title: Synthesis and biological evaluation of quinic acid derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents.
abstract: Quinic acid (QA) esters found in hot water extracts of Uncaria tomentosa (a.k.a. cat's claw) exert anti-inflammatory activity through mechanisms involving inhibition of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). Herein, we describe the synthesis and biological testing of novel QA derivatives. Inhibition of NF-kappaB was assessed using A549 (Type II alveolar epithelial-like) cells that stably express a secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter driven by an NF-kappaB response element. A549-NF-kappaB cells were stimulated with TNF-alpha (10 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of QA derivative for 18 hours followed by measurement of SEAP activity. Amide substitution at the carboxylic acid position yielded potent inhibitors of NF-kappaB. A variety of modifications to the amide substitution were tolerated with the N-propyl amide derivative being the most potent. Further examination of the SAR demonstrated that acetylation of the hydroxyl groups reduced NF-kappaB inhibitory activity. QA amide derivatives lacked anti-oxidant activity and were found to be neither anti-proliferative nor cytotoxic at concentrations up to 100 microM. In conclusion, we have discovered a novel series of non-toxic QA amides that potently inhibit NF-kappaB, despite their lack of anti-oxidant activity. Mechanistic studies and pre-clinical efficacy studies in various inflammatory animal models are on-going.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Karin Emmons
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Duane D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology; D011801:Quinic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032070:Uncaria / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011801:Quinic Acid; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase