Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), a high-density lipoprotein-associated antioxidant enzyme, hydrolyzes several organophosphate pesticides and oxidized lipids. The PON1 Q192R polymorphism affects the catalytic efficiency and is considered a risk factor for pesticide intoxication and cardiovascular disease (CVD) but the association is not consistent between individuals or populations. We aimed to study the a...

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is considered a promising strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This research project aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge of newly synthesized coumarin analogues with anti-AD potential. In the present work a series of 3-thiadiazolyl- and thioxo-1,2,4-triazolylcoumarins derivatives were designed, s...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) lies in the category of those diseases which are still posing challenges to medicinal chemists, and the search for super-effective drugs for the treatment of AD is a work in progress. The inhibition of cholinesterase is considered a viable strategy to enhance the level of acetylcholine in the brain. The C-5 substituted derivative of Meldrum’s acid was synthesized and sc...

In search of potent cholinesterase inhibitors, we have carried out the synthesis and biologically evaluation of various benzaldehyde based 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one derivatives. In vitro assay results revealed that all the synthesized compounds showed activity against both enzymes (AChE and BChE) and in few cases, the inhibition activity was even higher than or comp...

potential bioactive agents, we subjected pregnenolone (1) to fungal metabolism with fungi reported to effect hydroxylation of steroids at various positions, and as a result a series of transformed analogues 3—11 were obtained. Pregnenolone (1) is a major hormone in human nerve tissues. Its therapeutic role in repairing defective neurons is well documented. The most promising therapeutic strateg...

Although non-innervated, the placenta contains both cholinesterases (ChEs), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). These enzymes are well-known for their multiple molecular forms. In a first approach, we used recognized specific inhibitors, substrate preferences and non-denaturating gel electrophoresis in order to characterize the ChE profile of term placenta from uncompl...

In the current study, a number of alkaloids including retamine, cytisine, and sparteine (quinolizidine-type), yohimbine and vincamine (indole-type), scopolamine and atropine (tropane-type), colchicine (tropolone-type), allantoin (imidazolidine-type), trigonelline (pyridine-type) as well as octopamine, synephrine, and capsaicin (exocyclic amine-type) were tested in vitro for their inhibitory act...

A series of new N ′ -[(alkyl/aryl)sulfonyl]-1-(phenylsulfonyl)piperidine-4-carbohydrazide derivatives were synthesized. Starting from ethyl piperidine-4-carboxylate (a), first ethyl 1-(phenylsulfonyl)piperidine-4-carboxylate (1), second 1-(phenylsulfonyl)piperidine-4-carbohydrazide (2), and finally N ′ -[(alkyl/aryl)sulfonyl]-1-(phenylsulfonyl)piperidine4-carbohydrazides (4a–n) were synthesized...

OBJECTIVES Metals such as iron are needed for physiological functions of the body. However, their excess may cause serious damage including poisoning. The effects of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions on human plasma cholinesterase activity were investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS Plasma were obtained (n = 24) from healthy male volunteers, and treated with five various concentrations of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. Ac...

Eleganoside A (1) and odoratanone A (15), a triterpenoid trisaccharide glycoside and a nortriterpenoid, together with twelve known compounds (2-13) and a mixture of cerebrosides (14) were isolated from Gelsemium elegans and Aglaia odorata. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis. Eleganoside A (1) features a 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)-beta...