Synthesis and antimalarial activity of hydroxyethylpiperazine derivatives.

The antimalarial activity of hydroxyethylpiperazine derivatives, synthesized from the reaction of (2S,3S)Boc-phenylalanine epoxide with benzylpiperazines in good yields (76-96%), has been evaluated in vitro against the Plasmodium falciparum W2 clone (chloroquine resistant). The results show that some compounds have moderate activity against this parasite and none of the active compounds showed cytotoxicity at high concentration (100 microg/ml).

Cutting edge: prostaglandin D2 enhances leukotriene C4 synthesis by eosinophils during allergic inflammation: synergistic in vivo role of endogenous eotaxin.

In addition to the well-recognized ability of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) to regulate eosinophil trafficking, we asked whether PGD2 was also able to activate eosinophils and control their leukotriene C4 (LTC4)-synthesizing machinery. PGD2 administration to presensitized mice enhanced in vivo LTC4 production and formation of eosinophil lipid bodies-potential LTC4-synthesizing organelles. Immunolocalization of newly formed LTC4 demonstrated that eosinophil lipid bodies were the sites of LTC4 synthesis during PGD2-induced eosinophilic inflammation.