Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-03-17T12:18:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Emanoel Hottes.pdf: 4033048 bytes, checksum: fe0f804a0e5a67c894370834c0964ff8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-17T12:18:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Emanoel Hottes.pdf: 4033048 bytes, checksum: fe0f804a0e5a67c894370834c0964ff8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-07 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPq / CuII complexes containing thiazole and thioimidazole derivatives have been synthesized and characterized. The ligands (E)-2-(2-benzylidenehydrazinyl)-4-phenylthiazole (L1), (E)-2-(2-(4-chlorobenzylidene)hydrazinyl)-4-phenylthiazole (L2), (E)-2-(2-(4-methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)-4-phenylthiazole (L3), (E)-4-phenyl-2-(2-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)thiazole (L4), (E)-5-phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-ylmethyleneamino)-1H-imidazole-2(3H)-thione (L5) and (E)-1-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-5-phenyl-1H-imidazole-2(3H)-thione (L6), reported in the literature, have been obtained in collaboration with Laboratory LaDMol-QM from UFRRJ. For these ligands, it is been performed qualitative calculations and molecular modeling by the semi empiric method PM6 for geometry optimization and estimate the relative energies of the frontier orbitals and conformers. The crystalline structure of the ligand L2 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The CuII complexes have been obtained from the reactions of the ligands with CuCl2 in different stoichiometries. The proposed structures of the complexes have been formulated based on elemental analysis of CHN, electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electronic (UV-Vis) and vibrational (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results of EPR point to the occurrence of more than one CuII nucleus in all reaction products. For complexes CuL1-CuL3 with potentially bidentate ligands it has been proposed coordination from sulfur or nitrogen from thiazole ring and nitrogen from azomethine, with possible octahedral and/or square planar geometries. For CuL4-CuL6 with potentially tridentate ligands it is been proposed coordination from sulfur as well as nitrogen atoms. For CuL6, there is also a possibility of coordination through the oxygen atom, with a CuII possibly pentacoordinate.. Studies with yeast have shown that amongst the compounds, L1 has had the best activity in the inhibition of the cell growth. It was possible to observe that all compounds decrease the cell survival during the period of incubation. The studies of lipid peroxidation have shown that the complexes were more toxic than the ligands and the complex CuL3 has shown better toxicity when compared to the other compounds and the control. / Complexos de CuII com ligantes derivados de tiazol e tioimidazol, foram sintetizados e caracterizados. Os ligantes (E)-2-(2-benzilidenohidrazinil)-4-feniltiazol (L1), (E)-2-(2-(4-clorobenzilideno)hidrazinil)-4-feniltiazol (L2), (E)-2-(2-(4-metoxibenzilideno)hidrazinil)-4-feniltiazol (L3), (E)-4-fenil-2-(2-(piridin-2-il-metileno)hidrazinil)tiazol (L4), (E)-5-fenil-1-((piridin-2-il-metileno)amino)-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-tiona (L5) e (E)-1-((2-hidroxibenzilideno)amino)-5-fenil-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-tione (L6), j? reportados na literatura, foram obtidos e caracterizados em parceria com o Laborat?rio LaDMol-QM da UFRRJ. Para estes ligantes foram realizados c?lculos qualitativos de modelagem molecular pelo m?todo semi-emp?rico PM6 para otimiza??o de geometria e estimativas de energias relativas de orbitais de fronteira e de conf?rmeros. A estrutura cristalina do ligante L2 foi determinada por difra??o de raios-X de monocristal. Os complexos de CuII foram obtidos a partir de rea??o dos ligantes com CuCl2 em diferentes estequiometrias. As propostas para os complexos foram formuladas com base nos dados de an?lise elementar de CHN, resson?ncia paramagn?tica eletr?nica (EPR) e espectroscopias eletr?nica (UV-vis) e vibracional (FTIR). Os resultados de EPR apontam para a ocorr?ncia de mais de um n?cleo de CuII em todos os produtos. Para os complexos CuL1-CuL3 com ligantes potencialmente bidentados (L1-L3) foi proposta complexa??o tanto pelo ?tomo de enxofre (anel tiazol) como tamb?m pelos ?tomos de nitrog?nio (azometino), com possibilidades de geometrias octa?dricas e tamb?m quadradas. J? os complexos CuL4-CuL6, com ligantes potencialmente tridentados (L4-L6), foi proposta complexa??o tanto pelo ?tomo de enxofre do anel tiazol como tamb?m pelos ?tomos de nitrog?nio do azometino e do anel pirid?nico. No caso de CuL6 ainda h? possibilidade de coordena??o atrav?s do ?tomo de oxig?nio, com CuII possivelmente pentacoordenado.. Testes realizados em leveduras mostraram que dentre os compostos, o L1 foi o que apresentou melhor desempenho na inibi??o do crescimento das c?lulas. No caso do teste de viabilidade foi poss?vel observar que todos os compostos diminuem a sobrevida celular no per?odo de incuba??o. Por meio da an?lise de peroxida??o lip?dica foi poss?vel verificar que os complexos foram mais t?xicos do que os ligantes e que o CuL3 foi o que apresentou maior toxidez quando comparado com os demais complexos e com o controle

A natureza e diversidade das estruturas químicas com atividade farmacológica que se tem encontrado nos organismos marinhos justificam a busca por novos compostos que são de interesse nas mais diversas áreas de aplicação. As espécies de macroalgas vermelhas, em especial Laurencia spp., merecem destaque pela enorme variedade de terpenos e acetogeninas que produzem, sendo consideradas de grande potencial na produção de novos fármacos. O estudo de seus constituintes pode fornecer importantes subsídios para a quimiotaxonomia, ecologia química, caracterização das espécies e avaliação do potencial biotecnológico. Baseado nisso, Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea e Laurenciella sp. foram selecionadas para o presente estudo para isolamento, caracterização e teste de atividades biológicas dos seus compostos. A técnica do DNA barcoding foi utilizada como ferramenta de diagnóstico para garantir a similaridade entre as amostras de cada espécie, que foram coletadas em época e locais diferentes. Do extrato orgânico de Laurencia aldingensis, nove substâncias foram isoladas, sendo quatro esfingosinas (1-4), três terpenos (5-7) e duas novas substâncias halogenadas (8 e 9). Do extrato orgânico de Laurencia dendroidea formam isolados dois terpenos halogenados conhecidos (10, 11) e, do extrato de Laurenciella sp. três novas substâncias halogenadas alifáticas insaturadas (12-14), assim como um ácido graxo (15) e um esterol (16) conhecidos. Dentre elas, a 8 apresentou atividade citotóxica, mas não se mostrou seletivo, e as substâncias 4 e 11 apresentaram atividade esquistossomicida, bastante promissora. No entanto, nenhum deles apresentou atividade antioxidante. Diante desta investigação, podemos dizer que as informações geradas com os estudos de Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea e Laurenciella sp. expandiram significantemente o conhecimento no que tange a diversidade química no gênero e o potencial biológico-farmacêutico dos mesmos. / The nature and diversity of chemical structures with pharmacological activity that have been found in marine organisms justifies the search for new compounds that may have applications in various areas of interest. Species of red seaweeds, especially Laurencia spp., are special because of the unprecedented variety of terpenes and acetogenins they produce that are considered potentially useful for the production of new drugs. Study of their constituents can also provide important insights relating to their chemotaxonomy, chemical ecology, characterization of species and biotechnological potential. On this basis Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea and Laurenciella sp., were selected for study and isolation, characterization, and biological activity assessment of isolatable quantities of their compounds. The technique of DNA barcoding was used as a diagnostic tool to ensure similarity between samples of each species collected at different times and places. From the organic extract of Laurencia aldingensis nine compounds were isolated; four sphingosines (1-4), three terpenes (5-7) and other two new halogenated compound (8, 9). From the organic extract of Laurencia dendroidea two known halogenated terpenes (10, 11) were isolated while from a similar extract of Laurenciella sp., three new halogenated aliphatic compounds (12-14) were isolated together with known fatty acid (15) and sterol (16). Among all isolates, 8 demonstrated unspecific cytotoxic activity and compounds 4 and 11 showed promising schistosomicidal activity. In applied antioxidant assays none of the isolates we noted to have activity. From the overall investigation it is also clear that the information gleaned from the studies of Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea and Laurenciella sp., significantly expanded our knowledge base concerning chemical diversity in the genus Laurencia and their biological-pharmaceutical potential.

