Anticancer and antioxidant activity of synthetic chalcones and related compounds

Nineteen synthetic chalcones and ten structurally related compounds were investigated for their cytotoxic, tumour reducing and antioxidant activities. Methyl and hydroxy substituted chalcones were found to be cytotoxic in vitro whereas only hydroxy substituted chalcones could reduce ascites tumour in animals. Although most of the compounds analysed showed antioxidant activity, hydroxy and methyl substituted compounds were found to be the most potent antioxidants.

Scavenging of free-radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by 3-phenylsydnone

The antioxidant properties of 3-phenylsydnone were studied in various models in-vitro. 3-Phenylsydnone scavenged the stable free radical, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and inhibited the degradation of deoxyribose mediated by hydroxyl radicals, although, to a lesser extent than trolox, a water soluble analogue of vitamin E. Many antioxidants possess pro-oxidant properties due to their ability to reduce ferric ions; however, 3-phenylsydnone was free from pro-oxidant properties, and also inhibited the lipid peroxidation induced by iron, in rat brain homogenates.

Inhibition of nitrite induced oxidation of hemoglobin by curcuminoids

Curcumin, demethoxy curcumin, bis demethoxy curcumin and diacetyl curcumin inhibited nitrite induced oxidation of hemoglobin in both erythrocytes and purified human hemoglobin. The activities of all the compounds except diacetyl curcumin were similar suggesting that the methoxy substituents have very little role in this biological activity. Acetylation of phenolic groups resulted in significant reduction of activity.

Unique structural features of red kidney bean purple acid phosphatase

Purple acid phosphatase from red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. The enzyme is a homodimer of 60 kDa subunits each containing one atom of zinc and iron in the active site. Circular dichroism spectral studies on the purified enzyme reveals that a large portion of the peptide backbone is in the unordered and beta-turn conformation. A unique feature of the red kidney bean acid phosphatase, which we have found, is that one of the two cysteines of each subunit is involved in the formation of an inter-subunit disulphide. The thiol group of the other cysteine is not necessary for the activity of the enzyme. Western blot analysis with antibodies raised against kidney bean acid phosphatase could not recognize acid phosphatases from other sources except from potato. This paper emphasizes the fact that acid phosphatases are functionally, but not structurally, conserved enzymes.

Curcumin inhibits nitrogen dioxide induced oxidation of hemoglobin

Curcumin protects hemoglobin from nitrogen dioxide induced oxidation. Curcumin was also found to scavenge nitrogen dioxide in a concentration dependent way. The study also explains the ability of curcumin to protect hemoglobin from nitrite induced oxidation, where nitrogen dioxide is a key intermediate.

Cranial sonography in pyogenic meningitis in neonates and infants

Cranial sonography was performed in 34 infants with proven meningitis and with clinical suspicion of its complications, utilizing the patent anterior fontanelle. Twenty-five patients showed various sonographic findings which included ventriculomegaly, echogenic sulci, subdural effusion, ventriculitis, infarction/cerebritis, cerebral oedema, porencephalic cyst, etc. Sonography is safe and cost-effective in diagnosis of complications, and management of pyogenic meningitis in infants.

Antioxidant properties of phenyl styryl ketones

Phenolic and non phenolic derivatives of phenyl styryl ketones were synthesized and evaluated as in vitro inhibitors of iron and cumene hydroperoxide dependent lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates. The compounds were also tested for antioxidant activity in phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Phenyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxystyryl ketone was found to be the most potent inhibitor of peroxidation among all the compounds tested. It was found to be more active than vitamin E. It also reduced the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl to an appreciable extent.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic testing of 4-[1-oxo-(3-substituted aryl)-2-propenyl]-3-phenylsydnones and of 3-[4-[3-(substituted aryl)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]phenyl]sydnones

Two series of styrylcarbonyl 3-phenylsydnone derivatives, 4-[1-oxo-(3-substituted aryl)-2-propenyl]-3-phenylsydnones (series 1, 1-21) and 3-[4-[3-(substituted aryl)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]phenyl]sydnones (series II, 22-40), were synthesized and evaluated pharmacologically at a dose of 100 mg/kg po. Eleven compounds in series I plus one in series II and six in series I plus seven in series II were active in the carrageenan-induced edema and acetic acid-induced writhing assays, respectively. Compound 35 in the latter assay showed activity somewhat similar to that of the positive control drug, aspirin, administered at the same dosage. Compounds 11, 17, and 23 showed activity in both assays, and 23 also was active in the adjuvant-induced arthritis assay.

Diminution of singlet oxygen-induced DNA damage by curcumin and related antioxidants

Curcumin, the natural antioxidant from turmeric, an Indian spice, and its derivatives have significant abilities to protect plasmid pBR322 DNA against single-strand breaks induced by singlet oxygen (1O2), a reactive oxygen species with potential genotoxic/mutagenic properties. 1O2 was generated at 37 degrees C in an aqueous buffer system by the thermal dissociation of the endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylene)dipropionate (NDPO2). Among the compounds tested, curcumin was the most effective inhibitor of DNA damage followed by desmethoxycurcumin, bisdesmethoxycurcumin and other derivatives. The observed antioxidant activity was both time- and concentration-dependent. The protective ability of curcumin was higher than that of the well-known biological antioxidants lipoate, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. However, the highest protective ability with saturating concentrations of curcumin did not exceed 50%. The ability of curcumin and its derivatives to protect DNA against 1O2 seems to be related to their structures and may at least partly explain the therapeutic and other beneficial effects of these compounds including anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic properties.

Curcuminoids as potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation

Earlier studies showed that curcumin is a potent inhibitor iron-catalysed lipid peroxidation. Demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and acetylcurcumin were tested for their ability to inhibit iron-stimulated lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate and rat liver microsomes. Comparison of the results with curcumin showed that all compounds are equally active, and more potent than alpha-tocopherol. These results showed that the methoxy and phenolic groups contribute little to the activity. Spectral studies showed that all compounds could interact with iron. Thus, the inhibition of iron-catalysed lipid peroxidation by curcuminoids may involve chelation of iron.

Antioxidant properties of dehydrozingerone and curcumin in rat brain homogenates

The present study investigates the inhibition of lipid peroxidation by dehydrozingerone and curcumin in rat brain homogenates. Both the test compounds inhibited the formation of conjugated dienes and spontaneous lipid peroxidation. These compounds also inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by ferrous ions, ferric-ascorbate and ferric-ADP-ascorbate. In all these cases, curcumin was more active than dehydrozingerone and dl-alpha-tocopherol.

Dehydrozingerone and its analogues as inhibitors of nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation

The antioxidant property of dehydrozingerone and its analogs were investigated in the ferric-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation model in rat brain homogenate. All the non phenolic compounds were either inactive or less active, while phenolic compounds with substitution at both meta positions were found to be more active than dehydrozingerone. Based on their IC50 values several of these compounds are more potent than vitamin E and hence may be of potential use in various diseases caused by oxidant stress.

(E)4-[4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl]but-3-en-2-one (DMAP) treatment inhibits the radiation-induced micronucleus formation in bone marrow of BALB/c mice

The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic (MPCE) and normochromatic erythrocytes (MNCE) and polychromatic/normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (P/N ratio) was studied in the bone marrow of BALB/c mice administered with 20 mg/kg body weight of (E)4-[4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl]but-3-en-2-one (DMAP), a phenylbutenone derivative, 30 min before exposure to different doses of 60Co gamma-radiation. A dose-dependent increase in the frequency of MPCE and MNCE was observed in double-distilled water (DDW) or oil + irradiated and DMAP + irradiated groups. The frequency of MPCE and MNCE was significantly less in the DMAP + irradiated group when compared to the DDW or oil + irradiated groups at all the irradiation doses studied. The P/N ratio declined with increasing radiation dose in DDW or oil + irradiated and DMAP + irradiated groups. The inhibitory effect of irradiation on the P/N ratio was less in the DMAP + irradiated group as compared to the DDW or oil + irradiated groups, as evidenced by the higher P/N ratio in the former than the latter. The P/N ratio was significantly higher in the DMAP + irradiated group from 1 Gy irradiation onwards. The dose-response relationship was linear-quadratic for MPCE, MNCE and P/N ratio for all the groups studied.

