Effect of IS01957, a para-coumaric acid derivative on pharmacokinetic modulation of diclofenac through oral route for augmented efficacy

Evaluation of Pyrrolone-Fused Benzosuberene MK2 Inhibitors as Promising Therapeutic Agents for HNSCC: In Vitro Efficacy, In-Vivo Safety, and Pharmacokinetic Profiling

MAPKAPK2/MK2 is well implicated in the progression of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), and potent MK2-inhibitors are required to suppress its activity. Several MK2-inhibitors have been developed in recent years to combat its effects on cancer. However, inadequate solubility, insufficient cellular permeability, systemic toxicity-mediated side effects, and low bioavailability have severely impeded the advancement of MK2-inhibitors to clinical trials. This void necessitates research to develop less toxic and more bioavailable potent MK2-inhibitors in HNSCC. In the present article, we have evaluated the in-vitro efficacy, in-vivo single-dose acute toxicity, and in-vivo pharmacokinetic profiling of recently developed PfBS (pyrrolone-fused benzosuberene) MK2-inhibitor analogues against HNSCC. The PfBS MK2 inhibitor analogues impeded HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC cell proliferation and two-dimensional migration. Moreover, MK2-inhibitors lowered HNSCC cell clonogenic survival in a dose-dependent manner, significantly enhancing radiation-induced cell death via exerting radio-sensitization effects. Furthermore, γ-H2AX immunostaining revealed that PfBS analogues impaired DNA damage repair in HNSCC cells exposed to gamma radiation. In mice, PfBS MK2 inhibitors at 300 mg/kg were well-tolerated without any lethal effects. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that PfBS analogues exhibited rapid absorption (Tmax), adequate plasma concentration above the micromolar level (C0 or Cmax), limited tissue distribution (Vd), and faster elimination from the body (Cl). Overall, this study summarizes in-vitro efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of developed MK2-inhibitors and opens doors for pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action study of most effective leads in HNSCC.

UPLC-QToF-MS/MS screening and characterization of Symphorema polyandrum Wight and in vitro assessment of its antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potential

Symphorema polyandrum belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is locally known as Badichang or mahasindhu. In this study, we performed Soxhlet extraction to prepare methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts, followed by quantification of their total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Qualitative analysis of both the extracts was conducted to determine the presence of different phytochemicals. In addition, we aimed to identify the important phytochemical constituents in the methanolic extracts of S. polyandrum (SPM) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MSE). Furthermore, this study investigated the antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of SPM and its safety profile in the normal fibroblast cell line L929. A colony proliferation assay and a Griess assay were performed to evaluate the effects of SPM on colony formation and nitric oxide (NO) production. A total of 13 important phytochemicals were identified and reported. The methanolic extract of SPM demonstrated significant antioxidant activity. SPM also showed substantial antiproliferative activity on MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 45.53 ± 1.63 µg/ml, and also reduced the survival of these cancer cells by promoting nuclear fragmentation and condensation without causing harm to normal cells. SPM inhibits the colony formation and reduces the nitric oxide (NO) production. The anti-inflammatory potential of SPM was assessed utilizing the murine alveolar macrophages (J774.A.1) as an in vitro model, and SPM effectively lowered the levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. These findings emphasized the antiproliferative potential of SPM to cancer cells, along with its anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant capabilities, indicating the therapeutic efficacy of this medicinal plant.

ADME/PK Insights of Crocetin: A Molecule Having an Unusual Chemical Structure with Druglike Features

Crocetin is a promising phyto-based molecule to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). The chemical structure of crocetin is incongruent with various standard structural features of CNS drugs. As poor pharmacokinetic behavior is the major hurdle for any candidate to become a drug, we elucidated its druggable characteristics by implementing in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, as limited ADME/PK information is available. Results demonstrate several attributes of crocetin based on rules of drug-likeness, lipophilicity, pKa, P-gp inhibitory activity, plasma stability, RBC partitioning, metabolic stability, CYP inhibitory action, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, oral bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic interaction with marketed anti-Alzheimer's drugs (memantine, donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine). However, aqueous solubility, chemical stability, plasma protein binding, and P-gp induction are some concerns associated with this molecule that should be taken into consideration during its further development. Overall results indicate favorable ADME/PK behavior and potential druggable candidature of crocetin.

