Orientador: Rosangela da Silva de Laurentiz / Resumo: Os inibidores seletivos da ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2), como o rofecoxibe (2) e o celecoxibe (1), formam uma importante classe de medicamentos anti-inflamatórios desenvolvidos a partir da descoberta das duas isoformas das ciclooxigenases (COX-1 e COX-2) na década de 1979. A isoforma 1 esta relacionada com a citoproteção gástrica, agregação plaquetária e função renal e a isoforma 2 relacionada a processos inflamatórios. Estes inibidores seletivos apesar de não apresentarem os efeitos colaterais (ulceras e gastrites) dos anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais (AINEs) clássicos por inibirem apenas a COX-2, apresentam grave risco cardiovascular, o que motivou à retirada do rofecoxibe do mercado. Porém, por ser um eficiente inibidor seletivo da COX-2 a estrutura do rofecoxibe tornou-se referência no estudo de novas substâncias capazes de inibir seletivamente a COX-2. Dentre as ferramentas utilizadas na busca destas novas estruturas está a modelagem molecular através de programas como o GOLD 5.1, que foi utilizado neste trabalho. O uso do GOLD 5.1 possibilitou o estudo do comportamento das estruturas avaliadas em ligação com as ciclooxigenases. O objetivo foi obtenção de estruturas com comportamento semelhante ao rofecoxibe (em relação às COXs) como potenciais candidatos ao desenvolvimento de novos inibidores seletivos para a COX-2. O estudo foi realizado com 480 estruturas modeladas a partir de lignanas naturais como a hinoquinina, cubebina, deoxipodofilotoxina e podofilotoxina, que apre... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The selective inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as rofecoxib (2) and celecoxib (1), form an important class of anti-inflammatory drugs developed from the discovery of two isoforms of cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) in the late 1979. Isoform 1 is related to the gastric cytoprotection, platelet and renal function and isoform 2 related to inflammatory processes. These selective inhibitors although they did not side effects (ulcers and gastritis) of the classic NSAIDs to inhibit only COX-2, have severe cardiovascular risk, which led to the withdrawal of rofecoxib from the market. However, to be an effective selective COX-2 to rofecoxib structure has a reference in the study of new substances capable of selectively inhibiting COX-2. Among the tools used in the search of these new structures is by molecular modeling program such as GOLD 5.1, which was used in this work. Using GOLD 5.1 made it possible to study the behavior of structures evaluated in binding with the cyclooxygenases. With the objective of obtaining structures with similar behavior to rofecoxib (regarding behavior with COX) as potential candidates for the development of new selective inhibitors for COX-2. The study was conducted with 480 structures modeled from natural lignans as hinokinin, cubebin, deoxypodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxin, which have anti-inflammatory activity in vivo or in vitro as well as structural similarities with rofecoxib. The deoxypodophyllotoxin for presenting selectivity for COX... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

We have studied aspirin as a potential chemopreventive for colorectal cancer, completing Phase I studies on aspirin pharmacology and potential biomarker assays (prostaglandins, PGE2 and PGF(2α) and cyclooxygenase modulation) in normal human subjects. These studies have determined the optimal dose of aspirin for future Phase IIa and IIb chemopreventive trials in high-risk cohorts of patients for colon cancer. Aspirin's effects on rectal prostaglandins are prolonged, detectable even after aspirin and its metabolite are removed from the plasma. Aspirin-mediated inhibition of prostaglandin production in the human rectal epithelium may be related to direct suppression of cyclooxygenase transcription and not to enzyme inactivation by acetylation. A systematic method to monitor adherence (self- report, telephone contact, pill count, and microelectronic monitoring) has been established for future trials. Strategies to improve recruitment of high-risk cohorts have been developed. Phase IIa non-randomized studies with aspirin at 81 mg in high-risk cohorts (resected Duke's A colon cancer, Duke's C colon cancer treated with adjuvant therapy and disease-free at 5 years, history of colon adenomas > 1 cm, two or more first-degree relatives with colon cancer, and familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndromes) are currently being conducted for surrogate end- point biomarker (prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase, cellular mucins, and proliferation) modulation.

