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Azobioisosteres of Curcumin with Pronounced Activity against Amyloid Aggregation, Intracellular Oxidative Stress, and Neuroinflammation
Author(s) -
Hofmann Julian,
Ginex Tiziana,
Espargaró Alba,
Scheiner Matthias,
Gunesch Sandra,
Aragó Marc,
Stigloher Christian,
Sabaté Raimon,
Luque F. Javier,
Decker Michael
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.202005263
Subject(s) - curcumin , neuroinflammation , chemistry , oxidative stress , intracellular , neurodegeneration , amyloid (mycology) , biophysics , biochemistry , pharmacology , inflammation , biology , medicine , inorganic chemistry , disease , pathology , immunology
Many (poly‐)phenolic natural products, for example, curcumin and taxifolin, have been studied for their activity against specific hallmarks of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid‐β 42 (Aβ42) aggregation and neuroinflammation. Due to their drawbacks, arising from poor pharmacokinetics, rapid metabolism, and even instability in aqueous medium, the biological activity of azobenzene compounds carrying a pharmacophoric catechol group, which have been designed as bioisoteres of curcumin has been examined. Molecular simulations reveal the ability of these compounds to form a hydrophobic cluster with Aβ42, which adopts different folds, affecting the propensity to populate fibril‐like conformations. Furthermore, the curcumin bioisosteres exceeded the parent compound in activity against Aβ42 aggregation inhibition, glutamate‐induced intracellular oxidative stress in HT22 cells, and neuroinflammation in microglial BV‐2 cells. The most active compound prevented apoptosis of HT22 cells at a concentration of 2.5 μ m (83 % cell survival), whereas curcumin only showed very low protection at 10 μ m (21 % cell survival).