Kourokhitin, a potential drug containing two active substances

A Lead Target Molecule for Excisional Wound Healing: Trypthantrin Compound

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the impact of the tryptanthrin (TRP) compound, with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, on the excisional wound (EW) model. In an EW model in mice, we tried to explain the possible effect of TRP through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) that contribute significantly to wound healing.

Methods

A total of 90 BALB-C female mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were used in the present study. Animals were randomly divided into five groups. After creating the EW model, three different doses (1, 2.5, 5 mg/kg) of TRP compound were applied topically for 14 days, and wound closure rates were measured on days 0, 3, and 7. Vascular endothelial growth factor and MMP-9 were evaluated on days 3, 7, and 14 on wound explants and on day 14 on serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological analysis was performed on wound explants.

Results

After the EW model creation, significant healing of the wound areas was observed in the groups for which TRP was applied, especially on the third day. Moreover, in groups that received the third dose of TRP, the wound closure rate was 94%. It was found that the wound areas were closed due to the increase in TRP dose. In line with wound healing, VEGF and MMP-9 levels gradually rose on the third and seventh days and decreased on the 14th day.

Conclusions

Tryptanthrin compound usage on the EW model increased wound healing and did not leave a scar after 14 days.

Design, synthesis and biomedical evaluation of mostotrin, a new water soluble tryptanthrin derivative

Mostotrin (MT), a novel compound, at least five orders of magnitude more soluble in water than its mother substance, was designed and synthesised from tryptanthrin (TR). Its structure was established by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data and confirmed by X-ray analysis, revealing that MT is a pentacyclic product with an additional pseudo-cycle formed with the participation of one intramolecular hydrogen bond. Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic action against tumour cells in vitro, as well as anti-tumour effects, acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activities in vivo, were evaluated. Antimicrobial proper-ties of MT against Mycobacterium spp and Bacillus cereus ATCC 10702 appeared to be the same as that of TR, but against the other strains used it was weaker. Furthermore, MT exhibited 5-10 times higher cytotoxic activities against tumour cell lines HCT-116, MCF-7 and K-562 than TR, but was less toxic than TR (LD₅₀ of MT was 375 mg/kg, while LD₅₀ for TR was 75 mg/kg). Additionally, compounds MT and TR were studied in DNA binding tests. The quenching of its fluorescence on addition to DNA solution established MT to be capable of binding to DNA. Its anti-tumour action in vivo on mice with the ascitic form of Ehrlich carcinoma was promising, particularly with joint application of MT and the antitumour drug doxorubicin. In this model, the survival and life span for the doxorubicin and 1 co-treatment group were significantly higher compared to doxorubicin treatment alone. The compound MT showed a lower immunosuppressive effect than TR at the early stages of inflammation induced in mice by LPS from E. coli (MT hardly inhibited the release of IL-1, IL-2, or INF-γ). These results demonstrated that MT is a perspective hit compound for drug development. In our opinion, further evaluation on the biological effects of MT and its synthetic analogues could lead to safer and more effective anti-tumour and anti-tuberculosis agents than TR itself. MT has also the prospect of application in combination with known anti-tumour drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases.