Anti-inflammatory Effects of Indomethacin's Methyl Ester Derivative and Induction of Apoptosis in HL-60 Cells

Marrubiin Inhibits Peritoneal Inflammatory Response Induced by Carrageenan Application in C57 Mice

Marrubiin is a diterpene with a long history of a wide range of biological activities. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of marrubiin were investigated using several in vitro and in vivo assays. Marrubiin inhibited carrageenan-induced peritoneal inflammation by preventing inflammatory cell infiltration and peritoneal mast cell degranulation. The anti-inflammatory activity was further demonstrated by monitoring a set of biochemical parameters, showing that the peritoneal fluid of animals treated with marrubiin had lower levels of proteins and lower myeloperoxidase activity compared with the fluid of animals that were not treated. Marrubiin exerted the most pronounced cytotoxic activity towards peripheral mononuclear cells, being the main contributors to peritoneal inflammation. Additionally, a moderate lipoxygenase inhibition activity of marrubiin was observed.

Preparation, evaluation and bioavailability studies of indomethacin-bees wax microspheres

The present study envisages the preparation of microspheres containing indomethacin (IM) as model drug and bees wax as carrier, and to compare the in vitro release and pharmacokinetics of prepared IM formulation with commercially available oral formulation MicrocidSR. The microsphere formulations were prepared by meltable emulsified dispersion and cooling induced solidification. Surface morphology of microspheres has been evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images revealed the spherical shape of microspheres and more than 98.0% of the isolated microspheres were in the size range 115-855 mum. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies indicated that the drug after encapsulation with bees wax was stable and compatible. A single dose randomized complete cross over study of IM (75 mg) microspheres was carried out on 8 healthy Albino sheeps. Plasma IM concentrations and other pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were statistically analyzed. The T (max), C (max), AUC(O-24) and T (1/2) values of MicrocidSR and optimized formulation were 3.0 h, 2038 +/- 51.31 ng/ml, 9528 +/- 129.65 ng/ml h(-1), and 2.59 +/- 0.02 h(-1); and 3.2 h, 1940 +/- 22.61 ng/ml, 8751 +/- 41.32 ng/ml h(-1), and 2.68 +/- 0.02 h(-1), respectively. Beeswax microspheres showed controlled release and it can be concluded that both the prepared formulation and MicrocidSR are bioequivalent.

The role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the risk of development and treatment of hematologic malignancies

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) comprise the group of structurally diverse but similarly acting compounds that are used for relieving signs and symptoms of inflammation, especially in treatment of rheumatic diseases. Recent reports suggested potential association between regular use of NSAIDs and the risk of development of hematological malignancies. However, the data distinctly differ depending on type of NSAID used, period of its administration and type of malignancy. Regular use of aspirin and other NSAIDs was shown to correlate with reduced risk of lymphoid malignancies. Frequent use of aspirin was found to be associated with decreased risk of acute leukemia (AL) development. In contrast, correlation between long-term acetaminophen usage and increased incidence of AL and multiple myeloma (MM) was indicated. On the other hand, NSAIDs were found to exert anti-cancer effects, inhibiting proliferation and invasive growth or inducing cell apoptosis in several tumors, including hematologic malignancies. One of those agents, non-cyclooxygenase 2-inhibiting R-enantiomer of etodolac (SDX-101), exerts cytotoxic effects against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and MM cells, and is currently investigated in phase II clinical trial in CLL. The indole-pyran analogue of SDX-101, SDX-308 (CEP-18082), showed more potent cytotoxicity than SDX-101 against MM cells and inhibited osteoclast formation and activity of mature osteoclasts. Thus, SDX-308 may be an ideal agent for bone disease in MM and related diseases. Another analogue of SDX-101, SDX-309, showed also significant anti-tumor activity in first preclinical studies. The potential role of NSAIDs in prevention and treatment of hematologic malignancies is the subject of this review.

Identification of flurbiprofen and its photoproducts in methanol by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A sample of 10 mM flurbiprofen in methanol (or ethanol) was photoirradiated with sixteen 8 W low-pressure quartz mercury lamps irradiated at 306 nm in a Panchum PR-2000 photochemical reactor. In total, four major photoproducts derived from each sample were observed from the HPLC chromatogram. The photoproducts were separated and their structures elucidated by various spectroscopic methods. Alternatively, using GC-MS, 11 major photoproducts were observed. A reaction scheme of flurbiprofen in methanol is proposed: the photochemical reaction routes occur mainly via esterification and decarboxylation, followed by oxidation with singlet oxygen to produce a ketone, alcohols and other derivatives.

Downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression and activation of caspase-3 are involved in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists induced apoptosis in human monocyte leukemia cells in vitro

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a transcription factor important in fat metabolism and PPAR-gamma agonists were recently demonstrated to affect proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of different cell types. In the present study, two PPAR-gamma agonists, 15-deoxy-delta (12,14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and a synthetic PPAR-gamma agonist troglitazone (TGZ), were used to investigate activated PPAR-gamma-induced apoptosis on human monocyte leukemia U937 and Mono Mac 6 cells in vitro. The results showed that both U937 and Mono Mac 6 cells demonstrated constitutive activation of COX-2 expression; treatment by 15d-PGJ2 and TGZ could induce apoptosis remarkably in human monocyte leukemia cells by disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-3, and causing cleavage of the caspase substrate poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Further studies revealed that treatment by both 15d-PGJ2 and TGZ remarkably downregulated COX-2 expression in these two kind of monocyte leukemia cells as measured by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Furthermore, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-Xl and Mcl-1 was downregulated while Bax expression was upregulated concurrently after the cells were treated by these two agonists, and no variations were found in other Bcl-2 family members such as Bak, Bid, and Bad. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-3, downregulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-Xl, and Mcl-1, and upregulation of Bax are involved in PPAR-gamma agonists-induced apoptosis in these two human monocyte leukemia cells.