Synthesis and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of polymethoxyflavone Mannich base derivatives

Aminoalkylated Phenolic Chalcones: Investigation of Biological Effects on Acetylcholinesterase and Carbonic Anhydrase I and II as Potential Lead Enzyme Inhibitors

Background:

Phenolic Mannich bases have been reported as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors for the medication of Alzheimer's disease. Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs) are molecular targets for anticonvulsant, diuretic and antiglaucoma drugs in the clinic. Phenolic compounds have also been mentioned as CA inhibitors. The importance of Mannich bases in drug design inspired our research group to design novel phenolic Mannic bases as potent enzyme inhibitors.

Objective:

In this study, novel Mannich bases, 1-(3,5-bis-aminomethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(4- substitutedphenyl)-2-propen-1-ones (1-9), were designed to discover new and potent AChE inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and also to report their carbonic anhydrase inhibitory potency against the most studied hCA I and hCA II isoenzymes with the hope to find out promising enzyme inhibitors.

Methods:

Mannich bases were synthesized by the Mannich reaction. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Enzyme inhibitory potency of the compounds was evaluated spectrophotometrically towards AChE, hCA I and hCA II enzymes.

Results and Discussion:

The compounds showed inhibition potency in nanomolar concentrations against AChE with Ki values ranging from 20.44±3.17 nM to 43.25±6.28 nM. They also showed CAs inhibition potency with Ki values in the range of 11.76±1.29-31.09±2.7 nM (hCA I) and 6.08 ± 1.18-23.12±4.26 nM (hCA II). Compounds 1 (hCA I), 5 (hCA II), and 4 (AChE) showed significant inhibitory potency against the enzymes targeted.

Conclusion:

Enzyme assays showed that Mannich derivatives might be considered as lead enzyme inhibitors to design more selective and potent compounds targeting enzyme-based diseases.

Physical and Chemical Stability of Formulations Loaded with Taxifolin Tetra-octanoate

Chemically stable ester derivatives of taxifolin have become a focus of interest for their role in the satisfactory effects on human health. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of different formulations containing 0.02% taxifolin tetra-octanoate, which was proved to possess higher inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity compared with taxifolin in a cell-free system. In the studies of physical stability, a Brookfield viscometer was used to determine rheological behavior of formulations containing taxifolin tetra-octanoate, and a portable pH meter was used to determine pH change. Moreover, chemical stability was determined by HPLC with UV detection. Formulations were evaluated for 12 weeks stored at 25 and 40°C. Results showed that storage time had no significant influence on viscosity of the formulations containing taxifolin tetra-octanoate, and pH value was relatively stable, which was within the limits of normal skin pH range. In the chemical stability studies, taxifolin tetra-octanoate in the essence formulation was most unstable at 40°C with about 81% degradation in 12 weeks of storage, however, the percentage of remaining taxifolin tetra-octanoate in cream formulation stored for 12 weeks at 25°C was the highest, about 93%. The results in this study may contribute to the development of more stable formulations containing taxifolin tetra-octanoate.