Role of Vertex Index in Substructure Identification and Activity Prediction: A Study on Antitubercular Activity of a Series of Acid Alkyl Ester Derivatives

Tuberculosis (TB) is a life threatening disease caused due to infection from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). That most of the TB strains have become resistant to various existing drugs, development of effective novel drug candidates to combat this disease is a need of the day. In spite of intensive research world-wide, the success rate of discovering a new anti-TB drug is very poor. Therefore, novel drug discovery methods have to be tried. We have used a rule based computational method that utilizes a vertex index, named `distance exponent index (D-x)' (taken x = -4 here) for predicting anti-TB activity of a series of acid alkyl ester derivatives. The method is meant to identify activity related substructures from a series a compounds and predict activity of a compound on that basis. The high degree of successful prediction in the present study suggests that the said method may be useful in discovering effective anti-TB compound. It is also apparent that substructural approaches may be leveraged for wide purposes in computer-aided drug design.

Synthesis, molecular docking and anti-mycobacterial evaluation of new imidazo1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives

New anti-tubercular agents, imidazo1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide derivatives (5a-q) have been designed and synthesized. The structural considerations of the designed molecules were further supported by the docking study with a long-chain enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA). The chemical structures of the new compounds were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, HRMS and elemental analysis. In addition, single crystal X-ray diffraction has also been recorded for compound 5f. Compounds were evaluated in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, and cytotoxicity against HEK-293T cell line. Amongst the tested compounds 5j, 5l and 5q were emerged as good anti-tubercular agents with low cytotoxicity. The structure-anti TB activity relationship of these derivatives was explained by molecular docking. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The nuclease activities of both the Smr domain and an additional LDLK motif are required for an efficient anti-recombination function of Helicobacter pyloriMutS2

Helicobacter pylori, a human pathogen, is a naturally and constitutively competent bacteria, displaying a high rate of intergenomic recombination. While recombination events are essential for evolution and adaptation of H.pylori to dynamic gastric niches and new hosts, such events should be regulated tightly to maintain genomic integrity. Here, we analyze the role of the nuclease activity of MutS2, a protein that limits recombination during transformation in H.pylori. In previously studied MutS2 proteins, the C-terminal Smr domain was mapped as the region responsible for its nuclease activity. We report here that deletion of Smr domain does not completely abolish the nuclease activity of HpMutS2. Using bioinformatics analysis and mutagenesis, we identified an additional and novel nuclease motif (LDLK) at the N-terminus of HpMutS2 unique to Helicobacter and related epsilon-proteobacterial species. A single point mutation (D30A) in the LDLK motif and the deletion of Smr domain resulted in approximate to 5-10-fold loss of DNA cleavage ability of HpMutS2. Interestingly, the mutant forms of HpMutS2 wherein the LDLK motif was mutated or the Smr domain was deleted were unable to complement the hyper-recombination phenotype of a mutS2(-) strain, suggesting that both nuclease sites are indispensable for an efficient anti-recombinase activity of HpMutS2.

Synthesis and evaluation of 2,5-di(4-aryloylaryloxymethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles as anti-cancer agents

A series of 2,5-di(4-aryloylaryloxymethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 9a-j were obtained via multistep synthesis from hydroxybenzophenones 4a-e. The cytotoxicity of compounds 9a-j was evaluated against human leukemia cell lilies (K562 and CEM). The compounds exhibited moderate to good anti-cancer activity with compounds 9b and 9i having a chloro group exhibiting the best activity (IC50 = 10 mu M). Compound 9i exhibited activity against both the cell lines and 9b only exhibited activity against CEM. Further, a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and DNA fragmentation studies of the compounds 9a-j were also performed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Novel PARP inhibitors sensitize human leukemic cells in an endogenous PARP activity dependent manner

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a critical nuclear enzyme which safeguards genome stability from genotoxic insults and helps in DNA repair. Inhibition of PARP results in sustained DNA damage in cancer cells. PARP inhibitors are known to play an important role in chemotherapy as single agents in many DNA repair pathway deficient tumor cells or in combination with several other chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we synthesize and characterize novel pyridazine derivatives, and evaluate their potential for use as PARP inhibitors. Results show that pyridazine derivatives inhibited the PARP1 enzymatic activity at the nanomolar range and showed anti-proliferative activity in leukemic cells. Interestingly, human leukemic cell line, Nalm6, in which PARP1 and PARP2 expression as well as intrinsic PARP activity are high, showed significant sensitivity for the novel inhibitors compared to other leukemic cells. Among the inhibitors, P10 showed maximum inhibition of intrinsic PARP activity and inhibited cell proliferation in Nalm6 cells. Besides P10 also showed maximum inhibition against purified PARP1 protein, which was comparable to olaparib in our assays. Newly synthesized compounds also showed remarkable DNA trapping ability, which is a signature feature of many PARP inhibitors. Importantly, P10 also induced late S and G2/M arrest in Nalm6 cells, indicating accumulation of DNA damage. Therefore, we identify P10 as a potential PARP inhibitor, which can be developed as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Targeting human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA with curcumin and its synthesized analogues under molecular crowding conditions

The formation of telomeric G-quadruplexes has been shown to inhibit telomerase activity. Indeed, a number of small molecules capable of p-stacking with G-tetrads have shown the ability to inhibit telomerase activity through the stabilization of G-quadruplexes. Curcumin displays a wide spectrum of medicinal properties ranging from anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-protozoal, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory to anti-cancer activity. We have investigated the interactions of curcumin and its structural analogues with the human telomeric sequence AG(3)(T(2)AG(3))(3) under molecular crowding conditions. Experimental studies indicated the existence of a AG(3)(T(2)AG(3))(3)/curcumin complex with binding affinity of 0.72 x 10(6) M-1 under molecular crowding conditions. The results from UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, a fluorescent TO displacement assay, circular dichroism and molecular docking studies, imply that curcumin and their analogues interact with G-quadruplex DNA via groove binding. While other analogs of curcumin studied here bind to G-quadruplexes in a qualitatively similar manner their affinities are relatively lower in comparison to curcumin. The Knoevenagel condensate, a methoxy-benzylidene derivative of curcumin, also exhibited significant binding to G-quadruplex DNA, although with two times decreased affinity. Our study establishes the potential of curcumin as a promising natural product for G-quadruplex specific ligands.

Targeting human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA with curcumin and its synthesized analogues under molecular crowding conditions

The formation of telomeric G-quadruplexes has been shown to inhibit telomerase activity. Indeed, a number of small molecules capable of p-stacking with G-tetrads have shown the ability to inhibit telomerase activity through the stabilization of G-quadruplexes. Curcumin displays a wide spectrum of medicinal properties ranging from anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-protozoal, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory to anti-cancer activity. We have investigated the interactions of curcumin and its structural analogues with the human telomeric sequence AG(3)(T(2)AG(3))(3) under molecular crowding conditions. Experimental studies indicated the existence of a AG(3)(T(2)AG(3))(3)/curcumin complex with binding affinity of 0.72 x 10(6) M-1 under molecular crowding conditions. The results from UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, a fluorescent TO displacement assay, circular dichroism and molecular docking studies, imply that curcumin and their analogues interact with G-quadruplex DNA via groove binding. While other analogs of curcumin studied here bind to G-quadruplexes in a qualitatively similar manner their affinities are relatively lower in comparison to curcumin. The Knoevenagel condensate, a methoxy-benzylidene derivative of curcumin, also exhibited significant binding to G-quadruplex DNA, although with two times decreased affinity. Our study establishes the potential of curcumin as a promising natural product for G-quadruplex specific ligands.

Avaliação do potencial anti-inflamatório agudo e crônico e imunossupressor do extrato etanólico de Pterodon polygalaeflorus através de estudos in vivo e in vitro

O gênero Pterodon pertence à família das Papilonaceas e inclui cinco espécies nativas do Brasil: P. pubescens Benth., P. emarginatus Vog., P. apparicioi Pedersoli e P. abruptus Benth., sendo a espécie objeto deste estudo a P. polygalaeflorus Benth.. Seus frutos são livremente comercializados em mercados da flora medicinal e utilizados pela medicina popular devido a propriedades anti-reumática, analgésica, antiinflamatória, dentre outros efeitos associados a esses frutos. O principal uso popular está relacionado ao efeito antiartrítico que parece se encontrar na fração oleosa do fruto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o extrato etanólico de Pterodon polygalaeflorus (EEPpg) quanto ao seu potencial antiinflamatório crônico através do modelo de artrite induzida por colágeno (CIA) e seu efeito sobre os linfócitos in vitro, bem como sobre a expansão de células MAC-1+ induzida por adjuvante completo de Freund (AFC). A caracterização química do EEPpg foi realizada por cromatografia em camada delgada (TLC), cromatografia líquida de alta performance (HPLC) e cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrômetro de massa (GC-MS), através dos quais uma gama de compostos, incluindo terpenóides de polaridades variadas e flavonóides, foram observados. No modelo de CIA, o EEPpg reduziu significativamente parâmetros associados ao desenvolvimento e progressão da doença e à severidade da doença , inibindo em até 99% o seu desenvolvimento e levando a ausência de sinais clínicos evidentes após tratamento com as menores doses do extrato (0,01 mg/kg e 0,001 mg/kg). O tratamento com EEPpg também reduziu características histopatológicas típicas de articulações de animais com CIA, que também são observadas na artrite reumatóide. O EEPpg reduziu significativamente o peso dos linfonodos dos camundongos, bem como o número absoluto de segmentados, monócitos e linfócitos no sangue. In vitro, O EEPpg mostrou uma atividade anti-proliferativa dos esplenócitos estimulados com concanavalina A (Con A) ou lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) analisada através do ensaio de redução do sal de tetrazólio MTT, corroborada pelo seu efeito sobre o ciclo celular de linfócitos estimulados com Con A, onde o EEPpg nas concentrações de 5, 10 e 20 μg/mL reduziu significativamente, de maneira concentração-dependente, o número de células nas fases S+G2/M e aumentou na fase G0/G1 do ciclo celular. O efeito anti-proliferativo do EEPpg parece também estar associado ao aumento da apoptose dos linfócitos após estimulação com Con A, com aumento estatisticamente significativo no percentual de células mortas por apoptose nas maiores concentrações . O EEPpg inibiu a expansão de células Mac-1+ induzida por AFC no baço, porém não no peritônio. Esse resultado sugere um efeito inibidor do EEPpg sobre a migração celular para as articulações artríticas. Esses resultados contribuem para a validação do uso popular de P. polygalaeflorus contra doenças relacionadas a processos inflamatórios e imunes, sobretudo na artrite reumatóide, antes nunca demonstrado.

Enhancement of the anti-herpetic effect of trichosanthin by acyclovir and interferon

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein that has a wide range of pharmacological activities. The present study investigated the effectiveness of TCS on herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). The anti-viral activity and toxicity of TCS on Vero

Synthesis of analogues of flazin, in particular, flazinamide, as promising Anti-HIV agents

Flazin isolated from the fruiting bodies of Suillus granulatus was found to possess weak anti-HIV activity (EC50=2.36 mu m, TI= 12.1). To establish a SAR study, 46 flazin analogues were synthesized, and their anti-HIV activities were evaluated in vitro. A

The Anti-HIV Actions of 7-and 10-Substituted Camptothecins

Camptothecin (CPT), a traditional anti-tumor drug, has been shown to possess anti-HIV-1 activity. To increase the antiviral potency, the anti-HIV activities of two CPT derivatives, 10-hydroxy-CPT and 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT, were evaluated in vitro. The therapy index (TI) of CPT, 10-hydroxy-CPT and 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT against HIV-1(IIIB) in C8166 were 24.2, 4.2 and 198.1, and against clinical isolated strain HIV-1(KM018) in PBMC were 10.3, 3.5 and 66.0, respectively. While the TI of CPT, 10-hydroxy-CPT and 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT against HIV-2(CBL-20) were 34.5, 10.7 and 317.0, respectively, and the TI of the three compounds against HIV-2(ROD) showed the similar values. However, when the antiviral mechanisms were considered, we found there was no inhibition of 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT on viral cell-to-cell transmission, and was no inhibition on reverse transcriptase, protease or integrase in cell-free systems. 7-Hydroxymethyl-CPT showed no selective killing of chronically infected cells after 3 days of incubation. In conclusion, 7-hydroxymethyl-CPT showed more potent anti-HIV activity, while 10-hydroxy-CPT had less efficient activity, compared with the parent CPT. Though the antiviral mechanisms remain to be further elucidated; the modification of -OH residues at C-7 of CPT could enhance the antiviral activity, while of -OH residues at C-10 of CPT had decreased the antiviral activity, which provides the preliminary modification strategy for anti-viral activities enhancement of this compound.