P-coumaric Acid: Advances in Pharmacological Research Based on Oxidative Stress

P-coumaric acid is an important phenolic compound that is mainly found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and fungi and is also abundant in Chinese herbal medicines. In this review, the pharmacological research progress of p-coumaric acid in recent years was reviewed, with emphasis on its role and mechanism in oxidative stress-related diseases, such as inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and nervous system diseases. Studies have shown that p-coumaric acid has a positive effect on the prevention and treatment of these diseases by inhibiting oxidative stress. In addition, p-coumaric acid also has anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-aging skin and other pharmacological effects. This review will provide reference and inspiration for further research on the pharmacological effects of p-coumaric acid.

Discovery of blood-brain barrier permeable and orally bioavailable caffeine-based amide derivatives as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Caffeine is one of the privileged natural products that shows numerous effects on the central nervous system. Herein, thirty-one caffeine-based amide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anticholinesterase activity. The introduction of the amide group to the caffeine core augmented its anticholinesterase activity from an IC50 value of 128 to 1.32 µM (derivative, 6i). The SAR study revealed that N7 substitution on caffeine core is favorable over N1, and the presence of amide 'carbonyl' as a part of the linker contributes to the biological activity. The caffeine core of 6i exhibits interactions with the peripheral anionic site, whereas the N-benzyl ring fits nicely inside the catalytic anionic site. Analog 6i inhibits AChE in a mixed-type mode (Ki 4.58 µM) and crosses the BBB in an in-vitro PAMPA assay. Compound 6i has a descent metabolic stability in MLM (>70% remaining after 30 min) and favorable oral pharmacokinetics in Swiss albino mice.

Rottlerin promotes anti-metastatic events by ameliorating pharmacological parameters of paclitaxel: An in-vivo investigation in the orthotopic mouse model of breast cancer

Despite substantial breakthroughs in cancer research, there is hardly any specific therapy available to date that can alleviate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Paclitaxel is the first-line chemotherapy option, but its treatment is often associated with early discontinuation of therapy due to the development of resistance and/or precipitation of severe side effects. In the quest to establish a suitable combination therapy with a low dose of paclitaxel, we explored rottlerin (a pure and characterized phytoconstituent from Mallotus philippensis) because of its multifaceted pharmacological actions against cancer. The study was performed to assess the therapeutic effects of rottlerin (5-20 mg/kg) with a low dose of paclitaxel (5 mg/kg) using a highly aggressive mouse mammary carcinoma model. Rottlerin augmented the paclitaxel effect by reducing tumor burden as well as metastatic lung nodules formation. Rottlerin in combination with paclitaxel remarkably altered the expression of vital epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers such as E-cadherin, Snail 1, & Vimentin and thus improved the anti-metastatic efficacy of paclitaxel. Significant attenuation of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) along with amplification of pro-apoptotic (cleaved PARP) marker confers that rottlerin could ameliorate the pro-apoptotic potential of paclitaxel. In this study, a rational combination of rottlerin and paclitaxel treatment curtailed CYP2J2 expression and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) levels, responsible for restrain tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, rottlerin lessened paclitaxel treatment-mediated hematological alterations and prevented paclitaxel treatment-linked key serum biochemical changes related to organ toxicities. These rottlerin treatment-mediated protective changes are closely associated with the lower paclitaxel accumulation in the corresponding tissues. Rottlerin caused significant pharmacokinetic interaction with paclitaxel to boost the plasma level of paclitaxel in a typical mouse model and possibly helpful towards the use of a low dose of paclitaxel in combination. Overall, it can be stated that rottlerin has significant potential to augment the anti-metastatic efficacy of paclitaxel via impeding EMT activation along with attenuating its treatment-associated toxicological alterations. Hence, rottlerin has significant potential to explore further as a suitable neoadjuvant therapy with paclitaxel against TNBC.