Dehydrozingerone and isoeugenol as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation and as free radical scavengers

The antioxidant properties of three related compounds, dehydrozingerone, isoeugenol and eugenol, were investigated using various models. Isoeugenol was found to be the most active in inhibiting ferrous-ion-, ferric-ion- and cumene-hydroperoxide-induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates. These compounds also showed significant hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Isoeugenol was potent in scavenging superoxide anion generated by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, whereas eugenol was found to inhibit xanthine oxidase. The high antioxidant activity of isoeugenol may be due to the presence of a conjugated double bond, which increases the stability of the phenoxyl radical by electron delocalization. Such electron delocalization is not possible with eugenol. In dehydrozingerone, the stability was decreased by an electron withdrawing keto group at the para position.

Translational repression of EF-1 alpha mRNA in vitro

In this report we show that when 10,000 x g supernatant extracts of growth arrested murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells are incubated there is a rapid conversion of essentially all mRNAs to non-translating messenger ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles. Most of these RNPs are readily translated in an initiation-dependent manner when added to a nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte lysate. A notable exception is the RNP containing eucaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1 alpha) mRNA. The mRNA for poly(A)-binding protein behaved similarly to EF-1 alpha. Previous work has demonstrated that the translation of both these mRNAs are repressed in vivo when the growth of a number of different mammalian cells is arrested [Slobin L. I. and Jordan, P. (1984) Eur J. Biochem. 145, 1984; Thomas, G. and Thomas, G. (1986) J. Cell Biol. 103, 1986]. Translational activity of EF-1 alpha mRNA could be restored by treating RNP particles with 0.5 M KCl, provided that the RNPs were separated from salt wash by chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. Addition of the salt wash to total MEL cell mRNA significantly and selectively inhibited EF-1 alpha mRNA translation, suggesting that a component of the salt wash acts as a trans-acting translational repressor of EF-1 alpha mRNA.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of 3-(benzylideneamino)coumarins in rodents

A series of substituted 3-(benzylideneamino) coumarins was synthesized and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced edema in rats. Halogenated derivatives 4g and 4c, at oral doses of 100 mg/kg, showed 75 and 60% antiedmatous activity, respectively (phenylbutazone antiedematous activity, 58%). The analgesic activity of 4g and 4c, based on inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice (67 and 62%, respectively, at oral doses of 100 mg/kg) was comparable with that of aspirin (58%). However, these derivatives were devoid of antipyretic activity and showed low activity against adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Phase transfer catalysis in solid phase peptide synthesis. Preparation of cyclo[Xxx-Pro-Gly-Yyy-Pro-Gly] model peptides and their conformational analysis

Relatively small cyclic peptides that contain functionalized side chains provide interesting model compounds for studying side chain-side chain interactions, peptide backbone flexibility (especially if X-Pro bonds are included), and as potential enzyme mimetics. In order to develop more efficient synthetic routes to compounds such as cyclo(Xxx-Pro-Gly-Yyy-Pro-Gly), using the Merrifield method, we have investigated several orthogonal solid phase synthesis strategies and contrasted the use of two solid phase peptide-resin cleavage techniques for preparing partially protected linear sequences. Phase transfer catalysis using tetrabutyl ammonium hydrogen sulfate in THF with saturated aqueous K2CO3 provides peptide acid salts in which most of the common protecting groups (Arg(NO2), Tyr(Bzl), Z-Lys, Lys(Boc), and Glu(tBu)) are not affected. Using 500 MHz proton NMR, peptides having a cyclo (L-L-Gly-L-L-Gly) sequence generally display two conformers in DMSO-d6 with the major isomer being the bis-cis conformer, while the minor form contains two beta turns. For peptides with a cyclo(D-L-Gly-L-L-Gly) sequence, the major conformer contains one cis and one trans X-Pro bond and one Type II beta turn, as previously predicted for related structure by Kopple and others.

Induction of glutathione S-transferase activity by curcumin in mice

Curcumin, a natural constituent of Curcuma longa (turmeric, CAS 458-37-7), has been studied for its induction of glutathione S-transferase activity in mice. At a dose of 250 mg/kg orally for 15 days, the enzyme activity in liver was increased by 1.8 fold. Its effect on other tissues like stomach, small intestine, lungs, kidney was not significant. Curcumin also depleted sulfhydryl levels in tissues, especially in stomach where 45% depletion was observed.

