Preparation and activity evaluation of chrysin-β-d-galactopyranoside

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the novel chrysin prodrug for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment

Background: Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonoid that has been reported as a potential treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, extensive phase II metabolism and poor aqueous solubility led to a decrease in the chrysin concentration in the blood after oral administration, limiting its pharmacological development in vivo. Methods: In the present study, we synthesized a novel chrysin derivative prodrug (C-1) to address this issue. We introduced a hydrophilic prodrug group at the 7-position hydroxyl group, which is prone to phase II metabolism, to improve water solubility and mask the metabolic site. Further, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of C-1 on NAFLD in vitro and in vivo by NAFLD model cells and db/db mice. Results: In vitro studies indicated that C-1 has the ability to ameliorate lipid accumulation, cellular damage, and oxidative stress in NAFLD model cells. In vivo experiments showed that oral administration of C-1 at a high dose (69.3 mg/kg) effectively ameliorated hyperlipidemia and liver injury and reduced body weight and liver weight in db/db mice, in addition to alleviating insulin resistance. Proteomic analysis showed that C-1 altered the protein expression profile in the liver and particularly improved the expression of proteins associated with catabolism and metabolism. Furthermore, in our preliminary pharmacokinetic study, C-1 showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties and significantly improved the oral bioavailability of chrysin. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that C-1 may be a promising agent for NAFLD therapy.

Influence of Intermolecular Interactions on Crystallite Size in Crystalline Solid Dispersions

Crystalline solid dispersions (CSDs) represent a thermodynamically stable system capable of effectively reducing the crystallite size of drugs, thereby enhancing their solubility and bioavailability. This study uses flavonoid drugs with the same core structures but varying numbers of hydroxyl groups as model drugs and poloxamer 188 as a carrier to explore the intrinsic relationships between drug-polymer interactions, crystallite size, and in vitro dissolution behavior in CSDs. Initially, we investigate the interactions between flavonoid drugs and P188 by calculating Hansen solubility parameters, determination of Flory-Huggins interaction parameters, and other methods. Subsequently, we explore the crystallization kinetics of flavonoid drugs and P188 in CSD systems using polarized optical microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. We monitor the domain size and crystallite size of flavonoids in CSDs through powder X-ray diffraction and a laser-particle-size analyzer. Finally, we validate the relationship between crystallite size and in vitro dissolution behavior through powder dissolution. The results demonstrate that, as the number of hydroxyl groups increases, the interactions between drugs and polymers become stronger, making drug crystallization in the CSD system less likely. Consequently, reductions in crystalline domain size and crystallite size become more pronounced, leading to a more significant enhancement in drug dissolution.

Neuroprotective Potential of Chrysin: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential for Neurological Disorders

Chrysin, a herbal bioactive molecule, exerts a plethora of pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer. A growing body of evidence has highlighted the emerging role of chrysin in a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain tumors. Based on the results of recent pre-clinical studies and evidence from studies in humans, this review is focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of chrysin in different neurological diseases. In addition, the potential challenges, and opportunities of chrysin’s inclusion in the neurotherapeutics repertoire are critically discussed.

Sulfonylpiperazines based on a flavone as antioxidant and cytotoxic agents

Chrysin-based sulfonylpiperazines 7a-k were synthesized and investigated for their in vitro free radical scavenging potential as well as cytotoxic efficacies against selected cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity of the new compounds toward noncancer cells was confirmed using the SRB assay against Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells. Reaction of piperazine with different substituted benzenesulfonyl chlorides in triethylamine furnished sulfonylpiperazines (3a-k), which were then allowed to react with 7-(4-bromobutoxy)-5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (6) prepared reacting chrysin with 1,4-dibromobutane to give the final derivatives 7a-k. The results concluded that chrysin-sulfonylpiperazines exerted better antioxidant and anticancer efficacies than previously studied chrysin-piperazine precursors. For example, compounds 7h, 7j, and 7k with 4-OCF₃ , 4-OCH₃ , and 2,4-diOCH₃ groups exhibited the best antioxidant potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals. Moreover, halogenated analogues (7b, 7c, 7g, and 7h) demonstrated promising anticancer potential against SK-OV3, HeLa, and HT-29 cell lines, whereas those bearing a methoxy functional group (7j and 7k) had beneficial effects against the cell lines A-549 and HT-29. Thus, it can be confirmed from the bioassay results that the overall structural design as well as proper substitution is crucial to deliver the anticipated biological effects. Spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, ¹ H NMR, ¹³ C NMR, mass and elemental analysis (CHN) were carried out to confirm the final structures.

A new C-glycosyl flavone and a new neolignan glycoside from Passiflora edulis Sims peel

A new C-glycosyl flavone, Chrysin-8-C-(2″-O-β-6-deoxy-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), a new neolignan glycoside, citrusin G (2), as well as 15 known compounds (3-17) were isolated from the peel of Passiflora edulis Sims. The structure determinations were primarily based on comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configuration of 2 were unequivocally determined by the CD experiment and chemical transformation. Compound 1 represents the rare examples of the flavonoid featuring a deoxy glucose sugar moiety. Compounds 5, 7 and 9 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 34.92, 16.12 and 26.67 μM, respectively.