Nicholas J. Matovic

Bioavailability of Echinacea constituents: Caco-2 monolayers and pharmacokinetics of the alkylamides and caffeic acid conjugates.

Many studies have been done over the years to assess the effectiveness of Echinacea as an immunomodulator. We have assessed the potential bioavailability of alkylamides and caffeic acid conjugates using Caco-2 monolayers and compared it to their actual bioavailability in a Phase I clinical trial. The caffeic acid conjugates permeated poorly through the Caco-2 monolayers. Alkylamides were found to diffuse rapidly through Caco-2 monolayers. Differences in diffusion rates for each alkylamide correlated to structural variations, with saturation and N-terminal methylation contributing to decreases in diffusion rates. Alkylamide diffusion is not affected by the presence of other constituents and the results for a synthetic alkylamide were in line with those for alkylamides found in an ethanolic Echinacea preparation. We examined plasma from healthy volunteers for 12 hours after ingestion of Echinacea tablets manufactured from an ethanolic liquid extract. Caffeic acid conjugates could not be identified in any plasma sample at any time after tablet ingestion. Alkylamides were detected in plasma 20 minutes after tablet ingestion and for each alkylamide, pharmacokinetic profiles were devised. The data are consistent with the dosing regimen of one tablet three times daily and supports their usage as the primary markers for quality Echinacea preparations.

Stereoselective synthesis, natural occurrence and CB2 receptor binding affinities of alkylamides from herbal medicines such as Echinacea sp.

A divergent synthesis of (2E,4E,8E,10E)- and (2E,4E,8E,10Z)-N-isobutyldodeca-2,4,8,10-tetraenamides from pent-4-yn-1-ol allowed identification of the (2E,4E,8E,10Z)-isomer for the first time in Echinacea species. A short, stereoselective synthesis of the (2E,4E,8E,10Z)-isomer is also described which allowed further biological evaluation of this material, and the demonstration that this isomer does not occur in Spilanthes mauritiana as previously reported.

Polyunsaturated alkyl amides from Echinacea: synthesis of diynes, enynes, and dienes.

The synthesis of 20 alkyl amides, including 15 naturally occurring polyunsaturated alkyl amides previously identified from Echinacea spp. (1-13 and 62) or from Achilla sp. (55) and five previously unknown geometric isomers (23, 28, 67, 73, and 80), is described. Importantly, these amides include all of the major alkyl amides present in commercially used Echinacea extracts. The syntheses demonstrate methodology used for constructing alkyl amides containing conjugated diyne and isomerically pure enyne and diene moieties and may be adapted easily for the preparation of other alkyl amides present in Echinacea spp. Terminal-conjugated diynes were prepared by a Cadiot-Chodkiewitz coupling/deprotection sequence utilizing a protected bromoacetylene, and methyl-substituted diynes were made via a base-catalyzed rearrangement of terminal-skipped diynes. Conjugated dienes were prepared conveniently and with high stereoselectivity by the reduction of enynes or diynes with Rieke zinc. With the exception of 1-2 and 11-12, the alkyl amides are synthesized here for the first time, and their NMR data are consistent with that of the reported isolated natural compounds.

The Truth about False Unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum): Total Synthesis of 23R,24S-Chiograsterol B Defines the Structure and Stereochemistry of the Major Saponins from this Medicinal Herb

Chamaelirium luteum is used in traditional medicine systems and commercial botanical dietary supplements for the treatment of female reproductive health problems. Despite the wide use of this herb, only very limited phytochemical characterisation is available. Our investigation of C. luteum roots led to the isolation of two new steroidal saponins 1 and 2 that contain an unusual aglycone 3. The absolute configurations of these molecules were unable to be determined spectroscopically and thus the total synthesis of 3 was undertaken and achieved in 16 steps and 1.6 % overall yield from pregnenolone. The key step in the synthesis was the stereoselective installation of the side chain at C-17 and C-20, which employed anion-accelerated oxy-Cope methodology. The relative configuration of aglycone 3 was determined by X-ray crystallography of an advanced synthetic intermediate. The absolute configuration was based upon that of the pregnenolone-derived steroidal skeleton and determined to be 23R,24S.

Re-engineering of CYP2C9 to Probe Acid-Base Substrate Selectivity

A common feature of many CYP2C9 ligands is their weak acidity. As revealed by crystallography, the structural basis for this behavior involves a charge-pairing interaction between an anionic moiety on the substrate and an active site R108 residue. In the present study we attempted to re-engineer CYP2C9 to better accept basic ligands by charge reversal at this key residue. We expressed and purified the R108E and R108E/D293N mutants and compared their ability with that of native CYP2C9 to interact with (S)-warfarin, diclofenac, pyrene, propranolol, and ibuprofen amine. As expected, the R108E mutant maintained all the native enzymes pyrene 1-hydroxylation activity, but catalytic activity toward diclofenac and (S)-warfarin was abrogated. In contrast, the double mutant displayed much less selectivity in its behavior toward these control ligands. Neither of the mutants displayed significant enhancement of propranolol metabolism, and all three preparations exhibited a type II (inhibitor) rather than type I (substrate) spectrum with ibuprofen amine, although binding became progressively weaker with the single and double mutants. Collectively, these data underscore the importance of the amino acid at position 108 in the acid substrate selectivity of CYP2C9, highlight the accommodating nature of the CYP2C9 active site, and provide a cautionary note regarding facile re-engineering of these complex cytochrome P450 active sites.