hymecromone and scoparone

Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) cannot cure HIV-1 infection due to the presence of latent viral reservoirs. The "shock and kill" strategy is a promising approach to eliminate the viral reservoir. However, there are various limits existing in current latency-reversing agents, searching for new activators are urgently needed.. The present study aimed at investigating the ability of hymecromone and scoparone for activating HIV-1 from latent reservoirs.. Jurkat T cell model of HIV-1 latently were used to evaluate the effect of hymecromone and scoparone. The percentage of green florescence protein expression as a marker for reactivation of HIV-1 promoter was measured via FACScan. The expression of CD25 and CD69 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by flow cytometry at 72 h post-treatment with hymecromone or scoparone or prostratin using antibodies against CD25 and CD69.. Hymecromone and scoparone can induce HIV-1 LTR reactivation in a dose and timedependent. We further show that hymecromone and scoparone can reactivate latent virus without inducing the activation of global T cells. We also found that scoparone acts by NF-&kgr;B signal pathway.. Hymecromone and scoparone can effectively reactivate latent HIV-1 with low cellular toxicity, indicating hymecromone and scoparone might be potential drugs for HIV-1 reservoir eradication strategies in the future.

Topics: Adult; Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Artificial Gene Fusion; Cells, Cultured; Coumarins; Flow Cytometry; Genes, Reporter; Green Fluorescent Proteins; HIV-1; Humans; Hymecromone; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; Lectins, C-Type; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Proviruses; Virus Activation

The comparison of the antioxidant activity of some coumarins with their molecular structure is well determined. However, the protective function of coumarins with various chemical structures against liver toxicity has not yet been well established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible cytoprotective properties of coumarin and some coumarin derivatives against CCl(4) (carbon tetrachloride)-induced hepatotoxicity. Coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) and coumarin derivatives esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin), scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin) and 4-methylumbelliferone (7-hyroxy-4-methyl) were examined for their protective effect against CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in Male Sprague-Dawley rats. A single toxic dose of CCl(4) (1.25 ml kg(-1), orally) produced liver damage in rats, seen histologically as centrilobular necrosis. Administration of CCl(4) increased serum enzyme levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Pre-treatment of rats with esculetin (31.15 mg kg(-1), orally) and scoparone (35 mg kg(-1), orally) significantly prevented CCl(4)-induced increase in serum enzymes, whereas 4-methylumbelliferone (35 mg kg(-1)) and coumarin (30 mg kg(-1)) had no effect against CCl(4)-induced rise in serum enzymes. Morphological findings were consistent with the plasma transaminase observations. Among the coumarin analogs, esculetin, which possesses orthodihydroxy coumarins, showed the strongest protective effect against CCl(4)-induced liver damage, followed by scoparone, 4-methylumbelliferone and coumarin, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the chemical structures of coumarins play an important role in the prevention of liver toxicity.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Coumarins; Hymecromone; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Umbelliferones

Coumarins are a vast group of natural compounds and some of them possess antioxidant activities. The comparison of the antioxidant activity of some coumarins with various chemical molecular structure has not been investigated in previous studies. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) -induced hepatic injury by coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) and coumarin derivatives, esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin), scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin), and 4-methylumbelliferone (7-hyroxy-4-methyl) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) were evaluated for oxidative stress in hepatic injury. Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected in plasma as a biomarker of hepatic injury. Significantly elevated levels of MDA and lowered levels of SOD and CAT activities were observed in liver of rats exposed to CCl(4), when compared to control values. Similarly, administration of CCl(4) increased LDH and GGT levels in serum. Pre-treatment of rats with esculetin (35 mg kg(-1), orally) and scoparone (35 mg kg(-1), orally) significantly prevented CCl(4)-induced decrease in MDA levels and increase in SOD and CAT, whereas 4-methylumbelliferone (35 mg kg(-1)) and coumarin (30 mg kg(-1)) had no effect against CCl(4)-induced rise in serum enzymes. Esculetin and scoparone also showed protective properties as was evidenced in reduced LDH and GGT levels in serum. The results of this study indicate that the chemical structures of coumarins play an important role in the prevention of oxidative stress.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Carbon Tetrachloride; Catalase; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Coumarins; gamma-Glutamyltransferase; Hymecromone; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver; Male; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide Dismutase; Umbelliferones