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Kadsanit N, Worsawat P, Sakonsinsiri C, McElroy CR, Macquarrie D, Noppawan P, Hunt AJ. Sustainable methods for the carboxymethylation and methylation of ursolic acid with dimethyl carbonate under mild and acidic conditions. RSC Adv 2024; 14:16921-16934. [PMID: 38799212 PMCID: PMC11124730 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra02122c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Ursolic acid is a triterpene plant extract that exhibits significant potential as an anti-cancer, anti-tumour, and anti-inflammatory agent. Its direct use in the pharmaceutical industry is hampered by poor uptake of ursolic acid in the human body coupled with rapid metabolism causing a decrease in bioactivity. Modification of ursolic acid can overcome such issues, however, use of toxic reagents, unsustainable synthetic routes and poor reaction metrics have limited its potential. Herein, we demonstrate the first reported carboxymethylation and/or methylation of ursolic acid with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a green solvent and sustainable reagent under acidic conditions. The reaction of DMC with ursolic acid, in the presence of PTSA, ZnCl2, or H2SO4-SiO2 yielded the carboxymethylation product 3β-[[methoxy]carbonyl]oxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, the methylation product 3β-methoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and the dehydration product urs-2,12-dien-28-oic acid. PTSA demonstrated high conversion and selectivity towards the previously unreported carboxymethylation of ursolic acid, while the application of formic acid in the system led to formylation of ursolic acid (3β-formylurs-12-en-28-oic acid) in quantitative yields via esterification, with DMC acting solely as a solvent. Meanwhile, the methylation product of ursolic acid, 3β-methoxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, was successfully synthesised with FeCl3, demonstrating exceptional conversion and selectivity, >99% and 99%, respectively. Confirmed with the use of qualitative and quantitative green metrics, this result represents a significant improvement in conversion, selectivity, safety, and sustainability over previously reported methods of ursolic acid modification. It was demonstrated that these methods could be applied to other triterpenoids, including corosolic acid. The study also explored the potential pharmaceutical applications of ursolic acid, corosolic acid, and their derivatives, particularly in anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-tumour treatments, using molecular ADMET and docking methods. The methods developed in this work have led to the synthesis of novel molecules, thus creating opportunities for the future investigation of biological activity and the modification of a wide range of triterpenoids applying acidic DMC systems to deliver novel active pharmaceutical intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttapong Kadsanit
- Materials Chemistry Research Center (MCRC), Department of Chemistry and Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand
| | - Pattamabhorn Worsawat
- Materials Chemistry Research Center (MCRC), Department of Chemistry and Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand
| | - Chadamas Sakonsinsiri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand
| | - Con R McElroy
- School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln Brayford Pool Campus Lincoln LN6 7TS UK
- Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York Heslington York YO10 5DD UK
| | - Duncan Macquarrie
- Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York Heslington York YO10 5DD UK
| | - Pakin Noppawan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University Maha Sarakham 44150 Thailand
| | - Andrew J Hunt
- Materials Chemistry Research Center (MCRC), Department of Chemistry and Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University Khon Kaen 40002 Thailand
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Farzan M, Farzan M, Shahrani M, Navabi SP, Vardanjani HR, Amini-Khoei H, Shabani S. Neuroprotective properties of Betulin, Betulinic acid, and Ursolic acid as triterpenoids derivatives: a comprehensive review of mechanistic studies. Nutr Neurosci 2024; 27:223-240. [PMID: 36821092 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2023.2180865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits are the main outcome of neurological disorders whose occurrence has risen over the past three decades. Although there are some pharmacologic approaches approved for managing neurological disorders, it remains largely ineffective. Hence, exploring novel nature-based nutraceuticals is a pressing need to alleviate the results of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Some triterpenoids and their derivates can be considered potential therapeutics against neurological disorders due to their neuroprotective and cognitive-improving effects. Betulin (B), betulinic acid (BA), and ursolic acid (UA) are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with a variety of biological activities, including antioxidative, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the therapeutic efficacy and probable molecular mechanisms of triterpenoids in damage prevention to neurons and restoring cognition in neurodegenerative diseases. Considering few studies on this concept, the precise mechanisms that mediate the effect of these compounds in neurodegenerative disorders have remained unknown. The findings can provide sufficient information about the advantages of these compounds against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahan Farzan
- Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- PhytoPharmacology Interest Group (PPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahour Farzan
- Student Research Committee, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- Neuroscience Research Group (NRG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Shahrani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Parisa Navabi
- Persian Gulf Physiology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hossien Rajabi Vardanjani
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Sahreh Shabani
