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da Silva MG, Daros GC, de Bitencourt RM. Anti-inflammatory activity of ayahuasca: therapeutical implications in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113003. [PMID: 33166569 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a decoction with psychoactive properties, used for millennia for therapeutic and religious purposes by indigenous groups and the population of amazonian countries. As described in this narrative review, it is essentially constituted by β-carbolines and tryptamines, and it has therapeutic effects on behavioral disorders due to the inhibition of the monoamine oxidase enzyme and the activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, demonstrated through preclinical and clinical studies. It was recently observed that the pharmacological response presented by ayahuasca is linked to its anti-inflammatory action, attributed mainly to dimethyltryptamines (N, N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine), which act as endogenous systemic regulators of inflammation and immune homeostasis, also through sigma-1 receptors. Therefore, since neuroinflammation is among the main pathophysiological mechanisms related to the development of neurological and psychiatric diseases, we suggest, based on the available evidence, that ayahuasca is a promising and very safe therapeutic strategy since extremely high doses are required to reach toxicity. However, even so, additional studies are needed to confirm such evidence, as well as the complete elucidation of the mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Goulart da Silva
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of South Santa Catarina, Av. José Acácio Moreira, 787, Dehon, 88704-900, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Cabreira Daros
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of South Santa Catarina, Av. José Acácio Moreira, 787, Dehon, 88704-900, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Mariano de Bitencourt
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of South Santa Catarina, Av. José Acácio Moreira, 787, Dehon, 88704-900, Tubarão, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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de la Fuente Revenga M, Pérez C, Morales-García JA, Alonso-Gil S, Pérez-Castillo A, Caignard DH, Yáñez M, Gamo AM, Rodríguez-Franco MI. Neurogenic Potential Assessment and Pharmacological Characterization of 6-Methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (Pinoline) and Melatonin-Pinoline Hybrids. ACS Chem Neurosci 2015; 6:800-10. [PMID: 25815906 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
6-Methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (pinoline) and N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (melatonin) are both structurally related to 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). Here we describe the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of melatonin rigid analogues resulting from the hybridization of both pinoline and melatonin structures. The pharmacological evaluation of melatonin-pinoline hybrids comprises serotonergic and melatonergic receptors, metabolic enzymes (monoamine oxidases), antioxidant potential, the in vitro blood-brain barrier permeability, and neurogenic studies. Pinoline at trace concentrations and 2-acetyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline (2) were able to stimulate early neurogenesis and neuronal maturation in an in vitro model of neural stem cells isolated from the adult rat subventricular zone. Such effects are presumably mediated via serotonergic and melatonergic stimulation, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario de la Fuente Revenga
- Instituto de Química
Médica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
(IQM-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006-Madrid, Spain
| | - Concepción Pérez
- Instituto de Química
Médica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
(IQM-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006-Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Morales-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones
Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de
Investigaciones Científicas (IIB-CSIC), C/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029-Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación
Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), C/Valderrebollo 5, 28031-Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Alonso-Gil
- Instituto de Investigaciones
Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de
Investigaciones Científicas (IIB-CSIC), C/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029-Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación
Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), C/Valderrebollo 5, 28031-Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Pérez-Castillo
- Instituto de Investigaciones
Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, Consejo Superior de
Investigaciones Científicas (IIB-CSIC), C/Arturo Duperier 4, 28029-Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación
Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), C/Valderrebollo 5, 28031-Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel-Henri Caignard
- Institut
de Recherches
Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, 78290-Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - Matilde Yáñez
- Facultad
de Farmacia, Departamento de Farmacología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, La Coruña, 15782-Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana M. Gamo
- Facultad
de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Orgánica
I, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040-Madrid, Spain
| | - María Isabel Rodríguez-Franco
- Instituto de Química
Médica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
(IQM-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006-Madrid, Spain
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Hardeland R, Tan DX, Reiter RJ. Kynuramines, metabolites of melatonin and other indoles: the resurrection of an almost forgotten class of biogenic amines. J Pineal Res 2009; 47:109-126. [PMID: 19573038 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2009.00701.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 361] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Kynuramines represent their own class of biogenic amines. They are formed either by decarboxylation of kynurenines or pyrrole ring cleavage of indoleamines. N(2)-formylated compounds formed in this last reaction can be deformylated either enzymatically by arylamine formamidases or hemoperoxidases, or photochemically. The earlier literature mainly focussed on cardiovascular effects of kynuramine, 5-hydroxykynuramine and their N(1),N(1)-dimethylated analogs, including indirect effects via release of catecholamines or acetylcholine and interference with serotonin receptors. After the discovery of N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N(1)-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK) as major brain metabolites of melatonin, these compounds became of particular interest. They were shown to be produced enzymatically, pseudoenzymatically, by various free radical-mediated and via photochemical processes. In recent years, AFMK and AMK were shown to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thereby forming several newly discovered 3-indolinone, cinnolinone and quinazoline compounds, and to protect tissues from damage by reactive intermediates in various models. AMK is of special interest due to its properties as a potent cyclooxygenase inhibitor, NO scavenger forming a stable nitrosation product, inhibitor and/or downregulator of neuronal and inducible NO synthases, and a mitochondrial metabolism modulator. AMK easily interacts with aromates, forms adducts with tyrosyl and tryptophanyl residues, and may modify proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger Hardeland
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dun-Xian Tan
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Russel J Reiter
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Moura DJ, Richter MF, Boeira JM, Pêgas Henriques JA, Saffi J. Antioxidant properties of -carboline alkaloids are related to their antimutagenic and antigenotoxic activities. Mutagenesis 2007; 22:293-302. [PMID: 17545209 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gem016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The beta-carboline alkaloids found in medical plants and in a variety of foods, beverages and cigarette smoke have a range of action in various biological systems. In vitro studies have demonstrated that these alkaloids can act as scavengers of reactive oxygen species. In this paper, we report the in vivo antioxidative properties of the aromatic (harmane, harmine, harmol) and dihydro-beta-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) studied by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains proficient and deficient in antioxidant defenses. Their antimutagenic activity was also assayed in S. cerevisiae and the antigenotoxicity was tested by the comet assay in V79 cell line, when both eukaryotic systems were exposed to H(2)O(2). We show that the alkaloids have a significant protective effect against H(2)O(2) and paraquat oxidative agents in yeast cells, and that their ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals contributes to their antimutagenic and antigenotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinara Jaqueline Moura
- Departamento de Biofísica/Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
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Poeggeler B, Thuermann S, Dose A, Schoenke M, Burkhardt S, Hardeland R. Melatonin's unique radical scavenging properties - roles of its functional substituents as revealed by a comparison with its structural analogs. J Pineal Res 2002; 33:20-30. [PMID: 12121482 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-079x.2002.01873.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin's O-methyl and N-acetyl residues are not only the basis of its amphilicity enabling the molecule to enter all organs and all subcellular compartments, but are also decisive for its antioxidant properties. We have compared melatonin's redox chemistry with that of several structural analogs: tryptamine, N-acetyltryptamine, serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, 6-chloromelatonin and 2-iodomelatonin. Scavenging of hydroxyl radicals (*OH) was measured in a scavenger competition assay based on ABTS cation radical (ABTS(*)+) formation. The capability of undergoing single-electron transfer reactions was studied using an ABTS(*)+ reduction assay, reflecting the more general property of scavenging organic cation radicals. Direct scavenging of superoxide anions (O2(*)-), under non-catalyzed conditions, was investigated in a hematoxylin autoxidation assay. Measurements