Design, synthesis, and bioevaluation of paeonol derivatives as potential anti-HBV agents

Synthesis of Cytotoxic Benzofurans and Ethers Derivatives of Paeonol

Paeonol is a broadly studied natural product due to its many biological activities. Using a methodology previously employed by our research group, 11 derivatives of paeonol were synthesized (seven of them are unpublished compounds), including four ethers and seven benzofurans. Additionally, we determined the crystal structure of one of these ether derivatives (1 a) and of five benzofuran derivatives (2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 f and 2 g) by single crystal X-ray diffraction. To continue studying the cytotoxicity of this natural product and its derivatives, all compounds were tested against two cancer cell lines, HCT116 and MCF-7. Compounds 2 b, 2 e, and 2 g were considered active against the colorectal adenocarcinoma cells HCT116 (Growth inhibition >60 %). Compound 2 e showed an IC50 of 0.2 μM and was selected for further analysis, results reinforce its anticancer potential.

Sulfonate derivatives bearing an amide unit: design, synthesis and biological activity studies

Pest disasters which occurs on crops is a serious problem that not only cause crop yield loss or even crop failure but can also spread a number of plant diseases.Sulfonate derivatives have been widely used in insecticide and fungicide research in recent years. On this basis, a series of sulfonate derivatives bearing an amide unit are synthesized and the biological activities are evaluated. The bioassay results showed that compounds A8, A13, A16, B1, B3, B4, B5, B10, B12 - 20, C3, C5, C9, C10, C14, C15, C17 and C19 showed 100% activity at a concentration of 500 µg/mL against the Plutella xylostella (P. xylostella). Among them, B15 which contains a thiadiazole sulfonate structure still shows 100% activity at 50 µg/mL concentration against P. xylostella and had the lowest median lethal concentration (LC50) (7.61 µg/mL) among the target compounds. Further mechanism studies are conducted on compounds with better insecticidal activity. Molecular docking results shows that B15 formed hydrophobic interactions π-π and hydrogen bonds with the indole ring of Trp532 and the carboxyl group of Asp384, respectively, with similar interaction distances or bond lengths as those of diflubenzuron. Moreover, chitinase inhibition assays are performed to further demonstrate its mode of action. In addition, the anti-bacterial activity of the series of compounds is also tested and the results showed that the series of compounds has moderate biological activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc), with inhibition rates of 91%, 92% and 92%, 88% at the concentration of 100 µg/mL, respectively. Our study indicates that B15 can be used as a novel insecticide for crop protection.

Paeonol repurposing for cancer therapy: From mechanism to clinical translation

Paeonol (PAE) is a natural phenolic monomer isolated from the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa that has been widely used in the clinical treatment of some inflammatory-related diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Much preclinical evidence has demonstrated that PAE not only exhibits a broad spectrum of anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion and migration and inducing cell apoptosis and cycle arrest through multiple molecular pathways, but also shows excellent performance in improving cancer drug sensitivity, reversing chemoresistance and reducing the toxic side effects of anticancer drugs. However, studies indicate that PAE has the characteristics of poor stability, low bioavailability and short half-life, which makes the effective dose of PAE in many cancers usually high and greatly limits its clinical translation. Fortunately, nanomaterials and derivatives are being developed to ameliorate PAE's shortcomings. This review aims to systematically cover the anticancer advances of PAE in pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, nano delivery systems and derivatives, to provide researchers with the latest and comprehensive information, and to point out the limitations of current studies and areas that need to be strengthened in future studies. We believe this work will be beneficial for further exploration and repurposing of this natural compound as a new clinical anticancer drug.

