Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Diversified Hamigeran B Analogs as Neuroinflammatory Inhibitors and Neurite Outgrowth Stimulators

oleh: Ruo-Xin Li, Rui Han, Guo-Jie Wu, Fu-She Han, Jin-Ming Gao

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-06-01

Deskripsi

We describe the efficient synthesis of a series of new simplified hamigeran B and 1-hydroxy-9-epi-hamigeran B norditerpenoid analogs (23 new members in all), structurally related to cyathane diterpenoid scaffold, and their anti-neuroinflammatory and neurite outgrowth-stimulating (neurotrophic) activity. Compounds <b>9a</b>, <b>9h</b>, <b>9o</b>, and <b>9q</b> exhibited moderate nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite-outgrowth promoting effects in PC-12 cells at the concentration of 20 μm. Compounds <b>9b</b>, <b>9c</b>, <b>9o</b>, <b>9q,</b> and <b>9t</b> showed significant nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglial cells, of which <b>9c</b> and <b>9q</b> were the most potent inhibitors, with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 5.85 and 6.31 μm, respectively. Two derivatives <b>9q</b> and <b>9o</b> as bifunctional agents displayed good activities as NO production inhibitors and neurite outgrowth-inducers. Cytotoxicity experiments, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative injury assay, and ELISA reaction speculated that compounds may inhibit the TNF-α pathway to achieve anti-inflammatory effects on nerve cells. Moreover, molecular docking studies provided a better understanding of the key structural features affecting the anti-neuroinflammatory activity and displayed significant binding interactions of some derivatives (like <b>9c</b>, <b>9q</b>) with the active site of iNOS protein. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) were also discussed. These results demonstrated that this structural class compounds offered an opportunity for the development of a new class of NO inhibitors and NGF-like promotors.