Phytophenols are important bioactive food based chemical entities, largely present in several natural sources.

Lipoyl-apocynin and lipoyl-sesamol are bio-active conjugates of thioctic acid, synthesized using a benign chemical approach via the combination of thioctic acid and the powerful bio-phytonutrients, apocynin and sesamol, respectively.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is known to cause oxidative stress and inflammation leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications. MPO‐mediated oxidation of lipoproteins leads to dysfunctional entities altering the landscape of lipoprotein functionality. The specificity of guaiacol derivatives toward preventing MPO‐mediated oxidation to limit MPO's harmful effects is unknown. Diligent in silico studies were accomplished for a portfolio of compounds with guaiacol as a building block. The compounds’ activity toward MPO inhibition was also validated. The role of these chemical entities in controlling MPO‐mediated oxidation of lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) was shown to agree with our approach of developing powerful MPO inhibitors. The mechanism of MPO inhibition was demonstrated to be reversible in nature. This study reveals that there is great potential for guaiacol derivatives as therapeutics for CVD by modulating lipid profiles, reducing atherosclerotic plaque burden, and subsequently optimizing cardiovascular functions.

Aim: To evaluate new chemical entities, based on ferulic acid scaffolds, as reversible myeloperoxidase inhibitors (MPOI). Methodology & results: In silico docking studies are performed with MPO protein as a target for several ferulic acid analogs followed by multiple in vitro assays to validate this approach. Two lead compounds 2a and 3 are identified with optimum docking and IC50 values: -7.95 kcal/mol, 0.9 μM and -8.35 kcal/mol, 8.5 μM, respectively. These MPOIs are able to inhibit oxidation of high-density lipoprotein and further promoted functionality of high-density lipoprotein. Conclusion: Lead analogs are potent MPOIs that exert specific effects on MPO-mediated oxidation as well as inflammatory pathways. It also acts as promoters of cholesterol efflux that sheds light on pharmacological approach in atherosclerosis treatment.

Phytonutrients, lipoic acid and sesamol, were chemically combined to yield medically important lipoic acid-sesamol conjugate (LSC). NMR and LC-MS/MS techniques were used to determine the chemical structure of LSC. The...