Arch Pharm Res
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Adozelesin is a synthetic analog of the antitumor antibiotic, CC-1065, which alkylates N3 of adenine in the minor DNA groove in a sequence-specific manner. Here we tested the mutation spectra induced by adozelesin in the supF gene of human XP-A fibroblasts using a shuttle vector assay. ⋯ The single base insertion (5/59) was observed at the 3'-side of the covalently modified adenine in the 5'-CTAAA* sequence. The results of this study suggest that the DNA alkylating sequence of adozelesin influences the type of DNA mutation.
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Oxidative stress in liver injury is a major pathogenetic factor in progress of liver fibrosis. Resveratrol, a representative antioxidant derived from grapes, has been reported to show widespread pharmacological properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of resveratrol on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. ⋯ Also, resveratrol significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators including inducible nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta. In addition, resveratrol showed not only reduced mRNA expression of fibrosis-related genes such as transforming growth factor beta 1, collagen type I, and alpha-smooth muscle actin, but also a significant decrease of hydroxyproline in rats with DMN-induced liver fibrosis. Our results suggest that resveratrol could be used to treat liver injury and fibrosis and be useful in preventing the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
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The present study was designed to investigate the cardio-protective effect of Ac-LEDH-cmk a selective caspase-9 inhibitor and 5-aminoisoquinolinone a selective Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor on ischemia and reperfusion induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death in rats. Isolated rat hearts were exposed to 30 minutes of global ischemia followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion using Langendorff's apparatus. ⋯ Pretreatments with specific inhibitor of caspase-9, Ac-LEHD-cmk (0.07 muM and 0.105 muM), and inhibitor of PARP, 5-aminoisoquinolinone (5 microM and 7.5 muM), significantly attenuated I/R induced increase in infarct size, release of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase in the coronary effluent, and apoptotic index. Therefore, it may be concluded that inhibition of caspase-9 and PARP prevent ischemia and reperfusion-induced activation of apoptotic cascade and necrosis in rat myocardium.
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Cell adhesion molecules play a pivotal role in chronic inflammation and pathological angiogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of clotrimazole (CLT) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced changes in adhesion molecule expression. CLT dose-dependently inhibited monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressions in TNF-alpha-stimulated HT29 colonic epithelial cells. ⋯ Therefore, we additionally evaluated whether CLT modulates TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis using in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The CAM assay showed that CLT dose-dependently attenuated TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis, and the effect was correlated with decreased inflammation of the CAM tissue. In conclusion, our results suggest that CLT can inhibit TNF-alpha-triggered expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and angiogenesis during inflammation.
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Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a major metabolite of artemisinin and its derivatives, including arteether, artemether, and artesunate. To improve the solubility and stability of poorly soluble DHA, we prepared inclusion complexes with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) and recrystalized DHA to study its thermal stability. The complexes were characterized by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), thermal stability, phase, and equilibrium solubility studies. ⋯ DHA-HPbetaCD complexes prepared using commercial (untreated) or recrystallized DHA (no detectable impurity) showed a 40% increase in thermal stability (50 degrees C) and a 29-fold decrease in hydrolysis rates compared with DHA. The rank order of stability constants (K(s)) was: water, acetate buffer (pH 3.0), phosphate buffer (pH 3.0), and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Thus, HPbetaCD complexation with recrystalized DHA increases DHA solubility and stability.