Synthesis and Bioactivity of Novel Sulfonate Scaffold-Containing Pyrazolecarbamide Derivatives as Antifungal and Antiviral Agents

Novel pyrazolecarbamide derivatives bearing a sulfonate fragment were synthesized to identify potential antifungal and antiviral agents. All the structures of the key intermediates and target compounds were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction of the compound T22 showed that pyrazole carbamide is a sulfonate. The in vitro antifungal activities of the target compounds against Colletotrichum camelliae, Pestalotiopsis theae, Gibberella zeae, and Rhizoctonia solani were evaluated at 50 μg/ml. Among the four pathogens, the target compounds exhibited the highest antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. The compound T24 (EC₅₀ = 0.45 mg/L) had higher antifungal activity than the commercial fungicide hymexazol (EC₅₀ = 10.49 mg/L) against R. solani, almost similar to bixafen (EC₅₀ = 0.25 mg/L). Additionally, the target compounds exhibited protective effects in vivo against TMV. Thus, this study reveals that pyrazolecarbamide derivatives bearing a sulfonate fragment exhibit potential antifungal and antiviral activities.

Biological Activities of Paeonol in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review

Paeonol is a naturally existing bioactive compound found in the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa and it is traditionally used in Chinese medicine for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. To date, a great deal of studies has been reported on the pharmacological effects of paeonol and its mechanisms of action in various diseases and conditions. In this review, the underlying mechanism of action of paeonol in cardiovascular disease has been elucidated. Recent studies have revealed that paeonol treatment improved endothelium injury, demoted inflammation, ameliorated oxidative stress, suppressed vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and repressed platelet activation. Paeonol has been reported to effectively protect the cardiovascular system either employed alone or in combination with other traditional medicines, thus, signifying it could be a hypothetically alternative or complementary atherosclerosis treatment. This review summarizes the biological and pharmacological activities of paeonol in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and its associated underlying mechanisms for a better insight for future clinical practices.

Paeonol Derivatives and Pharmacological Activities: A Review of Recent Progress

Paeonol, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy acetophenone, is one of the main active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine such as Cynanchum paniculatum, Paeonia suffruticosa Andr and Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Modern medical research has shown that paeonol has a wide range of pharmacological activities. In recent years, a large number of studies have been carried out on the structure modification of paeonol and the mechanism of action of paeonol derivatives has been studied. Some paeonol derivatives exhibit good pharmacological activities in terms of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic analgesic, antioxidant and other pharmacological effects. Herein, the research progress on paeonol derivatives and their pharmacological activities were systematically reviewed.

Cynanchum paniculatum and Its Major Active Constituents for Inflammatory-Related Diseases: A Review of Traditional Use, Multiple Pathway Modulations, and Clinical Applications

Cynanchum paniculatum Radix, known as Xuchangqing in Chinese, is commonly prescribed in Chinese Medicine (CM) for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The anti-inflammatory property of Cynanchum paniculatum can be traced from its wind-damp removing, collaterals' obstruction relieving, and toxins counteracting effects as folk medicine in CM. This paper systematically reviewed the research advancement of the pharmacological effects of Cynanchum paniculatum among a variety of human diseases, including diseases of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, urogenital, hematopoietic, endocrine and metabolomic, neurological, skeletal, and rheumatological systems and malignant diseases. This review aims to link the long history of clinical applications of Cynanchum paniculatum in CM with recent biomedical investigations. The major bioactive chemical compositions of Cynanchum paniculatum and their associated action mechanism unveiled by biomedical investigations as well as the present clinical applications and future perspectives are discussed. The major focuses of this review are on the diverse mechanisms of Cynanchum paniculatum and the role of its active components in inflammatory diseases.

Combinatorial Synthesis of A Series of Paeonol-based Phenylsulfonyl hydrazone Derivatives as Insecticidal Agents

Background:

Plant secondary metabolites play an essential role in the discovery of novel insecticide due to their unique sources and potential target sites. Paeonol, the main phenolic components in Moutan Cortex, is recognized as a safe and potent botanical insecticide to many insects. The structural modification of paeonol in this study into phenylsulfonylhydrazone derivatives is proved an effective approach for the development of novel insecticides, those derivatives being more toxic than paeonol. However, there have been no reports on the insecticidal activity of paeonol-based phenylsulfonylhydrazone derivatives in controlling Mythimna separata.

