methylpyridine-2-yl)benzamide (3g, IC(50)=31 nM), showed 5-fold higher antagonistic activity than 1 in (45)Ca(2+)-influx assay.