Curcumin inhibits nitrite-induced methemoglobin formation

Curcumin protects hemoglobin from nitrite-induced oxidation to methemoglobin. The protection is not observed when curcumin is added after the autocatalytic stage of the oxidation of hemoglobin by nitrite. The ability of curcumin to scavenge superoxide may be responsible since superoxide is implicated in promoting the autocatalytic stage of oxidation of hemoglobin by nitrite.

Prevalence of HBsAg & anti-HBs in children & strategy suggested for immunisation in India

The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was studied in sera from 982 children of different age groups below 5 yr. HBsAg was detected in 0.9, 2.3, 4.1, 2.3 and 1.6 per cent children of 0-1, 2-6, 7-12, 13-36 and 37-60 months age groups respectively. Anti-HBs in these five groups was noted in 17.0, 12.9, 18.4, 14.2 and 13.7 per cent children, respectively. The findings suggest that the carrier pool is built up in the preschool age group, particularly, below the age of 6 months. Perinatal transmission and the relative role of transplacental need re-evaluation. Cost analysis does not permit inclusion of HBV in the Expanded Programme of Immunisation.

Composition of solar flare noble gases preserved in meteorite parent body regolith

The isotopic composition (long-term average) of solar flare (SF) Ne has been determined by three isotope correlation techniques applied to data measured on chemically etched pyroxene separates prepared from the Kapoeta meteorite, which is known to contain implanted solar gases. The SF 20Ne/22Ne ratio obtained is 11.6 +/- 0.2 and confirms previous determinations of this SF ratio in lunar and meteoritic samples. The same SF Ne composition is also obtained by applying an ordinate intercept technique to the same data set. The ordinate intercept technique was also applied to the Ar and He data, on which the three-isotope correlation technique cannot be applied. The isotopic composition of SF Ar and SF He so obtained are SF 36Ar/38Ar = 4.9 +/- 0.1 and SF 4He/3He = 3800 +/- 200, which are significantly different from the solar wind (SW) Ar and SW He values of approximately 5.35 and approximately 2500, respectively. Correlation between 20Ne/22Ne and 36Ar/38Ar for the same data set also gives a similar SF 36Ar/38Ar ratio of 4.8 +/- 0.2. The determined SF He, Ne and Ar isotopic ratios differ from those in SW by 52%, 17% and 9%, respectively, but the elemental compositions of 4He/36Ar and 20Ne/36Ar do not show obvious differences between SF and SW. The concentration of the SF component in Kapoeta pyroxenes is approximately 20% that of the SW component, which is orders of magnitude higher than expected from SW and SF proton flux measurements. Variations in elemental and isotopic composition of He, Ne and Ar in SF relative to SW are found to correlate well with a (Z/A)2 dependence, indicating a rigidity-dependent particle spectrum in solar flares.

Antiinflammatory activity of methionine, methionine sulfoxide and methionine sulfone

The oxidation of methionine in peptides is often associated with the loss of biological activity. Since methionine showed good antiinflammatory activity, its oxidized products methionine sulfoxide and methionine sulfone were tested. The sulfone was more active than the sulfoxide although methionine was most active indicating that the antiinflammatory activity is not correlated with the oxidation state of sulphur. Their hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was measured. Methionine was most active and sulfone was least active. Here also no correlation with antiinflammatory activity was found.

Oxygen radical scavenging activity of phenylbutenones and their correlation with antiinflammatory activity

A number of ring substituted(E)-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-ones including dehydrozingerone were studied for their oxygen radical scavenging properties. They scavenged superoxide and hydroxyl radicals to an appreciable extent. Good correlation (r = 0.87) was obtained between superoxide scavenging and antiinflammatory activity. The correlation was not significant with the hydroxyl scavenging activity.

Regional development and seasonality of communicable diseases in rural Andhra Pradesh, India

This paper explores the seasonality of morbidity due to communicable diseases in Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district has been divided into development regions using cluster analysis. Seasonality of selected communicable diseases is then compared with the levels of development. It is shown that seasonality is most pronounced in the least developed region of the district. In the most developed region, seasonality of morbidity is low. The paper supports the general hypothesis that there is a decreased seasonality of illness as development takes place.

Study of rosin-glycerol esters as microencapsulating materials. II. Quantitative correlation between physico-chemical properties and release characteristics

Rosin-glycerol esters have been used as microencapsulating materials. A quantitative correlation has been observed between the physico-chemical properties, i.e. acid value and moisture affinity, and the release characteristics from the encapsulated drug.