Effect of Disease State on the Pharmacokinetics of Bedaquiline in Renal-Impaired and Diabetic Rats

Bedaquiline (TMC-207) is a key anti-tubercular drug to fight against multidrug resistance tuberculosis. Little information is available till date on the impact of any disease state toward its pharmacokinetic behavior. The present research work aimed to investigate the effect of renal impairment and diabetes mellitus on the oral pharmacokinetics of bedaquiline in the rat model. Renal impairment and diabetes mellitus were induced in the Wistar rat model separately using cisplatin and streptozotocin, respectively, and thereafter, an oral pharmacokinetic study of bedaquiline was carried out in the individual disease models as well as in the normal rat model. Pharmacokinetic parameters of bedaquiline were not altered markedly in cisplatin-induced renal-impaired rats compared to normal rats except an area under the curve (AUC) for plasma concentration of bedaquiline in the experimental time frame (AUC_0-t ) reduced to 3477 ± 228 from 4984 ± 1174 ng h/mL, respectively. Maximum plasma concentrations of bedaquiline (259 ± 77 ng/mL), AUC_0-t (3112 ± 1046 ng h/mL), and AUC_0-∞ (3673 ± 1493 ng h/mL) were significantly reduced along with an increase in the clearance of bedaquiline (3.1 ± 1.1 L/h/kg) in the case of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats compared to respective pharmacokinetic parameters of bedaquiline (482 ± 170 ng/mL, 4984 ± 1174 ng h/mL, and 6137 ± 1542 ng h/mL) in the normal rats. Preclinical findings suggest that dose adjustment of bedaquiline is required in the diabetes mellitus condition to prevent the therapeutic failure of bedaquiline treatment, but clinical exploration is needed to establish the fact. It is the first report for the consequence of renal impairment and diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of bedaquiline in the preclinical model.

Effect of rutin on pharmacokinetic modulation of diclofenac in rats

Diclofenac is an extensively used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but gastrointestinal liabilities and cardiovascular complications take the shine away from such a widely prescribed drug. On the other hand, rutin, a dietary bioflavonoid, has quite a few pharmacological attributes to improve the efficacy and reduce the dose-related toxicities of diclofenac through the intended food-drug/herb-drug interaction. The aim of the present research work was to investigate the role of rutin on pharmacokinetic modulation and the consequent efficacy of diclofenac. At first, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of diclofenac as alone and in the presence of rutin were investigated orally in a rat model. Then, mechanistic studies were performed to explain the effect of rutin on improvement in oral exposure as well as the efficacy of diclofenac using a battery of in-vitro/in-situ/in-vivo studies. Results displayed that rutin enhanced efficacy as well as oral bioavailability of diclofenac in rats. A marked increase in permeability of diclofenac by rutin was displayed that is linked to inhibition of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP) transporters. There was no significant effect of rutin on the modulation of intestinal transit, CYP2C9 inhibition in human liver microsomes, and CYP2C9/CYP2C11 expression in rat liver tissues to boost the oral exposure of diclofenac. Rutin is found to be an inhibitor for BCRP transporters and can act as an oral bioavailability enhancer for a drug like diclofenac.

Description of Druglike Properties of Safranal and Its Chemistry behind Low Oral Exposure

Safranal, a plant secondary metabolite isolated from saffron, has been reported for several promising pharmacological properties toward the management of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we observe and report for the first time about several druglike attributes of safranal, such as adherence to Lipinski's rule of five; optimum lipophilicity; high permeability; low blood-to-plasma ratio; less to moderate propensity to interact with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or breast cancer-resistant protein (BCRP) transporters; and high plasma protein binding as common to most of the marketed drugs using in vitro and ex vivo models. In spite of the above attributes, in vivo oral absorption was found to be very poor, which is linked to the structural integrity of safranal in simulated gastric fluid, simulated intestinal fluid, plasma, and liver microsomes. Moreover, the presence of unsaturated aldehyde moiety in safranal remains in equilibrium with its hydroxylated acetal form. Further research work is required to find out the stable oral absorbable form of safranal by derivatization of its aldehyde group without losing its potency.