N. I. Komarova

Anti-viral activity of (−)- and (+)-usnic acids and their derivatives against influenza virus A(H1N1)2009

Influenza is a widespread respiratory infection. Every year it causes epidemics, quickly spreading from country to country, or even pandemics, involving a significant part of the human population of the earth. Being a highly variable infection, influenza easy accumulates the resistance mutations to many antivirals. Usnic acid, a dibenzofuran originally isolated from lichens belongs to the secondary metabolites and has a broad spectrum of biological activity. In humans, it can act as an anti-inflammatory, antimitotic, antineoplasic, antibacterial, and antimycotic agent. In this work we studied for the first time the antiviral activity of usnic acid and its derivatives against the pandemic influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09. A total of 26 compounds representing (+) and (-) isomers of usnic acid and their derivates were tested for cytotoxicity and anti-viral activity in MDCK cells by microtetrazolium test and virus yield assay, respectively. Based on the results obtained, 50% cytotoxic dose (CTD(50)) and 50% effective dose (ED(50)) and selectivity index (SI) were calculated for each compound. Eleven of them were found to have SI higher than 10 (highest value 37.3). Absolute configuration was shown to have critical significance for the anti-viral activity. With minor exceptions, in the pair of enantiomers, (-)-usnic acid was more active comparing to (+)-isomer, but its biological activity was reversed after the usnic acid was chemically modified. Based on the obtained results, derivatives of usnic acid should be considered as prospective compounds for further optimization as anti-influenza substances.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitors with a benzopentathiepine moiety.

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) is a promising target for antitumor therapy based on Top1 poison-mediated DNA damage. Several novel benzopentathiepines were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of TDP1 using a new oligonucleotide-based fluorescence assay. The benzopentathiepines have IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.2-6.0 μM. According to the molecular modeling, the conformational flexibility of the dibutylamine group of the most effective inhibitor (3d) allows it to occupy an advantageous position for effective binding compared to its cyclic counterparts. The study of cytotoxicity of these compounds revealed that all compounds cause an apoptotic cell death in MCF-7 and Hep G2 cells. Therefore the new class of very effective inhibitors of TDP1 was elaborated.

Low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds from Hedysarum theinum roots

Isoflavonoids (−)-medicarpin, (−)-vestitol, formononetin, 8-hydroxydaidzein, and 6″-O-acetylononin were isolated for the first time in addition to (−)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, protocatechoic acid, raspberry ketone, and rhododendrol from the alcohol extract of Hedysarum theinum roots.

Synthesis and anxiolytic activity of 2-aminoadamantane derivatives containing monoterpene fragments

Two new amines were synthesized from 2-aminoadamantane and the available monoterpenoid aldehydes citral and (–)-myrtenal. It was established that the synthesized amines possessed anxiolytic activity.

Synthesis and activity of (+)-usnic acid and (−)-usnic acid derivatives containing 1,3-thiazole cycle against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract New usnic acid (UA) derivatives were investigated in vitro to elucidate their potential inhibitory activities on the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Seven pairs of enantiomers of thiazole UA derivatives were tested using the M. smegmatis strain mc2 155 test system, and the “structure–activity” relationship was established. The most active compounds were (+)-3 and (−)-3, and their kinase inhibitory activities were investigated. The results obtained using the Streptomyces lividans APHVIII+ and M. smegmatis APHVIII+ test systems indicated the significant protein kinase activity of these compounds and revealed the species specificity of the actions of the dextro- and levorotatory isomers. Both isomers, (+)-3 and (−)-3, possess similar inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The action of the isomers on eukaryotic cells was also investigated, and the results demonstrate that the dextrorotatory isomer (+)-3 leads to the lysis of intact macrophages to a degree higher than that obtained spontaneously and significantly higher than that obtained with the levorotatory isomer.

An efficient procedure for the synthesis of Esomeprazole using a titanium complex with two chiral ligands

A procedure has been proposed for the selective preparation of Esomeprazole via asymmetric oxidation of the corresponding prochiral sulfide in the presence of a catalytic complex derived from titanium(IV) isopropoxide and two different chiral ligands, diethyl d-tartrate and (R)-N,N-dimethyl-1-phenyl-ethanamine.

Fatty-acid composition and secondary metabolites from slightly polar extracts of the aerial part of Primula macrocalyx

Flavones 2′,5′-dimethoxyflavone, 3′-methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyflavone, 3′,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 5,6,2′,3′,6′-pentamethoxyflavone, and 5,6,2′,3′,5′,6′-hexamethoxyflavone; salicylates, methyl-4-methoxysalicylate and peonol; and bisbibenzyl polyphenol riccardin C were isolated for the first time from the acetone extract of the aerial part of Primula macrocalyx Bge. The content of free and total fatty acids was determined by GC and GC—MS. Palmitic (16:0), octadecatetraenoic 18:4 (6,9,12,15), linoleic 18:2 (9,12), and α-linolenic 18:3 (9,12,15) were the principal acids from the aerial part of Primula macrocalyx.

Synthesis of berberine bromide analogs containing tertiary amides of acetic acid in the 9-O-position

9-O-Acetamide analogs of berberine bromide were prepared in 20–87% yields via reaction of the isoquinoline alkaloid berberrubine with tertiary amides of bromoacetic acid. Aminolysis did not occur during reaction of methyl-2-(9-demethoxyberberine bromide-9-yl)hydroxyacetate with secondary amines. The corresponding acid or its ethyl ester was isolated.

Reaction of several resveratrol glycoside derivatives with hypochlorites in various media

The reactions of pterostilbenoside (trans-3,5-dimethoxystilben-4′-O-β-D-glucoside) and Ar–O–Tr derivatives of resveratroloside (3,5-dihydroxystilben-4′-O-β-D-glucoside) and pinostilbenoside (3-methoxy-5-hydroxystilben-4′-O-β-D-glucoside) with NaOCl and t-BuOCl in the presence of the stable nitroxyl radical TEMPO were studied in various media. It was found that the principal product of pterostilbenoside transformation was its 2,6-dichloroderivative, a part of which was oxidized to form 2,6-dichloropterostilbene glucuronide. Trityl ethers of resveratroloside and pinostilbenoside reacted with the hypochlorites to form mixtures of products.

QUANTITATIVE HPLC DETERMINATION OF MAIN FLAVONOID CONTENT OF Rhododendron adamsii LEAVES AND STEMS

The content of main flavonoids from Rhododendron adamsii R. leaves and stems was determined quantitatively using HPLC. It was found that myricetin and quercetin dominated the identified compounds (myricetin, quercetin, dihydroquercetin, rutin) in leaves; dihydroquercetin, in stems (1.1, 1.0, and 2.5 mass% of raw material, respectively). Dihydroquercetin and rutin were found for the first time in R. adamsii.