Methods:

We have been working to discover biorational natural products-based insecticides. Twelve novel paeonol-based phenylsulfonylhydrazone derivatives have been successfully prepared by structural modification of paeonol, and the insecticidal activity against M. separata by the leafdipping method at the concentration of 1 mg/mL has been evaluated.

Results:

Insecticidal activity revealed that out of 12 title compounds, derivatives 5c and 5f displayed the best against M. separate with the FMR both of 53.6% than toosendanin (FMR = 50.0%).

Conclusion:

The results suggested that for the paeonol-based phenylsulfonylhydrazone series derivatives, the proper substituent of arylsulfonyl R at the hydroxyl position of paeonol was very important for their insecticidal activity. These preliminary results will pave the way for further modification of paeonol in the development of potential new insecticides.

Chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and recent novel drug delivery systems of paeonol

Paeonol is a bioactive phenol present in Dioscorea japonica, Paeonia suffruticosa and Paeonia lactiflora. It is reported for various pharmacological activities.

AIM

To review chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activities as well as various formulations of paeonol.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was done using different search terms for paeonol by using different scientific databases like PubMed, Scopus and ProQuest. Scientific papers published during the period 1969 to 2019 were comprehensively reviewed.

KEY FINDINGS

Researchers have synthesized methoxy, ethoxy, piperazine, chromonylthiazolidine, phenol-phenylsulfonyl, alkyl ether, aminothiazole, tryptamine hybrids and paeononlsilatie derivatives to enhance the stability of paeonol. These derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro series of biological activities like anti-inflammatory, tyrosinase inhibitory, neuroprotective, anticancer and antiviral activity. Regardless of valuable therapeutic potential, the clinical use of paeonol is restricted due to poor water solubility, low oral bioavailability, low stability and high volatility at room temperature. To enhance the bioavailability of paeonol various formulations are prepared and evaluated for its activity. Paeonol formulations can be categorized as conventional-tablets, topical gel and hydrogel; polymeric delivery system-microparticles, microsponges, dendrimers, nanocapsules, polymeric nanoparticles, nanospheres; lipid-based delivery systems-microemulsion, self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery, liposome, transethosomes, ethosomes, niosomes, proniosomes, lipid-based nanoparticles and nanoemulsion of paeonol.

SIGNIFICANCE

Paeonol has a potential to be developed as a techno-commercial product with respect to its multi-faceted pharmacological properties. Even though in vitro and in vivo studies have been reported the important activities of paeonol, its commercial utilization requires extensive safety and efficacy data.

Novel paeonol derivatives: Design, synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo

Paeonol has been proved to have potential anti-inflammatory activity, but its clinical application is not extensive due to the poor anti-inflammatory activity (14.74% inhibitory activity at 20 μM). In order to discover novel lead compound with high anti-inflammatory activity, series of paeonol derivatives were designed and synthesized, their anti-inflammatory activities were screened in vitro and in vivo. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) have been fully concluded, and finally (E)-N-(4-(2-acetyl-5-methoxyphenoxy)phenyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimet-hoxyphenyl)acrylamide (compound 11a) was found to be the best active compound with low toxicity, which showed 96.32% inhibitory activity at 20 μM and IC₅₀ value of 6.96 μM against LPS-induced over expression of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Preliminary mechanism studies indicated that it could inhibit the expression of TLR4, resulting in inhibiting of NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Further studies have shown that compound 11a has obvious therapeutic effect against the adjuvant-induced rat arthritis model.

