title: Effects of piperine analogues on stimulation of melanocyte proliferation and melanocyte differentiation.
abstract: A wide range of piperine analogues has been synthesised in order to undertake a structure-activity study of their ability to stimulate melanocyte proliferation. Results demonstrate that an aromatic ring containing at least one ether function and a carbonyl group containing side chain is essential for this activity. A number of highly active piperine analogues have been identified, for instance 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-penta-2E,4E-dienoic acid methyl ester (5a), 1-E,E-piperinoyl-isobutylamine (4f) and 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-pentanoic acid cyclohexyl amide (20). A selection of analogues has also been evaluated for their effect on melanocyte morphology and melanogenesis. The piperine analogues altered cell morphology by increasing dendrite formation leading to bi-, tri- and quadripolar cells. These same analogues were found to increase total melanin in cell cultures, although melanin content per cell was not significantly altered from control in the presence of these compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NN, UK.
authors.forename: Radhakrishnan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venkatasamy
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faas
authors.forename: Antony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Amala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hider
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010880:Piperidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C008922:piperine