Inhibition of progesterone receptor activity in recombinant yeast by soot from fossil fuel combustion emissions and air particulate materials

Numerous environmental pollutants have been detected for estrogenic activity by interacting with the estrogen receptor, but little information is available about their interactions with the progesterone receptor. In this study, emission samples generated by fossil fuel combustion (FFC) and air particulate material (APM) collected from an urban location near a traffic line in a big city of China were evaluated to interact with the human progesterone receptor (hPR) signaling pathway by examining their ability to interact with the activity of hPR expressed in yeast. The results showed that the soot of a petroleum-fired vehicle possessed the most potent anti-progesteronic activity, that of coal-fired stove and diesel fired agrimotor emissions took the second place, and soot samples of coal-fired heating work and electric power station had lesser progesterone inhibition activity. The anti-progesteronic activity of APM was between that of soot from petroleum-fired vehicle and soot from coal-fired establishments and diesel fired agrimotor. Since there was no other large pollution source near the APM sampling sites, the endocrine disrupters were most likely from vehicle emissions, tire attrition and house heating sources. The correlation analysis showed that a strong relationship existed between estrogenic activity and anti-progesteronic activity in emissions of fossil fuel combustion. The discoveries that some environmental pollutants with estrogenic activity can also inhibit OR activity indicate that further studies are required to investigate potential mechanisms for the reported estrogenic activities of these pollutants. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharide from Chlorella stigmatophora and Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Crude polysaccharide extracts were obtained from aqueous extracts of the microalgae Chlorella stigmatophora and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The crude extracts were fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose columns. The molecular weights of the polysaccharides in each fraction were estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl columns. The crude polysaccharide extracts of both microalgae showed anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced paw edema test. In assays of effects on the delayed hyper-sensitivity response, and on phagocytic activity assayed in vivo and in vitro, the C. stigmatophora extract showed immunosuppressant effects, while the P. tricornutum extract showed immunostimulatory effects. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis, structure characterization and biological activity of a novel amino acid salt (HAla)(8)(H3O)(10)[PMo12O40](6) center dot 22H(2)O

A novel compound was synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR and UV spectra, TG, CV and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallized in an orthorhombic space group C222 with a=1. 622 4(3) nm, b=3. 498 4(7) nm, c=1. 301 5(3) nm, V=7. 387 (3) nm(3), Z=6, R-1= 0. 037 3, wR(2)=0. 114 0. The Ala (Ala = alanine) molecules were protonated at the amino nitrogen N (1) and the C (2) of Ala group with the terminal oxygen atom O(15), O(14), O(26) and O(27) of the polyoxometalates participating in the hydrogen bond network. The anti-tumor activity of the title compound was estimated against Hela and Pc-3m cancer cells.

Inhibition of bromophenols against PTP1B and anti-hyperglycemic effect of Rhodomela confervoides extract in diabetic rats

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) plays an important role as a negative regulator in insulin signaling pathways. PTP1B is an effective target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Four bromophenol derivatives from red algae Rhodomela confervoides, 2,2',3,3'-tetrabromo-4,4',5,5'-tetra-hydroxydiphenyl methane (1), 3-bormo-4,5-bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) pyrocatechol (2), bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether (3) and 2,2',3-tribromo-3',4,4',5-tetrahydroxy-6'-ethyloxy-methyldiphenylmethane (4) showed significant inhibitory activity against PTP1B (IC50 were 2.4, 1.7, 1.5 and 0.84 mu mol/L, respectively) as potential therapeutical agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The anti-hyperglycemic effects of the ethanol extracts from R. confervoides on streptozotocin-induced diabetes (STZ-diabetes) in male Wistar rats fed with high fat diet were investigated. The STZ-diabetic rats treated with medium-dose and high-dose alga extracts showed remarkable reductions in fasting blood glucose (FBG) as compared with the STZ-diabetic control. The results indicate that the in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity of the R. confervoides extracts can be partially attributed to the inhibitory actions against PTP1B of the bromophenol derivatives and that may be of clinical importance in improving the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.