The antiradical activity, protective effect against lipid peroxidation of liposomal membrane, and inhibitory effect on whole blood reactive oxygen species (ROS) liberation of Glycyrrhiza glabra crude extract and glycyrrhizin, its major compound, were assessed. The liquorice extract showed significant activity in all the three assay systems used in a dose dependent manner. It displayed remarkable reactivity with free stable 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, inhibitory efficacy in peroxidatively damaged unilamellar dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) liposomes, and inhibition of ROS chemiluminescence, generated by whole blood, induced by both receptor-bypassing stimuli (PMA) and receptor operating stimuli (Opz) in the ranking order of stimuli PMA> Opz. These activities may be attributed to phenolic antioxidants involving isoflavan derivatives, coumarins and chalcones. Nonetheless, triterpene saponin glycyrrhizin exhibited no efficacy in the system of DPPH reaction and peroxidation of liposomal membrane, and negligible inhibition of chemiluminescence generated by inflammatory cells. These results indicate that the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of glycyrrhizin most probably does not involve ROS and this major constituent is not responsible for the inhibition effects of liquorice extract on neutrophil functions.
Different types of 3-substituted 4H-4-oxobenzopyrans were prepared by microwave irradiation as well as by a classical method. The beneficial effect of microwave irradiation on the aldol condensation of 3-formylchromones with 2-imino-1-methylimidazolidine-4-one (creatinine), 2-thioxoimidazolidine-4-one (thiohydantoin) and 2-ethyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (3-ethylrhodanine) in different reaction media is described. Our results show that the effect of microwave irradiation on the reactions studied was a shortening of the reaction times and a smooth increase in the yields. The subsequent reactions of the product with some nucleophiles are discussed. The structure of the products was proven by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra.
The direct acylation of quercetin (I) with 3-chloro-2,2-dimethylpropanoyl chloride (II) gives a complex reaction mixture. The synthesis of different acylated quercetin with from mono- to tetra-O-substituted functions was achieved in a simple procedure wherein the yield of isomers depended on the stoichiometric ratio of reagents. The crude reaction mixtures were analysed (LC-MS) and compared with the isolated products. Unambiguous structural characterisation of isomeric quercetin derivatives was confirmed by NMR analysis. In addition, the quercetin dimer can be obtained in a high yield in the simple procedure. The anti-oxidant activity and aldose reductase inhibition of the compounds were screened with the aim of providing bi-functional remedies to treat diabetic complications and other diseases where oxidative stress and the polyol pathway are key etiological factors.
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