Synthesis and optimization of novel allylated mono-carbonyl analogs of curcumin (MACs) act as potent anti-inflammatory agents against LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.05.041
• Publication Date: 2016-05-24T03:20:39Z
• Authors: Heping Zhu; Tingting Xu; Chenyu Qiu; Beibei Wu; Yali Zhang; Lingfeng Chen; Qinqin Xia; Chenglong Li; Bin Zhou; Zhiguo Liu; Guang Liang
• Keywords: Lipopolysaccharides; 0301 basic medicine; Curcumin; Acute Lung Injury; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Rats; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Solubility; Wettability; Animals; Cytokines; RNA, Messenger

A series of novel symmetric and asymmetric allylated mono-carbonyl analogs of curcumin (MACs) were synthesized using an appropriate synthetic route and evaluated experimentally thru the LPS-induced expression of TNF-α and IL-6. Most of the obtained compounds exhibited improved water solubility as a hydrochloride salt compared to lead molecule 8f. The most active compound 7a was effective in reducing the Wet/Dry ratio in the lungs and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Meanwhile, 7a also inhibited mRNA expression of several inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and VCAM-1, in Beas-2B cells after Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. These results suggest that 7a could be therapeutically beneficial for use as an anti-inflammatory agent in the clinical treatment of acute lung injury (ALI).