title: Enantiomers of higenamine inhibit LPS-induced iNOS in a macrophage cell line and improve the survival of mice with experimental endotoxemia.
abstract: The importance of development of single enantiomers (optically pure isomers) of chiral molecules has been recognized and manifested in countless pharmaceutical and biological advancement. (RS)-(+/-)-Higenamine (racemic mixture), an active ingredient of Aconite tuber, has been shown to have antioxidant activity along with inhibitory action of iNOS expression in various cells. In the present study, the effects of each enantiomer of higenamine [(S)-(-)-higenamine and (R)-(+)-higenamine] were investigated in comparison with the effects of racemic mixture [(RS)-(+/-)-higenamine] on iNOS expression and NO production in RAW 264.7 cells activated with LPS. In addition, the effects of higenamine enantiomers on the survival rates were also investigated using mice, in which each test compound was injected (i.p.) 90 min prior to LPS. All three forms of higenamine inhibited iNOS expression and reduced NO production with IC50 of 26.2, 86.3, and 53.4 microM, for (S)-, (R)-, and (RS)-higenamine, respectively. (S)-higenamine also significantly reduced serum NOx level and increased survival rates in LPS-treated mice. In contrast, (R)-isomer only showed tendency to increase the survival rates which was not statistically significant when compared to LPS-treated controls. Taken together, it was concluded that (S)-higenamine may be more beneficial than (R)-enantiomer in diseases associated with iNOS over-expression, such as septic shock.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Min Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han Geuk
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jae Heun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yun-Choi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hye Sook
authors.forename: Jae Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hong Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Kil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ki Churl
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013534:Survival; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C012348:higenamine