Egbujor MC, Buttari B, Profumo E, Telkoparan-Akillilar P, Saso L. An Overview of NRF2-Activating Compounds Bearing α,β-Unsaturated Moiety and Their Antioxidant Effects.
Int J Mol Sci 2022;
23:8466. [PMID:
35955599 PMCID:
PMC9369284 DOI:
10.3390/ijms23158466]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The surge of scientific interest in the discovery of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 (NFE2)-Related Factor 2 (NRF2)-activating molecules underscores the importance of NRF2 as a therapeutic target especially for oxidative stress. The chemical reactivity and biological activities of several bioactive compounds have been linked to the presence of α,β-unsaturated structural systems. The α,β-unsaturated carbonyl, sulfonyl and sulfinyl functional groups are reportedly the major α,β-unsaturated moieties involved in the activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. The carbonyl, sulfonyl and sulfinyl groups are generally electron-withdrawing groups, and the presence of the α,β-unsaturated structure qualifies them as suitable electrophiles for Michael addition reaction with nucleophilic thiols of cysteine residues within the proximal negative regulator of NRF2, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1). The physicochemical property such as good lipophilicity of these moieties is also an advantage because it ensures solubility and membrane permeability required for the activation of the cytosolic NRF2/KEAP1 system. This review provides an overview of the reaction mechanism of α,β-unsaturated moiety-bearing compounds with the NRF2/KEAP1 complex, their pharmacological properties, structural activity-relationship and their effect on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. As the first of its kind, this review article offers collective and comprehensive information on NRF2-activators containing α,β-unsaturated moiety with the aim of broadening their therapeutic prospects in a wide range of oxidative stress-related diseases.
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