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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Zhang F, Zhang T, Gong J, Fang Q, Qi S, Li M, Han Y, Liu W, Ge G. The Chinese herb Styrax triggers pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions via inhibiting intestinal CYP3A. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:974578. [PMID: 36110541 PMCID: PMC9469097 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.974578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytochrome P450 3A4 (hCYP3A4) is a predominant enzyme to trigger clinically relevant drug/herb-drug interactions (DDIs or HDIs). Although a number of herbal medicines have been found with strong anti-hCYP3A4 effects in vitro, the in vivo modulatory effects of herbal medicines on hCYP3A4 and their potential risks to trigger HDIs are rarely investigated. Herein, we demonstrate a case study to efficiently find the herbal medicine(s) with potent hCYP3A4 inhibition in vitro and to accurately assess the potential HDIs risk in vivo. Following screening over 100 herbal medicines, the Chinese herb Styrax was found with the most potent hCYP3A4 inhibition in HLMs. In vitro assays demonstrated that Styrax could potently inhibit mammalian CYP3A in liver and intestinal microsomes from both humans and rats. In vivo pharmacokinetic assays showed that Styrax (i.g., 100 mg/kg) significantly elevated the plasma exposure of two CYP3A-substrate drugs (midazolam and felodipine) when midazolam or felodipine was administered orally. By contrast, the plasma exposure of either midazolam or felodipine was hardly affected by Styrax (i.g.) when the victim drug was administered intravenously. Further investigations demonstrated that seven pentacyclic triterpenoid acids (PTAs) in Styrax were key substances responsible for CYP3A inhibition, while these PTAs could be exposed to intestinal tract at relatively high exposure levels but their exposure levels in rat plasma and liver were extremely low. These findings well explained why Styrax (i.g.) could elevate the plasma exposure of victim drugs only when these agents were orally administrated. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Styrax can modulate the pharmacokinetic behavior of CYP3A-substrate drugs via inhibiting intestinal CYP3A, which is very helpful for the clinical pharmacologists to better assess the HDIs triggered by Styrax or Styrax-related herbal products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiantian Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jiahao Gong
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinqin Fang
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglan Qi
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengting Li
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Han
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Guangbo Ge, ; Wei Liu, ; Yan Han,
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Guangbo Ge, ; Wei Liu, ; Yan Han,
| | - Guangbo Ge
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Guangbo Ge, ; Wei Liu, ; Yan Han,
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Kinetic Characteristics of Curcumin and Germacrone in Rat and Human Liver Microsomes: Involvement of CYP Enzymes. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144482. [PMID: 35889364 PMCID: PMC9317718 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Curcumin and germacrone, natural products present in the Zingiberaceae family of plants, have several biological properties. Among these properties, the anti-NSCLC cancer action is noteworthy. In this paper, kinetics of the two compounds in rat liver microsomes (RLMs), human liver microsomes (HLMs), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP3A4, 1A2, 2E1, and 2C19) in an NADPH-generating system in vitro were evaluated by UP-HPLC–MS/MS (ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry). The contents of four cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, adjusting by the compounds were detected using Western blotting in vitro and in vivo. The t1/2 of curcumin was 22.35 min in RLMs and 173.28 min in HLMs, while 18.02 and 16.37 min were gained for germacrone. The Vmax of curcumin in RLMs was about 4-fold in HLMs, meanwhile, the Vmax of germacrone in RLMs was similar to that of HLMs. The single enzyme t1/2 of curcumin was 38.51 min in CYP3A4, 301.4 min in 1A2, 69.31 min in 2E1, 63.01 min in 2C19; besides, as to the same enzymes, t1/2 of germacrone was 36.48 min, 86.64 min, 69.31 min, and 57.76 min. The dynamic curves were obtained by reasonable experimental design and the metabolism of curcumin and germacrone were selected in RLMs/HLMs. The selectivities in the two liver microsomes differed in degradation performance. These results meant that we should pay more attention to drugs in clinical medication–drug and drug–enzyme interactions.
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Nguyen HT, Le XT, Van Nguyen T, Phung HN, Pham HTN, Nguyen KM, Matsumoto K. Ursolic acid and its isomer oleanolic acid are responsible for the anti-dementia effects of Ocimum sanctum in olfactory bulbectomized mice. J Nat Med 2022; 76:621-633. [PMID: 35218459 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-022-01609-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to clarify the bioactive constituents responsible for the anti-dementia effects of Ocimum sanctum Linn. ethanolic extract (OS) using olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) mice, an animal model of dementia. The effects of OS or its extract further fractionated with n-hexane (OS-H), ethyl acetate (OS-E), and n-butanol (OS-B) on the spatial cognitive deficits of OBX mice were elucidated by the modified Y-maze tests. The effects of the major constituents of the most active OS fraction were also elucidated using the reference drug donepezil. The administration of OS and OS-E ameliorated the spatial cognitive deficits caused by OBX, whereas OS-H or OS-B had no effect. Two major constituents, ursolic acid (URO) and oleanolic acid (OLE), and three minor constituents were isolated from OS-E. URO (6 and 12 mg/kg) and OLE (24 mg/kg) attenuated the OBX-induced cognitive deficits. URO (6 mg/kg) and donepezil reversed the OBX-induced down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and choline acetyltransferase expression levels in the hippocampus. URO inhibited the ex vivo activity of acetylcholinesterase with similar efficacy to donepezil. URO inhibited the in vitro activity of acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 106.5 μM), while the effects of OS, OS-E, and other isolated compounds were negligible. These findings suggest that URO and OLE are responsible for the anti-dementia action of OS extract, whereas URO possesses a more potent anti-dementia effect than its isomer OLE. The effects of URO are, at least in part, mediated by normalizing the function of central cholinergic systems and VEGF protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hien Thu Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Xoan Thi Le
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam.
| | - Tai Van Nguyen
- Department of Phytochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Hoa Nhu Phung
- Department of Phytochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Hang Thi Nguyet Pham
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Khoi Minh Nguyen
- Department of Phytochemistry, National Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam
| | - Kinzo Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daiichi University of Pharmacy, Fukuoka, 815-8511, Japan
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