A novel series of 2,6,7-substituted 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin and 2,6,7-substituted 1,4-benzodioxin derivatives as lipid peroxidation inhibitors. Structure-activity relationships for high inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein peroxidation

New and promising type of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) antagonists based on the 1,4-benzodioxine structure

New leukotriene B4 (LTB4) antagonists have been synthesized that can be considered as potential anti-inflammatory drugs. Structures containing the dioxygenated nucleus of 1,4-benzodioxine constitute a potential group of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) antagonists. The objective of this study was to access efficient and selective LTB4 antagonists as a way to elucidate the role of LTB4 in inflammatory processes and therefore allow the development of new types of structures based on 1,4-benzodioxine. Forty-one new 1,4-benzodioxine molecules substituted at different positions of the heterocyclic nucleus were synthesized to determine the minimum structural requirements by studying structure-activity relationships. Eighteen of them were tested in vitro and in vivo for their anti-inflammatory activity related to the antagonist character of LTB4. Pharmacological tests have shown satisfactory in vitro activity for compounds 24b, 24c and 24e with IC50's of 288, 439, 477 nM respectively. The results of the in vivo tests, carried out with the compound that presented greater activity in the in vitro tests 24b, have shown significant anti-inflammatory properties.

Structure-activity studies on the protection of Trimetazidine derivatives modified with nitroxides and their precursors from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Trimetazidine, the known anti-anginal and anti-ischemic drug, was modified by pyrroline and tetrahydropyridine nitroxides and their hydroxylamine and sterically hindered secondary amine precursors. The synthesized new compounds proved to be better superoxide scavenger molecules compared to the parent Trimetazidine in an in vitro experiment. This reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity was further supported by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) studies on Langendorff-perfused rat hearts pretreated with Trimetazidine and with the modified Trimetazidine derivatives before ischemia. Two of the investigated compounds, containing 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole and 4-phenyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole substituents on the piperazine ring, provided significant protection from the cardiac dysfunction caused by I/R. The protective effect could be attributed to the combined anti-ischemic and antioxidant effects.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Prazosin-Related Derivatives as Multipotent Compounds

To combine in the same molecule alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor blocking and antioxidant properties, compounds 2-5 were designed and synthesized. All compounds were effective alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor antagonists and were tested in both functional and binding assays. In addition, compounds 2 and 5 also displayed significant capacity to inhibit intracellular oxidative stress, whereas 3-5 exerted potent antiproliferative activity in lymph node carcinoma of prostate cells.

Probucol in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a double-blind randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

A final step in the pathology of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is oxidative damage to hepatocytes. Probucol is a lipid-lowering agent with strong antioxidant properties. We designed a double-blind randomized controlled study to evaluate the effects of probucol in NASH.

METHODS

Thirty cases of biopsy-proven NASH were included. Subjects were randomly allocated to either the treatment group or to the control group by a 2:1 ratio. The treatment group was given 500 mg of probucol daily for 6 months, and the control group, an identically appearing placebo.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven cases completed the study. The mean aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels changed from 81.9 to 36.2 and 102.2 to 44.7 in the treatment group and from 57.6 to 49.6 and 96.8 to 96.2 in the control group, respectively. The decrease in ALT level in the treatment group as compared to the control group was significant at the P<0.005 level (95% confidence interval: 20.2-93.7 IU). Both AST and ALT levels dropped to normal in nine cases of the treatment group (50%) but none of the control group (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Probucol appears to be significantly effective in decreasing the ALT levels in patients with NASH.