A benzoxazine derivative induces vascular endothelial cell apoptosis in the presence of fibroblast growth factor-2 by elevating NADPH oxidase activity and reactive oxygen species levels

In vivo anticancer activity of benzoxazine and aminomethyl compounds derived from eugenol

Background

Indonesia is the world's primary producer of clove. In order to find new utilization for clove and new biologically active compounds, eugenol, the main constituent of clove, has been converted to its derivatives.

Objective

This study aims to examine in vivo anticancer activity of benzoxazine and aminomethyl compounds derived from eugenol.

Methods

Fibrosarcoma was induced by injection of benzo(a)pyrene solution. The test compounds were given per oral at 20, 40, and 80 mg/Kg body weight, once a day for 30 days.

Results

As a result, all the tested compounds showed activity in reducing the cancer incidence rate. All the tested compounds were also found to reduce tumor weight. Benzoxazine derivatives gave slightly better activity compared to aminomethyl derivatives. The strongest activity was exhibited by 6-allyl-3-(furan-2- ylmethyl)-8-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo(e)(1,3)oxazine.

Conclusions

All four benzoxazine and aminomethyl compounds derived from eugenol that were tested exhibited anticancer activity in mice fibrosarcoma.

Reactive Oxygen Species and NOX Enzymes Are Emerging as Key Players in Cutaneous Wound Repair

Our understanding of the role of oxygen in cell physiology has evolved from its long-recognized importance as an essential factor in oxidative metabolism to its recognition as an important player in cell signaling. With regard to the latter, oxygen is needed for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which regulate a number of different cellular functions including differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and contraction. Data specifically concerning the role of ROS-dependent signaling in cutaneous wound repair are very limited, especially regarding wound contraction. In this review we provide an overview of the current literature on the role of molecular and reactive oxygen in the physiology of wound repair as well as in the pathophysiology and therapy of chronic wounds, especially under ischemic and hyperglycemic conditions.

Aspirin alleviates cardiac fibrosis in mice by inhibiting autophagy

Aspirin (ASA) is a cardioprotective drug with anti-cardiac fibrosis action in vivo. This study was aimed to clarify the anti-cardiac fibrosis action of ASA and the underlying mechanisms. Two heart injury models (injection of isoproterenol and ligation of the left anterior descending branch) were used in mice to induce cardiac fibrosis. The animals were treated with ASA (10 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, ig) for 21 and 14 d, respectively. ASA administration significantly improved cardiac function, and ameliorated heart damage and fibrosis in the mice. The mechanisms underlying ASA's anti-fibrotic effect were further analyzed in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) exposed to hypoxia in vitro. ASA (0.5-5 mmol/L) dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation and Akt phosphorylation in the CFs. In addition, ASA significantly inhibited CF apoptosis, and decreased the levels of apoptosis markers (cleaved caspase 3 and Parp1), which might serve as a side effect of anti-fibrotic effect of ASA. Furthermore, ASA dose-dependently inhibited the autophagy in the CFs, as evidenced by the reduced levels of autophagy marker LC3-II. The autophagy inhibitor Pepstatin A (PepA) promoted the inhibitory effect of ASA on CF proliferation, whereas the autophagy inducer rapamycin rescued ASA-caused inhibition of CF proliferation, suggesting an autophagy-dependent anti-proliferative effect of ASA. Both p38 inhibitor SB203580 and ROS scavenger N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) significantly decreased Akt phosphorylation in CFs in the basal and hypoxic situations, but they both significantly increased LC3-II levels in the CFs. Our results suggest that an autophagy- and p38/ROS-dependent pathway mediates the anti-cardiac fibrosis effect of ASA in CFs. As PepA and SB203580 did not affect ASA-caused inhibition of CF apoptosis, the drug combination will enhance ASA's therapeutic effects.

Progress of the synthesis of condensed pyrazole derivatives (from 2010 to mid-2013)

Condensed pyrazole derivatives are important heterocyclic compounds due to their excellent biological activities and have been widely applied in pharmaceutical and agromedical fields. In recent years, numerous condensed pyrazole derivatives have been synthesized and advanced to clinic studies with various biological activities. In this review, we summarized the reported synthesis methods of condensed pyrazole derivatives from 2010 until now. All compounds are divided into three parts according to the rings connected to pyrazole-ring, i.e. [5, 5], [5,F 6], and [5, 7]-condensed pyrazole derivatives. The biological activities and applications in pharmaceutical fields are briefly introduced to offer an orientation for the design and synthesis of condensed pyrazole derivatives with good biological activities.

withdrawn The anti-inflammatory effects of apocynin, inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, contrasting hyaluronic acid on articular cartilage during the development of osteoarthritis in a rabbit model

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