Aldo Balsamo

Synthesis of heteroaromatic analogues of (2-aryl-1-cyclopentenyl-1-alkylidene)-(arylmethyloxy)amine COX-2 inhibitors: effects on the inhibitory activity of the replacement of the cyclopentene central core with pyrazole, thiophene or isoxazole ring.

Several heteroaromatic analogues of (2-aryl-1-cyclopentenyl-1-alkylidene)-(arylmethyloxy)amine COX-2 inhibitors, in which the cyclopentene moiety was replaced by pyrazole, thiophene or isoxazole ring, were synthesized, in order to verify the influence of the different nature of the central core on the COX inhibitory properties of these kinds of molecules. Among the compounds tested, only the 3-(p-methylsulfonylphenyl) substituted thiophene derivatives 17 and 22, showed a certain COX-2 inhibitory activity, accompanied by an appreciable COX-2 versus COX-1 selectivity. Only one of the 1-(p-methylsulfonylphenyl)pyrazole compounds (16) displayed a modest inhibitory activity towards both type of isoenzymes, while the pyrazole 1-(p-aminosulfonylphenyl) substituted 12 proved to be significantly active only towards COX-1. All the isoxazole derivatives were inactive on both COX isoforms.

P-gp Transporter and its Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases

This paper describes an overview of recent insights concerning some socially relevant neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers (AD), Parkinsons (PD), Huntingtons (HD) and Creutzfeldt-Jakobs (CJD) diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and epilepsy. For each pathological state, the direct and/or indirect involvement of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transport is underlined. On this basis, P-gp still represents an innovative target which can offer new tools for the development of more effective and preventive therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders. For each of them, therefore, a possible use of drugs affecting P-gp transport activity has been suggested.

Anti-ischemic properties of a new spiro-cyclic benzopyran activator of the cardiac mito-KATP channel

Many activators of K(ATP) channels exhibit cardioprotective effects, mainly mediated by channels expressed on mitochondria (mito-K(ATP)). Previous results showed anti-ischemic effects of the spiro-cyclic derivative A, on isolated rat hearts. In this work this molecule was more extensively studied and diazoxide was used as reference mito-K(ATP) opener. The studies were performed on an in vivo rat model of myocardial infarct and on heart-derived H9c2 cells exposed to an anoxic environment. The mechanism of action was further investigated on isolated rat heart mitochondria. In the model of myocardial infarct compound A and diazoxide produced significant cardioprotective effects, antagonised by the selective mito-K(ATP) blocker 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD). Compound A, like diazoxide, produced modest and non-significant hypotensive responses, while the hyperglycaemic effects of diazoxide were not observed for the new compound. Protective effects of compound A and diazoxide were also recorded in H9c2 cells and again were inhibited by 5-HD. Compound A and diazoxide caused swelling of cardiac mitochondria, in agreement with the profile of mito-K(ATP) openers. Both compounds evoked concentration-dependent Ca2+-release from Ca2+-preloaded mitochondria, prevented mitochondrial Ca2+-uptake and caused mitochondrial membrane depolarisation. These effects were antagonised by ATP, the endogenous K(ATP) inhibitor. In conclusion, compound A exhibits a promising profile of an anti-ischemic agent, with a mechanism likely to be linked to the activation of mito-K(ATP) channels, and, because of its chemical characteristics such as structural rigidity and chirality due to the spiro-cyclic moiety, represents an interesting template for development of analogues further improved in activity and selectivity.

Spirocyclic Benzopyran-Based Derivatives as New Anti-ischemic Activators of Mitochondrial ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channel

Heart mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mito-K ATP channels) are deeply implicated in the self-defense mechanism of ischemic preconditioning. Therefore, exogenous molecules activating these channels are considered as a promising pharmacological tool to reduce the myocardial injury deriving from ischemia/reperfusion events. This paper reports the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of original spiromorpholine- and spiromorpholone-benzopyran derivatives, with the aim to obtain selective activators of mito-K ATP channels. Some compounds of this series showed appreciable cardioprotective effects on rat isolated and perfused hearts, submitted to ischemia/reperfusion cycles. The selective mito-K ATP channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoic acid antagonized the anti-ischemic activity, indicating a clear implication of this pharmacological target. Furthermore, these effects were not associated with significant hypotensive and vasorelaxing properties, which represent one of the main limiting factors for the clinical use of nonselective K ATP-openers against myocardial ischemia.

