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Biomedical subjects

J L Vennerstrom

Publications and source records attributed to J L Vennerstrom.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Dispiro-1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes: a new class of antimalarial peroxides.

Dispiro-1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes 2-4 were synthesized as potential peroxide antimalarial drugs. They had curative activity against Plasmodium berghei in vivo at single doses of 320 and 640 mg/kg which confirms earlier unpublished data. Moreover, artemisinin (1) and 4 had equivalent ED50's against P. berghei in vivo in the multiple-dose Thompson test; neither showed any evidence of acute toxicity at total doses of more than 12 g/kg. Dispiro-1,2,4,5-tetraoxane 4 had IC50's comparable to those of 1 against Plasmodium falciparum clones in vitro. These results confirm the potential of dispiro-1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes as a new class of inexpensive peroxide antimalarial drugs.

Animals↗

Bisquinolines. 1. N,N-bis(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)alkanediamines with potential against chloroquine-resistant malaria.

On the basis of observations that several bisquinolines such as piperaquine possess notable activity against chloroquine-resistant malaria, 13 N,N-bis-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)alkanediamines were synthesized and screened against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and Plasmodium berghei in vivo. Twelve of the thirteen bisquinolines had a significantly lower resistance index than did chloroquine; the resistance index was apparently unrelated to either in vitro or in vivo activity. Except for two compounds, there was a reasonable correlation between in vitro and in vivo activities. Seven of the thirteen bisquinolines had IC50's of less than 6 nM against both chloroquine-sensitive (D-6) and -resistant (W-2) clones of P. falciparum and were curative against P. berghei at doses of 640 mg/kg. In contrast to chloroquine, these bisquinolines did not show any toxic deaths at curative dose levels. Four bisquinolines, however, caused skin lesions at the site of injection. Maximum activity was seen in bisquinolines with a connecting bridge of two carbon atoms where decreased conformational mobility seemed to increase activity. Bisquinoline 3 (+/-)-trans-N1,N2-bis(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamin e was not only the most potent bisquinoline in vitro, but was clearly unique in its in vivo activity--80% and 100% cure rates were achieved at doses of 160 and 320 mg/kg, respectively. In summary, these preliminary results support the premise that bisquinolines may be useful agents against chloroquine-resistant malaria.

Animals↗

Berberine derivatives as antileishmanial drugs.

Berberine, a quaternary alkaloid, and several of its derivatives were tested for efficacy against Leishmania donovani and Leishmania braziliensis panamensis in golden hamsters. Tetrahydroberberine was less toxic and more potent than berberine against L. donovani but was not as potent as meglumine antimonate (Glucantime), a standard drug for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Only berberine and 8-cyanodihydroberberine showed significant activity (greater than 50% suppression of lesion size) against L. braziliensis panamensis.

Animals↗

Amine peroxides as potential antimalarials.

Six model amine peroxides (4-9) were synthesized as targeted antimalarial oxidants. They were approximately 1 order of magnitude more potent than tert-butyl hydroperoxide (3) in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum, but like 3, they were inactive in vivo against Plasmodium berghei.

Animals↗

Peroxides as oxidant antimalarials.

To further explore the antimalarial activity of peroxides (e.g. artemisinin 1), twenty-three peroxides (all the compounds shown in Figures 3 and 4) of diverse chemical structure and acceptable stability were selected and tested for antimalarial activity in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum, and in mice against P. berghei. Included were hydroperoxides, dialkyl peroxides, acyl and diacylperoxides, peroxyketals, peroxycarbonates, and endoperoxides. None was active in vivo, although several were reasonably potent in vitro.

Animals↗

Protoberberine alkaloids as antimalarials.

The protoberberine alkaloids berberine (1), palmatine (2), jatrorrhizine (3), and several berberine derivatives (4-10) were tested for antimalarial activity in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and in vivo against Plasmodium berghei. The berberine derivatives 4-10 were designed and synthesized to maximize structural diversity within a modest set of compounds. Palmatine (2) and jatrorrhizine (3) were isolated as their chlorides from Enantia chlorantha. None of the protoberberine alkaloids was active in vivo, although compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 exhibited a potency comparable to that of quinine in vitro.

Animals↗

Prostaglandin-H synthase inhibition by malonamides. Ring-opened analogues of phenylbutazone.

Recent reports of serious concern regarding the safe clinical use of phenylbutazone and its hydroxylated metabolite (oxyphenbutazone) as antiinflammatory agents have prompted the further investigation of ring-opened (malonamide) derivatives as potentially preferable therapeutic derivatives. Earlier reports have claimed reduced toxicity among similar derivatives. These studies reveal the relative degree of prostaglandin-H (PGH) synthase inhibitory activity among a series of malonamide derivatives. Contrary to observations in the pyrazolidinedione series, incorporation of a nonpolar butyl side chain in these malonamides was not beneficial but, rather, detrimental to enzyme-inhibitory activity. Although none of the reported nonbutylated malonamides was as potent an inhibitor of this enzyme as phenylbutazone, they all showed some inhibitory activity. PGH synthase inhibitory activity was especially pronounced in the bis(p-hydroxy anilide) derivatives, even extending to succinamide and adipamide derivatives. Of some interest is the observation that all of these p-hydroxy anilide derivatives were more potent inhibitors of this enzyme than acetaminophen.

Amides↗

Preparation and evaluation of electrophilic derivatives of phenylbutazone as inhibitors of prostaglandin-H synthase.

The chemical syntheses and biological evaluation of several potential irreversible inhibitors for prostaglandin (PGH) synthase are described. These inhibitors were modeled after the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (NSAI) drug phenylbutazone (4-n-butyl-1,2-diphenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione). Electrophilic functionalities such as an alpha-bromoacetamide, an alpha-chloroacetamide, a phenylurethane, a propargyl chloride, and several alpha,beta-unsaturated Michael acceptors were incorporated at the 4-position of the pyrazolidinedione ring structure. None of the derivatives showed evidence of irreversible inhibition of PGH synthase, although several were nearly as potent inhibitors of this enzyme as phenylbutazone. The nitrile obtained from 1,4-conjugate addition of cyanide to one of the unsaturated derivatives was considerably more potent as an inhibitor of PGH synthase than was phenylbutazone.

Animals↗

Inhibition of platelet aggregation by novel triphenylethylene analogs.

The present study has evaluated the effect of some newly synthesized triphenylethylene (TPE) analogs on platelet arachidonic acid metabolism and function. All compounds tested inhibited arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation and several were superior to aspirin in their relative potency. Introduction of a carboxyl function into the alpha-ring, which should enhance binding according to proposed structural models for cyclooxygenase inhibitors, was not found to be beneficial. Increased structural rigidity, which resulted from covalent linkage of two aromatic rings in this series, did not eliminate anti-aggregatory properties.

Adult↗

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase mediated by electrochemical oxidation of gentisic acid.

Prostaglandin synthase (EC 1.14.99.1, 8,11,14-eicosatrienoate, hydrogen-donor:oxygen oxidoreductase), commonly referred to as cyclooxygenase, was inhibited irreversibly upon application of a fixed oxidative potential (+0.4 V versus saturated calomel electrode) in the presence of the aspirin metabolite gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid). Electrolyses were carried out at 0 degrees C in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2, 0.1 M) using a carbon felt electrode. This electroinactivation process was time-dependent and pseudo first-order with respect to gentisic acid at concentrations up to 300 microM. These concentrations of gentisic acid are below those normally reported to be inhibitory. The enzyme was stable to this applied potential in the absence of gentisic acid. Similar treatment of apoenzyme (heme-removed) revealed no loss in catalytic activity after reconstitution to the holoenzyme. Oxyphenbutazone, a nonoxidizable competitive inhibitor of cyclolooxygenase, was observed to protect the enzyme from electrolytic inactivation mediated by gentisic acid. Radiolabeling studies indicated the covalent attachment of approximately 1 eq of gentisic acid/subunit of enzyme. These studies support the possible role of quinonoid intermediates in the observed anti-inflammatory action of salicylate derivatives.

Animals↗

Electrolysis-mediated irreversible inactivation of lipoxygenase directed toward electroaffinity labelling.

Irreversible inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase-1 (SL-1) was accomplished via a controlled potential oxidative electrolysis of 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,5-DHN) at +0.8 V vs SCE. The inactivation of SL-1 with this known inhibitor was greatly enhanced under these electrolytic conditions to which the enzyme itself was stable. Electrolyses were run at 0 degree C in a 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, using graphite cloth electrodes. The rate of inactivation was observed to be limited by and dependent on the anodic oxidation of 1,5-DHN. The non-oxidizable (at this potential) inhibitor indomethacin was shown to protect the enzyme from irreversible inactivation, however, an external nucleophile (2-mercaptoethanol) had little effect. These initial studies support the capability of such electrochemical methods for the site-specific covalent modification (affinity labelling) of lipoxygenase, and perhaps other enzymes.

Electrochemistry↗

Inhibition of interleukin 2 driven proliferation of mouse CTLL2 cells, by selected carbamate and organophosphate insecticides and congeners of carbaryl.

The anticholinesterase (antiCHE) insecticides, a large family of pesticides used extensively throughout the world, inhibit serine hydrolases by carbamylating or phosphorylating a serine residue at the catalytic site. These insecticides are viewed as potential inhibitors of serine hydrolase-dependent immune functions including interleukin 2 (IL2) signalling. Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that carbaryl (an antiCHE insecticide) produces a marked concentration-dependent inhibition of IL2 driven 1) proliferation of mouse CTLL2 cells, 2) proliferation of human natural killer (NK) cells, and 3) enhancement of target cell killing by human NK cells. In the present study, we examined the potential of 8 antiCHE insecticides (4 carbamates and 4 organophosphates) to inhibit IL2-dependent proliferation of mouse CTLL2 cells. The order of potency for T cell inhibition was carbaryl = dichlorvos > methiocarb > carbofuran > paraoxon > mevinphos > aldicarb = monocrotophos. In view of the relatively high inhibitory potency of carbaryl (a carbamate with low cholinergic toxicity), 3 metabolites and 5 congeners of carbaryl were tested for potency to inhibit CTLL2 proliferation. The data indicate a significant contribution of the 1-naphthol leaving group to inhibition of T cell proliferation by carbaryl, and are consistent with inhibition of a serine hydrolase(s) as a mechanism contributing to the observed inhibition of IL2-dependent proliferation.

Animals↗