naphthoquinones and tanshinone

During inflammation, dysregulated neutrophil behaviour can play a major role in a range of chronic inflammatory diseases, for many of which current treatments are generally ineffective. Recently, specific naturally occurring tanshinones have shown promising anti-inflammatory effects by targeting neutrophils in vivo, yet such tanshinones, and moreover, their isomeric isotanshinone counterparts, are still a largely underexplored class of compounds, both in terms of synthesis and biological effects. To explore the anti-inflammatory effects of isotanshinones, and the tanshinones more generally, a series of substituted tanshinone and isotanshinone analogues was synthesised, alongside other structurally similar molecules. Evaluation of these using a transgenic zebrafish model of neutrophilic inflammation revealed differential anti-inflammatory profiles in vivo, with a number of compounds exhibiting promising effects. Several compounds reduce initial neutrophil recruitment and/or promote resolution of neutrophilic inflammation, of which two also result in increased apoptosis of human neutrophils. In particular, the methoxy-substituted tanshinone 39 specifically accelerates resolution of inflammation without affecting the recruitment of neutrophils to inflammatory sites, making this a particularly attractive candidate for potential pro-resolution therapeutics, as well as a possible lead for future development of functionalised tanshinones as molecular tools and/or chemical probes. The structurally related β-lapachones promote neutrophil recruitment but do not affect resolution. We also observed notable differences in toxicity profiles between compound classes. Overall, we provide new insights into the in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of several novel tanshinones, isotanshinones, and structurally related compounds.

Topics: Abietanes; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Humans; Inflammation; Molecular Structure; Naphthoquinones; Neutrophil Infiltration; Zebrafish

Recently, a series of selective human carboxylesterase inhibitors have been identified based upon the tanshinones, with biologically active molecules containing a 1,2-dione group as part of a naphthoquinone core. Unfortunately, the synthesis of such compounds is complex. Here we describe a novel method for the generation of 1,2-dione containing diterpenoids using a unified approach, by which boronic acids are joined to vinyl bromo-cyclohexene derivatives via Suzuki coupling, followed by electrocyclization and oxidation to the o-phenanthroquinones. This has allowed the construction of a panel of miltirone analogues containing an array of substituents (methyl, isopropyl, fluorine, methoxy) which have been used to develop preliminary SAR with the two human carboxylesterase isoforms. As a consequence, we have synthesized highly potent inhibitors of these enzymes (K

Topics: Abietanes; Carboxylesterase; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Methods; Naphthoquinones; Phenanthrenes; Structure-Activity Relationship

Topics: Abietanes; Antineoplastic Agents; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Colloids; Crystallization; Drug Carriers; Drug Compounding; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Micelles; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); Nanoparticles; Naphthoquinones; Paclitaxel; Polyethylene Glycols

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the first rate-limiting step in converting nicotinamide to NAD(+), essential for a number of enzymes and regulatory proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes, including deacetylation enzyme SIRT1 which modulates several tumor suppressors such as p53 and FOXO. Herein we report that NQO1 substrates Tanshione IIA (TSA) and β-lapachone (β-lap) induced a rapid depletion of NAD(+) pool but adaptively a significant upregulation of NAMPT. NAMPT inhibition by FK866 at a nontoxic dose significantly enhanced NQO1-targeting agent-induced apoptotic cell death. Compared with TSA or β-lap treatment alone, co-treatment with FK866 induced a more dramatic depletion of NAD(+), repression of SIRT1 activity, and thereby the increased accumulation of acetylated FOXO1 and the activation of apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, the results from the present study support that NAMPT inhibition can synergize with NQO1 activation to induce apoptotic cell death, thereby providing a new rationale for the development of combinative therapeutic drugs in combating non-small lung cancer.

Topics: Abietanes; Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Line, Tumor; Cytokines; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; NAD; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); Naphthoquinones; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase

The qualitative analysis of tanshinones in the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Dan-shen in Chinese) was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)). Tanshinones are the major bioactive constituents of Dan-shen, which is used in China for the treatment of haematological abnormalities and cardiovascular diseases. The ESI-MS(n) fragmentation behavior of tanshinones was investigated. For tanshinones with the tanshinone I nucleus, the fragmentation was triggered by loss of a molecule of CO except bearing a substituent at C17 or C18, followed by sequential eliminations of CO. If C(15-16) was a saturated bond, the fragmentation was triggered by elimination of a molecule of H2O. For tanshinones with the tanshinone IIA nucleus, the fragmentation was triggered by loss of a molecule of H2O, followed by successive eliminations of CO. Ions corresponding to loss of a molecule of propylene (Delta m = 42) were also observed. Moreover, when C(15-16) was a saturated bond, ions corresponding to losses of CH3, H2O and propylene were more abundant. If no D-ring existed, the presence of isopropyl resulted in an elimination of a molecule of H2O with an adjacent CO or OH. In addition, the extension of the pi-conjugation in the A-ring (especially at C(1-2)) induced the fragmentation by loss of a molecule of CO. These fragmentation rules were applied to the identification of tanshinones in a chloroform/methanol (3:7) extract of Dan-shen, which was separated on a C18 column with gradient elution. A total of 27 tanshinones were identified, including five new constituents. The established method could be used for the sensitive and rapid identification of tanshinones in the Dan-shen drug and its pharmaceutical preparations.

Topics: Abietanes; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Indicators and Reagents; Isomerism; Naphthoquinones; Phenanthrenes; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Reference Standards; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Tandem Mass Spectrometry