The present invention relates to methods and compositions that affect the GTP-binding activity of members of the Rho family GTPases, preferably Rac GTPases (Rac1, Rac1b, Rac2 and/or Rac3).
Berberine Analogues as a Novel Class of the Low-Density-Lipoprotein Receptor Up-Regulators: Synthesis, Structure−Activity Relationships, and Cholesterol-Lowering Efficacy
Twenty-nine derivatives of berberine (1) or pseudoberberine (2) were designed, semisynthesized, and evaluated for their up-regulatory activity on the low-density-lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression. SAR analysis revealed that (i) the methylenedioxy group at the 2- and 3-position is an essential element to keep the activity, (ii) the 7-position quaternary ammonium and planar structure of the compound are activity-required, and (iii) addition of electron-donating groups at the 7- or 13-position reduced the activity. Of the compound I analogues, compound 2 exhibited an increased activity on LDLR expression compared to 1. In the hyperlipidemic rats, compound 2 (100 (mg/kg)/day) reduced blood CHO and LDL-c by 42.6% and 49.4%, respectively, more efficient than I did (p < 0.01 for both). The results were confirmed in the hyperlipidemic mice. LD50 of 2 in mice was over 5000 mg/kg (oral). We consider compound 2 a promising cholesterol-lowering drug candidate.
Identification of N-benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines as novel anti-neuroinflammatory agents
作者:Brian Gabet、Ping-Chang Kuo、Steven Fuentes、Yamini Patel、Ahmed Adow、Mary Alsakka、Paula Avila、Teri Beam、Jui-Hung Yen、Dennis A. Brown
DOI:10.1016/j.bmc.2018.10.020
日期:2018.11
A series of simplified berberine analogs was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. SAR studies identified N-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline 7d as a potent berberine analog. 7d suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine levels in both BV2 cells and primary microglia. Taken together, our results suggest that simplified BB analogs have therapeutic potential as a novel class of anti-neuroinflammatory agents.