In this investigation, we study the synthesis and the evaluation of antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activity of a number of 2-biphenylyl morpholine derivatives, which are structurally similar to some substituted morpholines possessing antioxidant activity, as well as to hypocholesterolemic 3-biaryl-quinuclidines. The novel derivatives are found to inhibit the ferrous/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation of microsomal membrane lipids, the most potent derivative, 2-(4-biphenyl)-4-methyl-octahydro-1,4-benzoxazin-2-ol (compound 7), having an IC(50) value of 250 microM. In addition, these compounds demonstrate hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic action. The most active compound (7) decreases total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and triglycerides in plasma of Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats by 54%, 51%, and 49%, respectively, at 28 micromol/kg (ip). The above results indicate that the new molecules may be proven useful as leads for the design of novel compounds as potentially antiatherogenic factors.

Four hydroxyethyl rutosides, 7,3',4'-trihydroxyethyl quercetin, quercetin and a commercial standardized mixture of hydroxyethyl rutosides were investigated on non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation, for hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and interaction with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl stable free radical (DPPH). It was found that the tested compounds exhibited a considerable inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation. They were less active than the reference compound quercetin, and this was attributed to their structural characteristics. They were also found to be potent hydroxyl radical scavengers and to interact with DPPH. As hydroxyl radical scavengers, they were more potent than the scavengers mannitol and dimethyl sulphoxide. These properties could be considered as a useful and exploitable combination.

The role of reactive oxygen species in inflammatory processes has been well documented, while several antioxidant compounds have been shown to exhibit anti‐inflammatory activity. We designed novel compounds as potential agents that combine enhanced antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. Derivatives of indomethacin, diclofenac, tolfenamic acid, and ibuprofen, four widely used nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, with cysteamine, a polar antioxidant molecule, were synthesized. The compounds were evaluated for their effect on free radical processes (protection against rat hepatic microsomal lipid‐peroxidation and interaction with the stable free radical 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl), as well as on carrageenan‐induced inflammation (mouse paw edema inhibition). Furthermore, ulcerogenicity tests in rats were performed in order to evaluate the gastrointestinal irritation of the novel indomentacin derivative. It was found that all compounds were very potent antioxidants in vitro; they could inhibit lipid peroxidation very significantly, having IC50 values ranging from 55 to 510 μM, while they could also interact ∼90% with DPPH at equimolar concentrations. We attribute these activities to their sulfhydryl group, as well as to their increased lipophilicity compared to cysteamine. Furthermore, the derivatives demonstrated significant anti‐inflammatory activity, comparable to that of the parent molecules, while they showed significantly reduced ulcerogenic potency. Our results indicate that the combined pharmacological properties of these new derivatives may prove useful for the design and development of novel cytoprotective/anti‐inflammatory molecules with potentially important therapeutic applications. Drug Dev. Res. 47:9–16, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is an important human drug-metabolizing enzyme responsible for the oxidation of more than 30 widely used therapeutic agents. The enzymes encoded by the published genomic [Kimura, Umeno, Skoda, Meyer and Gonzalez (1989) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 45, 889-904] and cDNA [Gonzalez, Skoda, Kimura, Umeno, Zanger, Nebert, Gelboin, Hardwick and Meyer (1988) Nature 331, 442-446] sequences of CYP2D6, and presumed to represent wild-type sequences, differ at residue 374 and encode valine (CYP2D6-Val) and methionine (CYP2D6-Met) respectively. The influence of this amino acid difference on cytochrome P-450 expression, ligand binding, catalysis and stereoselective oxidation of metoprolol was investigated by the heterologous expression of the corresponding cDNAs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The level of expression of apo- and holo-protein was similar with each form of CYP2D6 cDNA, and the binding affinities of a series of ligands to CYP2D6-Val and CYP2D6-Met were identical. The enantioselective O-demethylation and alpha-hydroxylation of metoprolol were also similar with each form of CYP2D6, O-demethylation being R-(+)- enantioselective (CYP2D6-Val: R/S, 1.6; CYP2D6-Met: R/S, 1.4), whereas alpha-hydroxylation showed a preference for S-(-)-metoprolol (CYP2D6-Val: R/S, 0.7; CYP2D6-Met: R/S, 0.8). However, although the favoured regiomer overall was O-demethylmetoprolol (ODM), the regioselectivity for O-demethylation of each metoprolol enantiomer was significantly greater for CYP2D6-Val [R-(+)-: ODM/alpha-hydroxymetoprolol (alpha OH), 5.9; S-(-)-: ODM/alpha OH, 2.5) than that observed for CYP2D6-Met [R-(+)-: ODM/alpha OH, 2.2; S-(-)-: ODM/alpha OH, 1.4]. The stereoselective properties of CYP2D6-Val were consistent with those observed for CYP2D6 in human liver microsomes. The difference in the stereoselective properties of CYP2D6-Val and CYP2D6-Met were rationalized with respect to a homology model of the active site of CYP2D6 based on an alignment with the crystal structure of the bacterial cytochrome P-450BM-3' CYP102.

The effect of guaiazulene, a lipophilic azulene derivative widely found in nature, on radical-mediated processes is examined. The ability of guaizulene to inhibit rat hepatic microsomal membrane lipid peroxidation and to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, as well as to interact with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), was estimated. It was found that guaiazulene can inhibit lipid peroxidation very significantly, having an IC50 value of 9.8 microM. It can also scavenge hydroxyl radicals and interact with DPPH. The protection afforded by guaiazulene to rats with paracetamol-induced liver injury was also investigated. Paracetamol hepatotoxicity is caused by the reactive metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which causes oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Hepatic cytosolic protein, GSH, glutathione transferase and glutathione reductase levels are determined as indices of hepatic injury with or without the administration of guaiazulene. It was found that all parameters affected by paracetamol are restored to normal by guaiazulene treatment, while the administration of guaiazulene alone has no effect on the performed tests compared with the control values. It was concluded that the significant protection against paracetamol-induced GSH depletion and hepatic damage afforded by guaiazulene is probably connected with its antioxidant activity. A molecular mechanism of action of guaiazulene is suggested.