Retro-Curcuminoids as Mimics of Dehydrozingerone and Curcumin: Synthesis, NMR, X-ray, and Cytotoxic Activity

Curcumin and its derivatives have been extensively studied for their remarkable medicinal properties, and their chemical synthesis has been an important step in the optimization of well-controlled laboratory production. A family of new compounds that mimic the structure of curcumin and curcuminoids, here named retro-curcuminoids (7-14), was synthesized and characterized using 1D ¹H- and 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry; the X-ray structure of 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 are reported here for the first time. The main structural feature of these compounds is the reverse linkage of the two aromatic moieties, where the acid chloride moiety is linked to the phenolic group while preserving α, β-unsaturated ketone functionality. The cytotoxic screening of 7, 8, 9, and 10 at 50 and 10 µg/mL was carried out with human cancer cell lines K562, MCF-7, and SKLU-1. Lipid peroxidation on rat brain was also tested for compounds 7 and 10. Compounds 7, 8, and 10 showed relevant cytotoxic activity against these cancer cell lines, and 10 showed a protective effect against lipid peroxidation. The molecular resemblance to curcuminoids and analogs with ortho substituents suggests a potential source of useful bioactive compounds.

Diuretic activity of the bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya

<p class="Abstract">The aim of this study was to evaluate the diuretic activity of <em>Eysenhardtia polystachya</em> bark aqueous extract at different doses in a rat model. Different doses of <em>E. polystachya</em> (125, 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight), furosemide (4 mg/kg) and vehicle were administered per os to female rats (n=6 animals per group). After 6 hours in metabolic cages, the effect on urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate and electrolyte balance of sodium and potassium were assessed in all animals. <em>E. polystachya</em> at the doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg induced diuretic activity, since markedly increased (p&lt;0.05) the urinary flow rate, similar to that of furosemide treated group. Only the dose of 750 mg/kg produced an increment in urinary excretion of sodium but not of potassium compared with control group. These findings indicate that<em> E. polystachya</em> bark-induced diuretic activity, providing evidence for its folkloric use.</p><p> </p>

Hypothyroidism maintained reactive oxygen species-steady state in the kidney of rats intoxicated with ethylene glycol: effect related to an increase in the glutathione that maintains the redox environment

Our objective was to determine whether hypothyroidism protects against ethylene glycol (EG)-induced renal damage and whether the redox environment participates in the protection process. We used 36 male Wistar rats divided into four groups: (1) euthyroid, (2) euthyroid + 0.75% EG, (3) hypothyroid, and (4) hypothyroid + 0.75% EG. Hypothyroidism occurred 2 weeks after thyroidectomy. The parathyroid gland was reimplanted. EG was administrated for 21 days in drinking water. On day 21, the renal function was assessed and then the rats were decapitated. The left kidney was processed for histology, and the right kidney was used to determine the redox environment, oxidative stress, and the testing of the antioxidant enzymatic system. EG in euthyroid rats reduced the hydric and electrolytic balance and it also caused oxidative stress and renal damage. Hypothyroidism per se modifies the renal function causing a low osmolal and potassium clearance and the filtered load of potassium and sodium. In addition, there was an enhanced redox state because hypothyroidism increases the reduced glutathione concentration caused by a high activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthase. Hypothyroidism is a protective state against EG because the changes in the renal function were smaller than in the euthyroid state. The oxidative stress and cellular damage were ameliorated by the hypothyroid condition. Also, the hypothyroidism-enhanced redox environment protects against EG-induced oxidative stress, renal damage, and renal dysfunction.