Licochalcone E improves insulin sensitivity in palmitic acid-treated HepG2 cells through inhibition of the NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Our previous research demonstrated that compound licochalcone E can reduce glucose tolerance and lipid metabolism in diabetic rats, although its mechanism remains unknown. Here, we used palmitic acid (PA) to establish a PA-treated HepG2 model, and then examined glucose uptake, glucose consumption, and blood lipids to evaluate the effects of licochalcone E within the safe dose range in the model. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of key genes associated with liver gluconeogenesis; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was deployed to evaluate the concentration of inflammatory factors; and laser confocal microscopy and western blot were used to determine the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway-related proteins, respectively.

Structural Requirements for Modulating 4-Benzylpiperidine Carboxamides from Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors to Triple Reuptake Inhibitors.

8k: and a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

7j: showed that the regions spanning transmembrane domain (TM)1, TM3, and TM6 form the ligand binding pocket. The compound.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking study of novel allyl-retrochalcones as a new class of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors.

We describe herein the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of novel protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitor retrochalcones having an allyl chain at the C-5 position of their B ring. Biological screening results showed that the majority of these compounds exhibited an inhibitory activity against PTP1B. Thus, preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) and quantitative SAR analyses were conducted.

Design, synthesis, and systematic evaluation of 4-arylpiperazine- and 4-benzylpiperidine napthyl ethers as inhibitors of monoamine neurotransmitters reuptake.

Two series of 4-arylpiperazine- and 4-benzylpiperidine naphthyl ethers were designed based on structure-activity relationship (SAR) and docking model of reported monoamine neurotransmitters reuptake inhibitors. The compounds were synthesized in 3-simple steps and their biological activities were evaluated. Several compounds were proven to be potent inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.

Correction: Design, synthesis, and evaluation of bitopic arylpiperazine-phthalimides as selective dopamine D receptor agonists.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8MD00237A.].

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of bitopic arylpiperazine-phthalimides as selective dopamine D receptor agonists.

The dopamine D receptor (DR) is a proven therapeutic target for the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In particular, DR-selective ligands that can eliminate side effects associated with dopamine D receptor (DR) therapeutics have been validated. However, the high homology in signaling pathways and the sequence similarity between DR and DR have rendered the development of DR-selective ligands challenging.

Design, synthesis and docking study of 4-arylpiperazine carboxamides as monoamine neurotransmitters reuptake inhibitors.

Rational drug design method has been used to generate 4-arylpiperazine carboxamides in an effort to develop safer, more potent and effective monoamine neurotransmitters reuptake inhibitors. Out of twenty-seven synthesized compounds, compound 9 displayed potent monoamine neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitory activity against HEK cells transfected with hSERT or hNET. A Surflex-Dock docking model of 9 was also studied.

Triple reuptake inhibitors: Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship of benzylpiperidine-tetrazoles.

Monoamine transporters are important targets in the treatment of various central nervous disorders. Several limitations of traditional reuptake inhibitors, like delayed onset of action, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction, have compelled the search for safer, more effective compounds. In this study, we have sought to identify novel monoamine reuptake inhibitors.

Design, synthesis and in vitro activity of 1,4-disubstituted piperazines and piperidines as triple reuptake inhibitors.

Monoamine transporters regulate the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters, which are essential for vital physiological processes, and their dysfunction can cause several central nervous system diseases. Monoamine transporters currently appear to be the potential target in the management of these disorders. In this study, homologation and bioisosterism techniques have been used in the designing of new 1,4-disubstituted piperazines and piperidines.

Antidiabetic effect of SN158 through PPARα/γ dual activation in ob/ob mice.

In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the antidiabetic potential of (E)-N-(4-(3-(5-bromo-4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl) phenyl)-4-tert-butylbenzamide (SN158) through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α/γ dual activation. SN158 interacted with both PPARα and PPARγ, and increased their transcriptional activities. Simultaneously, SN158 treatment led to an increase in adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and fatty acid oxidation in hepatocytes.

Exploration of substituted arylpiperazine-tetrazoles as promising dual norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors.

In the search for potent dual norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, several substituted arylpiperazine-tetrazoles were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitory activities. Various derivatives exhibited selective and strong neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitory activity. In particular, compounds with a three-carbon linker displayed selective and stronger potency than those with two-carbon and four-carbon linkers.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of arylpiperazine-benzylpiperidines with dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitory activities.

The limitations of established serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitors necessitate the development of safer and more effective therapeutic agents. Based on the structures of 4-benzylpiperidine carboxamides and trazodone, arylpiperazine-benzylpiperidines with chemical scaffolds different from those of marketed drugs were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitory activities. The majority of the synthesized compounds showed greater NE than 5-HT reuptake inhibition.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of bitopic arylpiperazinephenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles as preferential dopamine D3 receptor ligands.

The dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) was proposed as a therapeutic target for drug development to treat drug abuse and addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders. Several D3R-selective modulators over the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) can avoid extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia. However, few biased D3R ligands were identified or showed a narrow range of selectivity at the D3R over D2R because of their high sequence homology.

Agonist-induced changes in RalA activities allows the prediction of the endocytosis of G protein-coupled receptors.

GTP binding proteins are classified into two families: heterotrimeric large G proteins which are composed of three subunits, and one subunit of small G proteins. Roles of small G proteins in the intracellular trafficking of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) were studied. Among various small G proteins tested, GTP-bound form (G23V) of RalA inhibited the internalization of dopamine D2 receptor independently of the previously reported downstream effectors of RalA, such as Ral-binding protein 1 and PLD.

Design and synthesis of 4-benzylpiperidine carboxamides as dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

A series of 4-benzylpiperidine carboxamides were designed and synthesized, and tested for their dual (serotonin and norepinephrine) reuptake inhibition. The synthesis of 4-benzylpiperidine carboxamides involved two main steps: amidation and substitution. Derivatives with 3 carbon linker displayed better activity than with 2 carbon linker.

Synthesis and evaluation of arylpiperazine-reverse amides as biased dopamine D3 receptor ligands.

The dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) preferential ligands have been universally adopted as a strategy for the treatment of drug addiction and other neuropsychiatric disorders due to fewer side effects. However, the high sequence homology between D3R and the D2 receptor (D2R) challenges the development of D3R-biased compounds. Herein, we design and synthesize a novel series of reverse amide-piperazine hybrid ligands and evaluate their biological affinities in vitro.

Selectivity of commonly used inhibitors of clathrin-mediated and caveolae-dependent endocytosis of G protein-coupled receptors.

Among the multiple G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) endocytic pathways, clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) and caveolar endocytosis are more extensively characterized than other endocytic pathways. A number of endocytic inhibitors have been used to block CME; however, systemic studies to determine the selectivity of these inhibitors are needed. Clathrin heavy chain or caveolin1-knockdown cells have been employed to determine the specificity of various chemical and molecular biological tools for CME and caveolar endocytosis.

N-linked Glycosylation on the N-terminus of the dopamine D2 and D3 receptors determines receptor association with specific microdomains in the plasma membrane.

Numerous G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are glycosylated at extracellular regions. The regulatory roles of glycosylation on receptor function vary across receptor types. In this study, we used the dopamine D₂and D₃receptors as an experimental model to understand the underlying principles governing the functional roles of glycosylation.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-phenethylazetidine derivatives as triple reuptake inhibitors.

We report the synthesis of 3-phenethylazetidine derivatives 2 and their biological activities against 5-HT, NE and DA transporters as well as microsomal stability, CYP inhibition, and hERG inhibition profiles. Compound 2at showed most potent triple reuptake inhibitor with good selectivity as a candidate for depression.

Design, synthesis and docking study of 5-(substituted benzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B.

A series of novel 5-(substituted benzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives was designed, and synthesized based on our previous studies. Also their activities were evaluated as competitive inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Compounds 6d-6g, 7b, 7c, 7e, 7j, 7k, 7m, 14b and 14e-14f showed potent inhibitory effects against PTP1B, and compound 7e, the most potent among the series, had an IC50 of 4.

Licochalcone Suppresses LXRα-Induced Hepatic Lipogenic Gene Expression through AMPK/Sirt1 Pathway Activation.

Licochalcone (LC), a major phenolic retrochalcone from licorice, has anti-inflammatory activity. This study investigated the effects of licochalcone A (LCA) and licochalcone E (LCE) on Liver X receptor-α (LXRα)-mediated lipogenic gene expression and the molecular mechanisms underlying those effects. LCA and LCE antagonized the ability of LXRα agonists (T0901317 or GW3965) to increase sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) expression and thereby inhibited target gene expression (e.

Dual regulation of mast cell degranulation through IgE receptor-mediated modulation of M₂-type pyruvate kinase.

It was reported that mast cell degranulation is inversely related to the enzymatic activity of M₂-type pyruvate kinase (M₂PK). This study shows that activation of high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) evokes a sequential dual regulation of M₂PK, i.e.

Concise synthesis of licochalcone C and its regioisomer, licochalcone H.

Licochalone C (7a) is a retrochalcone isolated from Glycyrrhiza inflata, which shows potent antioxidant properties and inhibition of bacterial growth and cellular respiration. Biological studies have suggested that licochalcone C attenuates the lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma induced inflammatory response by decreasing the expression and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase and modulating the antioxidant network activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity. Licochalcone C also inhibits NADH-cytochrome C reductase in the membrane fraction of Micrococcus luteus.

Licochalcone E activates Nrf2/antioxidant response element signaling pathway in both neuronal and microglial cells: therapeutic relevance to neurodegenerative disease.

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, which do not play independently but work synergistically through complex interactions exacerbating neurodegeneration. Therefore, the mechanism that is directly implicated in controlling oxidative stress and inflammatory response could be an attractive strategy to prevent the onset and/or delay the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is the guardian of redox homeostasis by regulating a battery of antioxidant and phase II detoxification genes, which are relevant to defense mechanism against oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-licochalcone E.

The synthesis of (+)-licochalcone E (1) was accomplished for the first time in 13 steps from aryl bromide (6) with 8% overall yield. Palladium-catalyzed Negishi-Reformatsky coupling reaction of compound 6 with ethyl 2-(tributylstannyl)acetate provided the aryl acetic ester (5), which was converted to aryl acetamide (4) via mixed anhydride formation. Chiral auxiliarymediated methylation of the (S)-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone-derived aryl acetamide (4) provided the key asymmetric benzylic methyl group in compound 1.