Effects of diarylpentanoid analogues of curcumin on chemiluminescence and chemotactic activities of phagocytes.
OBJECTIVE
A series of 43 curcumin diarylpentanoid analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the chemiluminescence and chemotactic activity of phagocytes in vitro.


METHODS
The effects of the compounds on the respiratory burst of human whole blood and isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were evaluated using a luminol-based chemiluminescence assay and their effect on chemotactic migration of PMNs was investigated using the Boyden chamber technique.


RESULTS
Compounds 6, 17, 25 and 30 exhibited significant inhibitory activity on the oxidative burst of PMNs. The presence of methoxy groups at positions 2 and 5, and methoxylation and fluorination at positions 4 and 2 of both phenyl rings, respectively, may contribute significantly to their reactive oxygen species inhibition activity. Compounds 7, 17, 18, 24 and 32 showed strong inhibition of the chemotaxis migration of PMNs. Chlorination at various positions of both phenyl rings of cyclohexanone diarylpentanoid resulted in compounds with potent inhibitory effects on PMN migration.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that some of these diarylpentanoid analogues are able to modulate the innate immune response of phagocytes at different steps, emphasizing their potential as a source of new immunomodulatory agents.
Drug and Herbal Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ibj@pharmacy.ukm.my
Ibrahim
I
Jantan
Syed Nasir Abbas
SN
Bukhari
Nordin Haji
NH
Lajis
Faridah
F
Abas
Lam Kok
LK
Wai
Malina
M
Jasamai
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003474:Curcumin