A novel series of 3,4-dihydroxychalcones was synthesized to evaluate their effects against 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase. Almost all compounds exhibited potent inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase with antioxidative effects, and some also inhibited cyclooxygenase. The 2',5'-disubstituted 3,4-dihydroxychalcones with hydroxy or alkoxy groups exhibited optimal inhibition of cyclooxygenase. We found that 2',5'-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroxychalcone (37; HX-0836) inhibited cyclooxygenase to the same degree as flufenamic acid and 5-lipoxygenase, more than quercetin. Finally, these active inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase inhibited arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema more than phenidone.

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Structural modification of ascorbic acid by substitution of the 3-hydroxy group with lipophilic moieties has allowed the development of agents for treating reperfusion injury. These ascorbic acid derivatives inhibited lipid peroxidation, and some of them also reduced coronary reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in anesthetized rats. We found that 3-O-[(dodecylcarbonyl)methyl]ascorbic acid (8) was protective against reperfusion injury without directly influencing hemodynamics. 2-O-Octadecylascorbic acid (19) and 5,6-O-dodecylideneascorbic acid (15) also exhibited a marked effect on reperfusion injury, but significantly reduced the arterial blood pressure and heart rate in rats.

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A series of hydroquinone monoalkyl ethers was synthesized and evaluated for anti lipid-peroxidation activity in rat liver microsomes. 4-Hexyloxy-2,3,6-trimethylphenol (9), having a low redox potential, as well as ascorbic acid exhibited the strongest anti lipid-peroxidation activity (IC50 = 4.2 x 10(-7) M). Structure-activity relationship studies demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of hydroquinone monoalkyl ethers on lipid peroxidation was increased by the acquisition of an optimum hydrophobicity and decreased by an insufficient or excessive hydrophobicity.