The indole nucleus as a selective COX-2 inhibitor and anti-inflammatory agent (2011–2022)

Anti-inflammatory bioactivity of diversely substituted indole derivatives, mainly N-1 and C-3 substituted indoles.

Novel anti-adipogenic effect of CF3-allylated indole in 3T3-L1 cells

Indole derivatives from various plants are known to have health benefits because of their anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tubercular effects. However, their effects on adipogenesis have not been fully elucidated yet. Herein, we show that a newly synthesized indole derivative, CF₃-allylated indole, [(E)-1-(pyrimidin- 2-yl)-2-(4,4,4- trifluorobut-2-enyl)-1H-indole], effectively inhibits adipogenesis. We found that CF₃-allylated indole inhibited lipid accumulation and suppressed the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in 3T3-L1 cells. The inhibitory effect of CF₃-allylated indole primarily occurred at the early phase of adipocyte differentiation by increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and enhancing protein kinase A (PKA) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. Conversely, depletion of PKA or treatment with a protein kinase A inhibitor (H89) reversed such inhibitory effects of CF₃-allylated indole on adipogenesis and PPARγ expression. These results suggest that CF₃-allylated indole inhibits early stages of adipogenesis by increasing phosphorylation of PKA/AMPK, leading to decreased expression of adipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 cells. These results indicate that CF₃-allylated indole has potential for controlling initial adipocyte differentiation in metabolic disorders such as obesity.

Isatin Detection Using a Boron-Doped Diamond 3-in-1 Sensing Platform

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) is a promising electrochemical tool that exhibits excellent chemical sensitivity and stability. These intrinsic advantages coupled with the material's vast microfabrication flexibility make BDD an attractive sensing device. In this study, two different 3-in-1 BDD electrode sensors were fabricated, characterized, and investigated for their capability to detect isatin, an anxiogenic indole that possesses anticonvulsant activity. Each device was comprised of a working, reference, and auxiliary electrode, all made of BDD. Two different working electrode geometries were studied, a 2 mm diameter macroelectrode (MAC) and a microelectrode array (MEA). The BDD quasi-reference electrode was studied by measuring its potential against a traditional Ag/AgCl reference electrode. While the potential shifted as a function of solution pH, a miniscule potential drift was observed when holding the solution pH constant. Specifically, the BDD quasi-reference electrode had a potential of -0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) in a pH 7 solution, and this remained stable for a 30-h time period. For the detection of isatin, solutions were analyzed using both sensors in pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Using the MEA sensor, the limit of detection (LOD, (3σ)/m) for isatin was found to be 0.04 μM; an increase to 0.22 μM was observed with the MAC sensor. These results were compared to those obtained from UV-vis spectrophotometry, where a 0.57 μM LOD was observed. The feasibility for use in a complex sample matrix was also examined by completing measurements in urine simulant. The results presented herein indicate that both 3-in-1 BDD sensors are applicable at low limits of detection with potential application as an electrochemical detector for chromatographic methods.

Assessment of coulometric array electrochemical detection coupled with HPLC-UV for the absolute quantitation of pharmaceuticals

The use of a coulometric array detector in tandem with HPLC-UV was evaluated for the absolute quantitation of pharmaceutical compounds without standards, an important capability gap in contemporary pharmaceutical research and development. The high-efficiency LC flow-through electrochemical detector system allows for the rapid evaluation of up to 16 different potentials, aiding in the identification and quantitation of electrochemically reactive species. By quantifying the number of electrons added or removed from an analyte during its passage through the detector, the number of moles of the analyte can be established. Herein we demonstrate that molecules containing common electroactive functional groups (e.g. anilines, phenols, parabens and tertiary alkyl amines) can in some cases be reliably quantified in HPLC-EC-UV without the need for authentic standards. Furthermore, the multichannel nature of the CoulArray detector makes it well suited for optimizing the conditions for electrochemical reaction, allowing the impact of changes in potential, flow rate, temperature and pH to be conveniently studied. The electrochemical oxidation of albacivir, zomepirac, diclofenac, rosiglitazone and several other marketed drugs resulted in large linear ranges, predictable recoveries and excellent quantitation using the total moles of electrons and back-calculating using Faraday's law. Importantly, we observed several instances where subtle structural changes within a given class of molecules (e.g. aromatic ring isomers) led to unanticipated changes in electrochemical behavior. Consequently, some care should be taken when applying the technique to the routine quantitation of compound libraries where standards are not available.