THE EFFECTS OF DEPRENYL AND 1-METHYL-4-PHENYL-1, 2, 3, 6-TETRAHYDROPYRIDINE (MPTP) ON 2-DEOXYGLUCOSE UPTAKE IN THE MOUSE BRAIN

~3H-2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiographic technique was used to study the ef feets of a monoamine-oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor deprenyl and the neurotoxin Ⅰ-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on 2-DG uptake in the mouse brain. Following MPTP intoxication, 2-DG uptake was increased in the substantia nigra and lo(?)us ceruleus. At the same time, obvious abnormal behavior of the animals was induced. In the mice pretreated with deprenyl, 2-DG uptake was similar to that of control animal. Ab normal behavior. though present, was significantly milder than in mice given MPTP alone. It is concluded that MPTP interferes with the glucose metabolism in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus and induces remarkable abnormal behavioral syndrome of mice. These deleterious effects can be blocked by pretreatment with deprenyl.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Trans-4-[(5-(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyleneamino]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydropyrazol-3-one

The title compound trans-4-[（5-（2,4-dichlorophenoxy）-3-methyl- 1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl）methyleneamino]- 1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydropyrazol-3-one 3 （C28H23Cl2N5O2, Mr = 532.41） has been synthesized and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It crystallizes in triclinic, space group P1- with a = 8.9438（4）, b = 11.6065（5）, c = 14.2215（6）A, α = 112.566（1）, β = 92.324（2）, γ = 102.91（1）°, V= 1315.65（10） A^3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.344 g/cm^3,μ（MoKa） = 0.282 mm^-1, λ = 0.71073 A, F（000） = 552, the final R = 0.0587 and wR = 0.1578 for 5071 observed reflections （I 〉 2σ（I））. X-ray analysis reveals that the product is a thermodynamically stable trans isomer. Intra- and intermolecular C（ 12）-H（12）…O（1） and C（28）-H（28）...O（1）# 1 hydrogen bonds were observed in the title compound.

Isatin decreases Bax protein expression in the substantia nigra of a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

The present study observed the action of 1H-indole-2, 3-dione （isatin） on Bax protein expression in the substantia nigra of a Parkinson＇s disease animal model. Parkinson＇s disease-like behaviors were induced in C57BL/6J mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine （MPTP） Bax protein expression was significantly reduced in isatin （100, 200 mg/kg）-pretreated mice. Results demonstrate that isatin plays a neuroprotective role in mice treated with MPTP by down-regulating Bax protein expression.

Isolation and structural elucidation of cytotoxic compounds from the root bark of Diospyros quercina (Baill.) endemic to Madagascar

Objective:To isolate and characterize the cytotoxic compounds from Diospyros quercina(Baill.)G.E.Schatz&Lowry(Ebenaceae).Methods:An ethno-botanical survey was conducted in the south of Madagascar from July to August 2010.Bio-guided fractionation assay was carried out on the root bark of Diospyros quercina,using cytotoxicity bioassay on murine P388 leukemia cell lines as model.The structures of the cytotoxic compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.Results:Biological experiments resulted in the isolation of three bioactive pure compounds(named TR-21,TR-22,and TR-23)which exhibited very good in vitro cytotoxic activities with the IC_(50)values of(0.017 5±0.0060)μg/mL,(0.089±0.005)μg/mL and(1.027±0.070)μg/mL respectively.Thus,they support the claims of traditional healers and suggest the possible correlation between the chemical composition of this plant and its wide use in Malagasy folk medicine to treat cancer.Conclusions:The ability of isolated compounds in this study to inhibit cell growth may represent a rational explanation for the use of Diospyros quercina root bark in treating cancer by Malagasy traditional healers.Further studies are,therefore,necessary to evaluate the in vivo antineoplastic activity of these cytotoxic compounds as effective anticancer drugs.