of chemiluminescence were used for studying scavenging of O2(*)- under catalyzed conditions, either by hemin-mediated interaction or by combination with the respective indolyl cation radicals. Light emission was determined in the absence or presence of the *OH scavenger dimethylsulfoxide and the O2(*)- scavenger Tiron. Products formed by oxidation of the respective indoles in a moderately alkaline, hemin-catalyzed H2O2 system were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and fluorometry. Absence of either the O-methyl or the N-acetyl residue causes marked diminutions in the capacities of scavenging *OH and ABTS(*)+ as well as in chemiluminescence emitted during oxidation. The importance of the N-acetyl group is insofar remarkable as it seems, at first glance, to be isolated from the indolic moiety; interactions between side chain and indolic moiety are therefore decisive for melatonin's redox properties. The 5-hydroxylated compounds are not generally more efficient scavengers, but particularly better reducers of ABTS(*)+; in the alkaline H2O2 system generating *OH and O2(*)-, melatonin was much more rapidly oxidized than the 5-hydroxylated and non-substituted analogs. Oxidative products formed from any of the compounds studied contained much less of substituted kynuramines as in the case of melatonin, indicating that radical chain termination by O2(*)- is considerably more efficient with melatonin. These findings are supported by measurements of chemiluminescence, which largely reflects pyrrole ring cleavage as a result of combination with superoxide anions. In this regard, only 6-chloromelatonin equalled melatonin, whereas the efficiency of 2-iodomelatonin was much lower, another indication for the importance of 2,3-dioxygenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burkhard Poeggeler
- Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany, Department of Pathology, University of South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, AL, USA.
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Hardeland R, Reiter RJ, Poeggeler B, Tan DX. The significance of the metabolism of the neurohormone melatonin: antioxidative protection and formation of bioactive substances. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1993; 17:347-57. [PMID: 8272286 DOI: 10.1016/s0149-7634(05)80016-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that the ability of melatonin to enter all body tissues and to be metabolized, enzymatically or nonenzymatically, in any of them results in a spectrum of effects, which exceed substantially those transduced by membrane receptors. These actions comprise the formation of various bioactive compounds such as N-acetylserotonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, N,N-dimethyl-5-methoxytryptamine, 5-methoxytryptophol, cyclic 2-hydroxymelatonin, pinoline, and 5-methoxylated kynuramines. Apart from enzymatic metabolism, nonenzymatic reactions with free radicals, in particular the superoxide anion and the hydroxyl radical, represent a new and significant aspect of melatonin's biological role. Melatonin represents the most potent physiological scavenger of hydroxyl radicals found to date, and recent findings suggest an essential role of this indoleamine for protection from hydroxyl radical-induced carcinogenesis and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hardeland
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7762
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Hardeland R. The presence and function of melatonin and structurally related indoleamines in a dinoflagellate, and a hypothesis on the evolutionary significance of these tryptophan metabolites in unicellulars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1993. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01923941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
beta-Carboline alkaloids are derived as a result of condensation between indoleamine (e.g. tryptamine) and short-chain carboxylic acid (e.g. pyruvic acid) or aldehyde (e.g. acetaldehyde), a reaction that occurs readily at room temperature. These compounds have been found endogenously in human and animal tissues and may be formed as a byproduct of secondary metabolism: their endogenous functions however, are not well understood. Indoles and tryptophan derivatives exhibit antioxidative actions by scavenging free radicals and forming resonance stabilized indolyl radicals. Harmane and related compounds exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (measured as thiobarbiturate reactive products) in a hepatic microsomal preparation incubated with either enzymatic dependent (Fe3+ ADP/NADPH) or non-enzymatic dependent (Fe3+ ADP/dihydroxyfumarate) oxygen radical producing systems. Alkaloids with hydroxyl substitution and a partially desaturated pyridyl ring were found to have the highest antioxidative potencies. Substitution of a hydroxyl group by a methoxyl group at the 6-position resulted in a decrease of greater than 10-fold in the antioxidative activities. Harmane showed high efficacy in an enzymatic system but low efficacy in a non-enzymatic system. The antioxidative effects of harmane in the former system may be attributed to its ability to inhibit oxidative enzymes in the microsomal system. These results suggest that beta-carbolines may also serve as endogenous antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Y Tse
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037
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