Design, synthesis, and antitumor activity of novel paeonol derivatives containing the 1,4-benzoxazinone and 1,2,3-triazole moieties

A new series of paeonol derivatives containing the 1,4-benzoxazinone and 1,2,3-triazole moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity in vitro against human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells and human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Among them, compared with that of paeonol, compounds 8-acetyl-4-{[(1-(5-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)-1 H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methyl}-5-methoxy-2 H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one, 8-acetyl-4-[(1-mesityl-1 H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-5-methoxy-2 H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one, and 8-acetyl-5-methoxy-4-{[(1-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1 H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methyl}-2 H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4 H)-one exhibited significant inhibitory activity toward the human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H1299 cells (IC50 = 13.36 ± 0.003, 19.75 ± 0.3, 15.79 ± 0.05 μg mL−1). The last compound also exhibited significant inhibitory activity toward the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells (IC50 = 19.73 ± 1.0 μg mL−1).

Design, Synthesis, and Bioactive Screen In Vitro of Cyclohexyl (E)-4-(Hydroxyimino)-4-Phenylbutanoates and Their Ethers for Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Agents

A series of oxime Cyclohexyl (E)-4-(hydroxyimino)-4-phenylbutanoates and their ethers were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities with HepG 2.2.15 cell line in vitro. Most of these compounds possessed anti-HBV activities, and among them, compound 4B-2 showed significant inhibiting effects on the secretion of HBsAg (IC₅₀ = 63.85 ± 6.26 μM, SI = 13.41) and HBeAg (IC₅₀ = 49.39 ± 4.17 μM, SI = 17.34) comparing to lamivudine (3TC) in HBsAg (IC₅₀ = 234.2 ± 17.17 μM, SI = 2.2) and HBeAg (IC₅₀ = 249.9 ± 21.51 μM, SI = 2.07). Docking study of these compounds binding to a protein residue (PDB ID: 3OX8) from HLA-A2 that with the immunodominant HBcAg18–27 epitope (HLA-A2.1- restricted CTL epitope) active site was carried out by using molecular operation environment (MOE) software. Docking results showed that behaviors of these compounds binding to the active site in HLA-A protein residue partly coincided with their behaviors in vitro anti-HBV active screening.

Assessment of quinazolinone derivatives as novel non-nucleoside hepatitis B virus inhibitors

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide public health issue. Search for novel non-nucleoside anti-HBV agents is of great importance. In the present study, a series of quinazolinones derivatives (4a-t and 5a-f) were synthesized and evaluated as novel anti-HBV agents. Among them, compounds 5e and 5f could significantly inhibit HBV DNA replication with IC₅₀ values of 1.54 μM and 0.71 μM, respectively. Interestingly, the selective index values of 5f was higher than that of lead compound K284-1405, suggesting 5f possessed relatively safety profile than K284-1405. Notably, 5e and 5f exhibited remarkably anti-HBV activities against lamivudine and entecavir resistant HBV strain with IC₅₀ values of 1.90 and 0.84 μM, confirming their effectiveness against resistant HBV strain. In addition, molecular docking studies indicated that compounds 5e and 5f could well fit into the dimer-dimer interface of HBV core protein dominated by hydrophobic interactions. Notably, their binding modes were different from the lead compound K284-1405, which may be attributed to the additional substituent groups in the quinazolinone scaffold. Taken together, 5e and 5f possessed novel chemical structure and potent anti-HBV activity against both drug sensitive and resistant HBV strains, thus warranting further research as potential non-nucleoside anti-HBV candidates.

Paeonol: pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action

Paeonia suffruticosa possesses various medicinal benefits and has been used extensively in traditional oriental medicine for thousands of years. Paeonol is the main component isolated from the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa. The pharmacological effects of Paeonia suffruticosa are mostly attributed to paeonol. Paeonol injection has been successfully applied in China for nearly 50 years for inflammation/pain-related indications. Currently, the dosage forms of paeonol approved by China Food and Drug Administration include tablet, injection, and external preparations such as ointment and adhesive plaster. So far, the clinical applications of paeonol are mainly focusing on the anti-inflammatory activity. Studies of other pharmacological activities of paeonol are developing rapidly, and which may play an important role in the future. Besides, substantial mechanisms of pharmacological action of paeonol have been clarified in recent years. In this review, we summarize the pharmacological effects anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-tumor, anti-cardiovascular diseases and associated mechanisms of action of paeonol up to date.