3-(4-iodomethyl-2-oxo-1-azetidinyl)propynoic acidt-butyl ester: a new β-lactam derivative, synthesis of an ynamide by reaction of 4-iodomethylazetidin-2-one with the t-butyl ester of propiolic acid in the presence of copper(i)

Abstract The reaction of 4-iodomethylazetidin-2-one (2) with the t-butyl ester of propiolic acid (4) in the presence both of equimolar amounts of copper(I) and oxygen results unexpectedly in the fomation of the β-lactam ynamide 5. Its structure was suggested by spectroscopic data and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Predictive models, based on classification algorithms, for compounds potentially active as mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers

Heart mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mito-K(ATP) channels) are deeply implicated in the self-defense mechanism of ischemic preconditioning. Therefore, exogenous molecules activating these channels are considered as a promising pharmacological tool to reduce the myocardial injury deriving from ischemia/reperfusion events. In our laboratory, a series of 4-spiro-substituted benzopyran derivatives were earlier synthesized and some of them exhibited anti-ischemic properties. In this study, the above compounds are exploited in order to develop QSAR models, based on classification approaches, capable of discriminating between the ones acting as cardioprotective agents and those that are unable to elicit such a property. Molecules belonging to the whole dataset were subjected to CODESSA and E-Dragon calculations in order to compute a large number of molecular descriptors enabling the construction of classification models. Based on the two program packages used, two different experiments were carried out, with the aim of identify batteries of models to be exploited for designing new cardioprotective agents from libraries of new chemical entities. Both model batteries satisfy the rigorous criteria adopted for the validation, either when tested on the training and test set, according to the most straightforward protocol, and when tested on an additional prediction set. They were proven to ensure successful applications in the field of cardioprotective agent design.

2-[(3-Methoxyphenylethyl)phenoxy]-Based ABCB1 Inhibitors : Effect of Different Basic Side-Chains on Their Biological Properties

Recently, 2-[(3-methoxyphenylethyl)phenoxy]-moiety has been selected for the design and synthesis of new small ABCB1 inhibitors. In the present paper, this moiety has been linked through a spacer of 2-5 carbon atoms to the nitrogen of three different basic nuclei such as: (i) N-4-arylpiperazine, (ii) N-4-methylpiperazine, and (iii) 6,7-dimethoxytetrahydroisoquinoline. The results demonstrated that all the selected basic nuclei were well tolerated and that, globally, the best inhibitory activity for each series was obtained when the spacer between the 2-[(3-methoxyphenylethyl)phenoxy] moiety and the basic nucleus consisted of a four-carbon chain. Among the synthesized compounds, N-4-methylpiperazine- 10c (IC(50) = 0.15 microM) and tetrahydroisoquinoline-derivatives 11c (IC(50) = 0.08 microM) with the spacer n = 4 for both series, displayed the best potency to inhibit ABCB1 activity. Moreover, for each compound, the ABCB1 interacting mechanism has been evaluated by three combined biological assays. N-4-methylpiperazine- (10a-d) and tetrahydroisoquinoline- (11a-d) derivatives were Cyclosporin A-like ABCB1 nontransported substrates.

Synthesis and antimicrobial properties of substituted 3-aminoxy-(E)-2-methoxyiminopropionyl penicillins and cephalosporins☆

Abstract The 3-aminoxy-( E )-2-methoxyiminopropionyl penicillins 13 and cephalosporins 14 and 15 were synthesized and assayed for their antimicrobial activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria whether producers of β-lactamases or otherwise. Compounds 13 , 14 , and 15 exhibited an activity which was generally lower than that of the corresponding phenylacetyl derivative: penicillin G ( 4 ), cephaloram ( 5 ), and phenylacetamidodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid ( 6 ). Furthermore, the comparison of the minimum inhibitory concentration values of some of the new 2-methoxyimino 3-aminoxypropionyl derivatives 13–15 with those of the corresponding ones 1–3 lacking the 2-methoxyimino substituent showed that the introduction of the 2-methoxyimino group of E configuration on the aminoxypropionamido side chain of 1–3 gives compounds ( 13–15 ) which do not generally possess better antimicrobial properties.

NO-glibenclamide derivatives: Prototypes of a new class of nitric oxide-releasing anti-diabetic drugs

Endothelial dysfunction and consequent reduction of biosynthesis of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) play an important pathogenetic role in the cardiovascular complications associated with type II diabetes. In this work, the hybrid drugs 3a and 3b, nitrooxymethylbenzoate-derivatives of 1 (which is a hydroxylated active metabolite of glibenclamide 2), are reported. The pharmacodynamic characterization of 3b showed that its hypoglycaemic activity is enriched with additional NO-donor effects, conferring vasorelaxing and anti-platelet properties of potentially great usefulness for diabetes-related cardiovascular disorders.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (Hetero)Arylmethyloxy- and Arylmethylamine-phenyl Derivatives as Potent P-glycoprotein Modulating Agents

Starting from lead compounds 12b and 28b, previously characterized as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) modulating agents, two series of new compounds were investigated. Compounds 14a, b and 15a, b displayed high P-gp modulating activity in the submicromolar range (EC 50 values from 0.25 to 0.80 microM). Moreover, amino derivatives 23- 27 showed EC 50 values ranging from 0.085 to 0.90 microM. In the pyridyl series, the best result has been obtained for 4-pyridyl derivative 17b (EC 50 = 0.85 microM). The best P-gp modulating agents 14a, b, 15a, b, and 23- 27 also have been studied for determining their breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) inhibition activity. The results demonstrated that only the amino derivatives 23- 27 displayed moderate BCRP inhibition activity.