Attractive Compound (attractive + compound)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Anticonvulsant activity, teratogenicity and pharmacokinetics of novel valproyltaurinamide derivatives in mice

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
Nina Isoherranen
The purpose of this study was to synthesize novel valproyltaurine (VTA) derivatives including valproyltaurinamide (VTD), N -methyl-valproyltaurinamide (M-VTD), N,N -dimethyl-valproyltaurinamide (DM-VTD) and N -isopropyl-valproyltaurinamide (I-VTD) and evaluate their structure,pharmacokinetic,pharmacodynamic relationships with respect to anticonvulsant activity and teratogenic potential. However, their hepatotoxic potential could not be evaluated. The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of these derivatives in mice were also studied. VTA lacked anticonvulsant activity, but VTD, DM-VTD and I-VTD possessed anticonvulsant activity in the Frings audiogenic seizure susceptible mice (ED50 values of 52, 134 and 126 mg kg,1, respectively). VTA did not have any adverse effect on the reproductive outcome in the Swiss Vancouver/Fnn mice following a single i.p. injection of 600 mg kg,1 on gestational day (GD) 8.5. VTD (600 mg kg,1 at GD 8.5) produced an increase in embryolethality, but unlike valproic acid, it did not induce congenital malformations. DM-VTD and I-VTD (600 mg kg,1 at GD 8.5) produced a significant increase in the incidence of gross malformations. The incidence of birth defects increased when the length of the alkyl substituent or the degree of N -alkylation increased. In mice, N-alkylated VTDs underwent metabolic N-dealkylation to VTD. DM-VTD was first biotransformed to M-VTD and subsequently to VTD. I-VTD's fraction metabolized to VTD was 29%. The observed metabolic pathways suggest that active metabolites may contribute to the anticonvulsant activity of the N-alkylated VTDs and reactive intermediates may be formed during their metabolism. In mice, VTD had five to 10 times lower clearance (CL), and three times longer half-life than I-VTD and DM-VTD, making it a more attractive compound than DM-VTD and I-VTD for further development. VTD's extent of brain penetration was only half that observed for the N-alkylated taurinamides suggesting that it has a higher intrinsic activity that DM-VTD and I-VTD. In conclusion, from this series of compounds, although VTD caused embryolethality, this compound emerged as the most promising new antiepileptic drug, having a preclinical spectrum characterized by the highest anticonvulsant potential, lowest potential for teratogenicity and favorable pharmacokinetics. British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 139, 755,764. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705301 [source]


Conversion of the Synthetic Catalase Mimic Precursor TAA-1 into the Active Catalase Mimic in Isolated Hepatocytes

CHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 5 2009
Ursula Rauen
In previous studies we reported on the catalase-like activity and antioxidative properties of a non-heme Fe(III)-tetraaza[14]annulene complex, 5,4-didehydro-5,9,14,18-tetraaza-di(2,2-dimethyl-[5,6]benzo[1,3]dioxolo)[a,h]cyclotetradecene,Fe(III) chloride (TAA-1/Fe). We proposed that intracellular application of the parent, iron-free tetraaza[14]annulene ligand, TAA-1, as precursor would allow antioxidative defense along two lines, i.e. by chelation of potentially toxic cellular iron ions and, subsequently, by catalase-mimic activity. We here set out to establish whether the active catalase mimic is indeed formed intracellularly when cells are loaded with the ligand. When isolated rat hepatocytes were preloaded with TAA-1, they were protected against iron-induced cell injury and oxidative stress elicited by exposure to the membrane-permeable iron complex Fe(III)/8-hydroxyquinoline. After lysis of the cells, followed by ultrafiltration to remove endogenous catalase, the lysate exhibited catalase-like activity, while lysates of control cells not treated with TAA-1 showed no catalase-like activity. By comparison with authentic TAA-1/Fe, an intracellular formation of 2.0 ± 0.3 ,m of the active catalase mimic in native hepatocytes exposed to TAA-1 and of 6.5 ± 1.0 ,m in hepatocytes exposed to both TAA-1 and iron ions was estimated. The intracellular formation of the active catalase mimic thus renders TAA-1 an attractive compound for protection against iron- and/or hydrogen peroxide-dependent cell injuries. [source]


Lactic Acid-Based Functionalized Polymers via Copolymerization and Chemical Modification

MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 3 2004
Benjamin Saulnier
Abstract Summary: Poly(lactic acid) polymers (PLA) are presently the most attractive compounds in the field of artificial degradable and biodegradable polymers. In order to enlarge the family, and thus the range of accessible properties, stereocopolymers and copolymers with various co-monomers have been synthesized. However, very few are functionalized, i.e. include functional groups attached to the main chains or as part of the side chains. In the search for degradable PLA-type polymers bearing functional groups to serve as intermediates for further chemical modifications, we are exploring two different routes. The first one is copolymerization with a protected hydroxyl-bearing lactide-type monomer, namely 3-(1,2,3,4-tetraoxobutyldiisopropylidene)dioxane-2,5-dione. The second route consists of the formation of a carbanionic site in the , -position to intrachain carbonyl functions by using lithium N,N -diisopropylamide followed by the coupling of electrophiles. Recent advances in this search are presented using several examples. In particular, it is shown that OH-functionalized PLA-type macromolecules can be made fluorescent by chemical coupling. It is also shown that substituents can be attached to PLA-type macromolecules in solution or to the surface of PLA-based devices selectively. Example of chemical modifications of hydroxyl-bearing PLA-type polymers derived from gluconic and glycolic acids (via gluconolactone) and lactic acid (via lactide). [source]


Nursery pollination by a moth in Silene latifolia: the role of odours in eliciting antennal and behavioural responses

NEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 4 2006
S. Dötterl
Summary ,,Since the 1970s it has been known that the nursery pollinator Hadena bicruris is attracted to the flowers of its most important host plant, Silene latifolia, by their scent. Here we identified important compounds for attraction of this noctuid moth. ,,Gas chromatographic and electroantennographic methods were used to detect compounds eliciting signals in the antennae of the moth. Electrophysiologically active compounds were tested in wind-tunnel bioassays to foraging naďve moths, and the attractivity of these compounds was compared with that to the natural scent of whole S. latifolia flowers. ,,The antennae of moths detected substances of several classes. Phenylacetaldehyde elicited the strongest signals in the antennae, but lilac aldehydes were the most attractive compounds in wind-tunnel bioassays and attracted 90% of the moths tested, as did the scent of single flowers. ,,Our results show that the most common and abundant floral scent compounds in S. latifolia, lilac aldehydes, attracted most of the moths tested, indicating a specific adaptation of H. bicruris to its host plant. [source]