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine therapy on survival and hepatic outcomes in patients with hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a complementary natural medicine that is used widely for the treatment of hepatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the long-term use of CHM for the treatment of liver diseases, as prescribed by TCM doctors, on overall mortality and hepatic outcomes in patients with HCV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We identified 98788 patients with HCV. Of these, 829 and 829 patients who were users and non-users of CHM, respectively, were matched for age, gender, CCI, and comorbidities prior to CHM treatment. The chi-squared test, Cox proportional hazard model, Kaplan--Meier method, and log-rank test were used for comparisons.

RESULTS

CHM users had a lower risk of overall mortality than non-users after adjustment for comorbidities by using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model (p-value < 0.001; HR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.06-0.26). In addition,the CHM users had a lower risk of liver cirrhosis than non-users after adjustment for comorbidities (p-value = 0.028; HR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.88). The 12-year cumulative incidences of overall mortality and liver cirrhosis were lower in the CHM group (p-value < 0.05 for both, log rank test). The CHM co-prescription for Dan-Shen, Bie-Jia, Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San => E-Shu was found to occur most often associated for the specific treatment of HCV infection.

CONCLUSION

CHM as adjunctive therapy may reduce the overall mortality and the risk of liver cirrhosis in patients with HCV. The comprehensive list of the herbal medicines that may be used for the treatment of patients with HCV may be useful in future scientific investigations or for future therapeutic interventions to prevent negative hepatic outcomes in patients with HCV.

Discovery of Oxime Ethers as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Inhibitors by Docking, Screening and In Vitro Investigation

A series of oxime ethers with C₆-C₄ fragment was designed and virtually bioactively screened by docking with a target, then provided by a Friedel–Crafts reaction, esterification (or amidation), and oximation from p-substituted phenyl derivatives (Methylbenzene, Methoxybenzene, Chlorobenzene). Anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated with HepG2.2.15 cells in vitro. Results showed that most of compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity on HepG2.2.15 cells and significant inhibition on the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg. Among them, compound 5c-1 showed the most potent activity on inhibiting HBsAg secretion (IC₅₀ = 39.93 μM, SI = 28.51). Results of the bioactive screening showed that stronger the compounds bound to target human leukocyte antigen A protein in docking, the more active they were in anti-HBV activities in vitro.

Evaluation of LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury Attenuation in Rats by Aminothiazole-Paeonol Derivatives

Paeonol is a key phenolic compound in the root bark of Moutan Cortex Radicis that has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine to ameliorate inflammation. A series of aminothiazole-paeonol derivatives (APDs) were synthesized in this work and subjected to preliminary evaluation in cells followed by verification in animals. Quantification of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in culture media of LPS-activated A549 cells, a lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line, were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory capability of APDs. ALI-bearing rats were employed to verify therapeutic efficacy of APDs according to observations of total cells, protein amounts, MCP-1 and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histopathological examinations of lung tissues were consequently applied for validation of APDs. Among these compounds, 2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-5-methoxyphenol (4) had the most potent activity, showing comparable inhibition of MCP-1/IL-6 and superior elimination of neutrophil infiltration and protein exudation in lungs compared to others as well as dexamethasone. This study demonstrated a comprehensive strategy to evaluate APDs through integration of cell-based screening and animal-based verification. In order to fulfill unmet needs of treating acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), APDs introduced in this work could be promising lead compounds to develop high potent anti-inflammation agents.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of paeonol analogues in the murine model of complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis

A new series of paeonol alkyl ether analogues were synthesized and confirmed with IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS spectra. They have shown anti-inflammatory activities by scavenging mediator of free radicals and inhibiting lipid mediator of inflammation on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in mice. The in vitro and in vivo scavenging ability of free radicals was determined by using chemical analysis and commercial assay kits, respectively. The in vivo inhibiting lipid mediator of inflammation was examined by ELISA. Our results indicated that the substitution of the hydrogen in hydroxyl group at C₂ position of paeonol 1 by short carbon chain, in the presence or absence of bromo atom at C₅ position, decreased its scavenging ability on radicals (3a or 4a vs 1), while the long alkyl substitution (C_n>14) increased the activity. Compared with 3a or 4a, scavenging abilities of 3a-h or 4a-h gradually increased following the length elongation of alkyl carbon chain. Compounds 3h and 4h showed great scavenging ability on OH, O₂^-, DPPH, ATBS⁺ and MDA, and good promotion on T-AOC and SOD. The results of the in vivo inhibiting lipid mediator of inflammation also demonstrated that 3h, 4h exhibited substantial inhibition on enzyme activity of COX-2, PGE2. Therefore, 3h and 4h have great potential to be the novel anti-inflammatory drug candidates for the therapy of arthritis.

Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions from Luculia pinceana Flower and Its Changes at Different Stages of Flower Development

Luculia plants are famed ornamental plants with sweetly fragrant flowers, of which L. pinceana Hooker, found primarily in Yunnan Province, China, has the widest distribution. Solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was employed to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from different flower development stages of L. pinceana for the evaluation of floral volatile polymorphism. Peak areas were normalized as percentages and used to determine the relative amounts of the volatiles. The results showed that a total of 39 compounds were identified at four different stages of L. pinceana flower development, including 26 at the bud stage, 26 at the initial-flowering stage, 32 at the full-flowering stage, and 32 at the end-flowering stage. The most abundant compound was paeonol (51%–83%) followed by (E,E)-α-farnesene, cyclosativene, and δ-cadinene. All these volatile compounds create the unique fragrance of L. pinceana flower. Floral scent emission offered tendency of ascending first and descending in succession, meeting its peak level at the initial-flowering stage. The richest diversity of floral volatile was detected at the third and later periods of flower development. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the composition and its relative content of floral scent differed throughout the whole flower development. The result has important implications for future floral fragrance breeding of Luculia. L. pinceana would be adequate for a beneficial houseplant and has a promising prospect for development as essential oil besides for a fragrant ornamental owing to the main compounds of floral scent with many medicinal properties.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Aminothiazole-Paeonol Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

In this study, novel aminothiazole-paeonol derivatives were synthesized and characterized using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR, mass spectroscopy, and high performance liquid chromatography. All the new synthesized compounds were evaluated according to their anticancer effect on seven cancer cell lines. The experimental results indicated that these compounds possess high anticancer potential regarding human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS cells) and human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29 cells). Among these compounds, N-[4-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]-4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide (13c) had the most potent inhibitory activity, with IC₅₀ values of 4.0 µM to AGS, 4.4 µM to HT-29 cells and 5.8 µM to HeLa cells. The 4-fluoro-N-[4-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]benzenesulfonamide (13d) was the second potent compound, showing IC₅₀ values of 7.2, 11.2 and 13.8 µM to AGS , HT-29 and HeLa cells, respectively. These compounds are superior to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for relatively higher potency against AGS and HT-29 human cancer cell lines along with lower cytotoxicity to fibroblasts. Novel aminothiazole-paeonol derivatives in this work might be a series of promising lead compounds to develop anticancer agents for treating gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma.

Design and synthesis of pyridine-pyrazole-sulfonate derivatives as potential anti-HBV agents

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an infectious disease, which can cause acute and chronic infections.

Advanced generation of paeonol-phenylsufonyl derivatives as potential anti-HBV agents

Among all the compounds we presented here, 8a showed the most potent inhibitory effect and highest selectivity index, which exceeds those of lamivudine (3TC) and our previously synthesized compound 6f.

Low-dose paeonol derivatives alleviate lipid accumulation

Here, we present a series of novel paeonol derivatives that prevent lipid accumulation at lower doses.