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Vitro Inhibitors (vitro + inhibitor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%
Chemistry	50%

Selected Abstracts

Bioassay-guided fractionation of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) using an in vitro measure of GABA transaminase activity

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2009
Rosalie Awad
Abstract A novel pharmacological mechanism of action for the anxiolytic botanical Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) is reported. The methanol extract was identified as a potent in vitro inhibitor of rat brain GABA transaminase (GABA-T), an enzyme target in the therapy of anxiety, epilepsy and related neurological disorders. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the identification and isolation of rosmarinic acid (RA) and the triterpenoids, ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) as active principles. Phytochemical characterization of the crude extract determined RA as the major compound responsible for activity (40% inhibition at 100 µg/mL) since it represented approximately 1.5% of the dry mass of the leaves. Synergistic effects may also play a role. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Modulation of amyloid-, aggregation and toxicity by inosose stereoisomers

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 8 2008
Mark Nitz
Amyloid-, (A,) aggregation and amyloid formation are key pathological features of Alzheimer's disease, and are considered to be two of the major contributing factors to neurodegeneration and dementia. Identification of small molecule inhibitors that are orally available, have low toxicity and high central nervous system bioavailability is one approach to the potential development of a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease. We have previously identified inositol stereoisomers as exhibiting stereospecific inhibition of A, aggregation and toxicity in vitro and in vivo. We report here the effects of inosose versus inositol stereoisomers on A, fibrillogenesis as determined using CD and fluorescence spectroscopy and negative-stain electron microscopy. The inososes differ from inositols by the oxidation of one of the hydroxyl groups to a ketone. These molecules help in the further elucidation of the structure,activity relationships of inositol,A, interactions and identify both allo -inositol and epi -2-inosose as in vitro inhibitors of A, aggregation. [source]

Metabolic drug interactions with new psychotropic agents

FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Edoardo Spina
Abstract New psychotropic drugs introduced in clinical practice in recent years include new antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and ,third generation' antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics, i.e. clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone and amisulpride. These agents are extensively metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and are therefore susceptible to metabolically based drug interactions with other psychotropic medications or with compounds used for the treatment of concomitant somatic illnesses. New antidepressants differ in their potential for metabolic drug interactions. Fluoxetine and paroxetine are potent inhibitors of CYP2D6, fluvoxamine markedly inhibits CYP1A2 and CYP2C19, while nefazodone is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4. These antidepressants may be involved in clinically significant interactions when coadministered with substrates of these isoforms, especially those with a narrow therapeutic index. Other new antidepressants including sertraline, citalopram, venlafaxine, mirtazapine and reboxetine are weak in vitro inhibitors of the different CYP isoforms and appear to have less propensity for important metabolic interactions. The new atypical antipsychotics do not affect significantly the activity of CYP isoenzymes and are not expected to impair the elimination of other medications. Conversely, coadministration of inhibitors or inducers of the CYP isoenzymes involved in metabolism of the various antipsychotic compounds may alter their plasma concentrations, possibly leading to clinically significant effects. The potential for metabolically based drug interactions of any new psychotropic agent may be anticipated on the basis of knowledge about the CYP enzymes responsible for its metabolism and about its effect on the activity of these enzymes. This information is essential for rational prescribing and may guide selection of an appropriate compound which is less likely to interact with already taken medication(s). [source]

Amino-substituted O6 -benzyl-5-nitrosopyrimidines: interplay of molecular, molecular-electronic and supramolecular structures

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 2 2002
Antonio Quesada
The structures of eight 2,4,6-trisubstituted-5-nitrosopyrimidines (one of which crystallizes in two polymorphs) have been determined, including seven O6 -benzyl derivatives which are potential, or proven, in vitro inhibitors of the human DNA-repair protein O6 -alkylguanine-DNA-transferase. In the derivatives having an amino substituent at the 4-position, an intramolecular N,H,O hydrogen bond with the nitroso O as an acceptor leads to an overall molecular shape similar to that of substituted purines. There is a marked propensity for these nitroso compounds to crystallize with Z, = 2. The structure of an analogue with no nitroso group is also reported for comparative purposes. Compounds containing the N -alkyl substituents ,NHCH2COOEt, ,NHCH2CH2COOEt and ,NHCH(CH2Ph)COOEt, derived from amino acid esters, exhibit a rich variety of conformational behaviour, and in all of the nitroso compounds the bond lengths provide strong evidence for a highly polarized electronic structure. Associated with this polarization is extensive charge-assisted hydrogen bonding between the molecules, leading to supramolecular aggregation in the form of finite (zero-dimensional) aggregates, chains, molecular ladders, sheets and frameworks. [source]