The present study aims at the isolation and identification of diverse phenolic polyketides from Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. and Aloe plicatilis (L.) Miller and includes their 5-LOX/COX-1 inhibiting potency. After initial Sephadex-LH20 gel filtration and combined silica gel 60- and RP18-CC, three dihydroisocoumarins (nonaketides), four 5-methyl-8-C-glucosylchromones (heptaketides) from A. vera, and two hexaketide-naphthalenes from A. plicatilis have been isolated by means of HSCCC. The structures of all polyketides were elucidated by ESI-MS and 2D 1H/13C-NMR (HMQC, HMBC) techniques. The analytical/preparative separation of 3R-feralolide, 3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- and the new 6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3R-feralolide into their respective positional isomers are described here for the first time, including the assignment of the 3R-configuration in all feralolides by comparative CD spectroscopy. The chromones 7-O-methyl-aloesin and 7-O-methyl-aloeresin A were isolated for the first time from A. vera, together with the previously described aloesin (syn. aloeresin B) and aloeresin D. Furthermore, the new 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- 3,6R-dihydroxy-8R-methylnaphtalene was isolated from A. plicatilis, together with the known plicataloside. Subsequently, biological-pharmacological screening was performed to identify Aloe polyketides with anti-inflammatory potential in vitro. In addition to the above constituents, the anthranoids (octaketides) aloe emodin, aloin, 6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl-aloin A and B, and 6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl-7-hydroxy-8-O-methyl-aloin A and B were tested. In the COX-1 examination, only feralolide (10 µM) inhibited the formation of MDA by 24%, whereas the other polyketides did not display any inhibition at all. In the 5-LOX-test, all aloin-type anthranoids (10 µM) inhibited the formation of LTB4 by about 25–41%. Aloesin also displayed 10% inhibition at 10 µM in this in vitro setup, while the other chromones and naphthalenes did not display any activity. The present study, therefore, demonstrates the importance of low molecular phenolic polyketides for the known overall anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera preparations.

Innerhalb der Arthropodensystematik sind die phylogenetischen Beziehungen der höheren Crustaceataxa seit langem von besonderen Interesse. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Rekonstruktion der phylogenetischen Verwandtschaftsverhältnisse mit Hilfe molekularer Datensätze für die Phyllopoda, die zusammen mit den Anostraca die Branchiopoda bilden und der Astacoidea (Astacida), einer Teilgruppe der Flusskrebse. Folgende molekulare Marker kamen zum Einsatz: 1) Für die Phyllopoda: Die 3. Domäne der mitochondrial codierten 12S rRNA, unter Berücksichtigung von Sekundärtrukturinformationen, das nukleare Gen EF-1 alpha und die Positionen von Introns im Gen EF-1 alpha. 2) Für die Astacoidea: Die 3. Domäne der 12S rRNA und das mitochondrial codierte Gen cox1. Durch die Wahl der molekularen Marker, die mit unterschiedlichen computerkladistischen Methoden ausgewertet wurden, konnten für die meisten Fragen eine eindeutige und im Fall der Astacoidea überraschende phylogenetische Aussage getroffen werden. Die gewonnenen Hypothesen werden ausführlich im Licht morphologischer Hypothesen diskutiert. / The phylogenetic relationships of the higher arthropod taxa are still of special interest. Especially the interrelationships of the different Crustacea taxa have long been debated. The focus of this investigation is to make a contribution to the phylogenies of two Crustacea taxa using molecular markers: The Phyllopoda which belong together with the Anostraca to the branchiopods, and of the Astacoidea, one of the two higher crayfish taxa (Astacida). The following molecular markers were used: 1) Phyllopoda: the 3rd domain of the mitochondrial encoded 12S rRNA taking into account informations of the secondary structure, the nuclear encoded proteingene EF-1 alpha and the positions of introns found in the coding region of EF-1 alpha. 2) Astacoidea: the 3rd domain of the 12S rRNA and the mitochondrial encoded proteingene cox1. The choice of the mentioned markers in combination with different computercladistical methods allowed to give a satisfying, and in the case of the Astacoidea a more surprising answer to most addressed phylogenetic questions. The gained hypotheses are then discussed in detail in the light of morphological features and hypotheses.