Fermented black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. niger) attenuates methionine and choline deficient diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice

As one of the wide-ranging form of chronic liver disease, there are only limited therapeutic options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluated whether fermented black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. niger; FBR) ameliorates lipid accumulation, inflammation, and hepatic fibrosis, which are characteristics of the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Fermented black radish treatment reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which appeared to be associated with the downregulation of adipogenic transcription factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and lipid accumulation-related genes including adipocyte protein-2 and fatty acid synthase. Administration of FBR to C57BL/6J mice challenged with methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet significantly attenuated the increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and triglyceride. In addition, treatment with FBR interestingly repressed the hepatic inflammation induced with MCD diet, by lowering the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and suppressing the inactivation of macrophages and Kupffer cells in the liver. Fermented black radish was also shown to mitigate liver fibrosis through the inhibition of alpha-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor beta-1, and collagen type I alpha 1 chain. Our results indicate that FBR ameliorates NAFLD and its related metabolic disease by regulating multiple pathways, suggesting that FBR may be an effective dietary supplement for ameliorating NAFLD.

5-Ene-4-thiazolidinones - An efficient tool in medicinal chemistry

The presented review is an attempt to summarize a huge volume of data on 5-ene-4-thiazolidinones being a widely studied class of small molecules used in modern organic and medicinal chemistry. The manuscript covers approaches to the synthesis of 5-ene-4-thiazolidinone derivatives: modification of the C5 position of the basic core; synthesis of the target compounds in the one-pot or multistage reactions or transformation of other related heterocycles. The most prominent pharmacological profiles of 5-ene derivatives of different 4-thiazolidinone subtypes belonging to hit-, lead-compounds, drug-candidates and drugs as well as the most studied targets have been discussed. Currently target compounds (especially 5-en-rhodanines) are assigned as frequent hitters or pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) within high-throughput screening campaigns. Nevertheless, the crucial impact of the presence/nature of C5 substituent (namely 5-ene) on the pharmacological effects of 5-ene-4-thiazolidinones was confirmed by the numerous listed findings from the original articles. The main directions for active 5-ene-4-thiazolidinones optimization have been shown: i) complication of the fragment in the C5 position; ii) introduction of the substituents in the N3 position (especially fragments with carboxylic group or its derivatives); iii) annealing in complex heterocyclic systems; iv) combination with other pharmacologically attractive fragments within hybrid pharmacophore approach. Moreover, the utilization of 5-ene-4-thiazolidinones in the synthesis of complex compounds with potent pharmacological application is described. The chemical transformations cover mainly the reactions which involve the exocyclic double bond in C5 position of the main core and correspond to the abovementioned direction of the 5-ene-4-thiazolidinone modification.

Novel isoniazid–amidoether derivatives: synthesis, characterization and antimycobacterial activity evaluation

A series of isoniazid–amidoether derivatives was synthesized and screened for their antimycobacterial activity in vitro and in vivo.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-benzylidenepyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione derivatives for the treatment of obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of chronic liver diseases, seems to be rising as the obesity epidemic continues. In this study, 54 novel (thio)barbituric acid derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for pharmacological activity. 7h exhibited potent glucose-lowering effects on insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and regulated adiponectin and leptin expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Oral administration of 7h at 25 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 4 weeks improved the progression of high fat diet-induced NAFLD by reducing the weight of body, liver, and fat, as well as modulating serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, LDL-c, ALT, adiponectin and hepatic contents of triglycerides, total cholesterol. H&E stainings revealed that 7h blocked fat deposition in liver and the increase of adipocyte number and size in adipose tissues from NAFLD. Furthermore, treatment with 7h alleviated the obese clinical symptoms, recovered serum biomarkers to appropriate ranges, and improved glucose tolerance by OGTT and IGTT in DIO mice.