A natureza e diversidade das estruturas químicas com atividade farmacológica que se tem encontrado nos organismos marinhos justificam a busca por novos compostos que são de interesse nas mais diversas áreas de aplicação. As espécies de macroalgas vermelhas, em especial Laurencia spp., merecem destaque pela enorme variedade de terpenos e acetogeninas que produzem, sendo consideradas de grande potencial na produção de novos fármacos. O estudo de seus constituintes pode fornecer importantes subsídios para a quimiotaxonomia, ecologia química, caracterização das espécies e avaliação do potencial biotecnológico. Baseado nisso, Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea e Laurenciella sp. foram selecionadas para o presente estudo para isolamento, caracterização e teste de atividades biológicas dos seus compostos. A técnica do DNA barcoding foi utilizada como ferramenta de diagnóstico para garantir a similaridade entre as amostras de cada espécie, que foram coletadas em época e locais diferentes. Do extrato orgânico de Laurencia aldingensis, nove substâncias foram isoladas, sendo quatro esfingosinas (1-4), três terpenos (5-7) e duas novas substâncias halogenadas (8 e 9). Do extrato orgânico de Laurencia dendroidea formam isolados dois terpenos halogenados conhecidos (10, 11) e, do extrato de Laurenciella sp. três novas substâncias halogenadas alifáticas insaturadas (12-14), assim como um ácido graxo (15) e um esterol (16) conhecidos. Dentre elas, a 8 apresentou atividade citotóxica, mas não se mostrou seletivo, e as substâncias 4 e 11 apresentaram atividade esquistossomicida, bastante promissora. No entanto, nenhum deles apresentou atividade antioxidante. Diante desta investigação, podemos dizer que as informações geradas com os estudos de Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea e Laurenciella sp. expandiram significantemente o conhecimento no que tange a diversidade química no gênero e o potencial biológico-farmacêutico dos mesmos. / The nature and diversity of chemical structures with pharmacological activity that have been found in marine organisms justifies the search for new compounds that may have applications in various areas of interest. Species of red seaweeds, especially Laurencia spp., are special because of the unprecedented variety of terpenes and acetogenins they produce that are considered potentially useful for the production of new drugs. Study of their constituents can also provide important insights relating to their chemotaxonomy, chemical ecology, characterization of species and biotechnological potential. On this basis Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea and Laurenciella sp., were selected for study and isolation, characterization, and biological activity assessment of isolatable quantities of their compounds. The technique of DNA barcoding was used as a diagnostic tool to ensure similarity between samples of each species collected at different times and places. From the organic extract of Laurencia aldingensis nine compounds were isolated; four sphingosines (1-4), three terpenes (5-7) and other two new halogenated compound (8, 9). From the organic extract of Laurencia dendroidea two known halogenated terpenes (10, 11) were isolated while from a similar extract of Laurenciella sp., three new halogenated aliphatic compounds (12-14) were isolated together with known fatty acid (15) and sterol (16). Among all isolates, 8 demonstrated unspecific cytotoxic activity and compounds 4 and 11 showed promising schistosomicidal activity. In applied antioxidant assays none of the isolates we noted to have activity. From the overall investigation it is also clear that the information gleaned from the studies of Laurencia aldingensis, L. dendroidea and Laurenciella sp., significantly expanded our knowledge base concerning chemical diversity in the genus Laurencia and their biological-pharmaceutical potential.

Annona hypoglauca Mart. foi coletada em área inundada da Floresta Amazônica, próximo à Manaus (Brasil). Os alcalóides foram obtidos do extrato bruto do caule por partição ácido-base, e a partir do resíduo dessa extração foi realizada a partição com solventes de diferentes polaridades, originando as frações livres de alcalóides. A partir da análise de CG-EM dos alcalóides totais foi possível caracterizar sete alcalóides aporfínicos (actinodafinina, anonaina, glaucina, isoboldina, isodomesticina, nornuciferina e roemerina) e possivelmente duas protoberberinas (esculerina e caseadina). Os alcalóides totais foram fracionados em coluna cromatográfica e posteriormente purificados em placa cromatográfica preparativa permitindo o isolamento de dois alcalóides aporfínicos: actinodafinina e isoboldina. As estruturas desses produtos naturais foram definidos com base em espectros de dados, incluindo 1H RMN, 13C RMN, 13C DEPT e CG-EM. Pela primeira vez a ocorrência da actinodafinina esta sendo reportada em uma espécies de Annona. O extrato bruto, as frações livres de alcalóides, os alcalóides totais e suas frações foram submetidos a avaliação da atividade antibacteriana por microdiluição e atividade citotóxica in vitro frente a células de tumores humanos. Para todos os extratos testados, somente os alcalóides totais e suas frações apresentaram atividade frente a bactérias Gram +. No ensaio de citotoxicidade com linhagens de células de tumores, o extrato bruto foi capaz de inibir o crescimento de todas as linhagens celulares testadas, apresentando efeito letal para a linhagem de Câncer de Cólon (KM-12), enquanto as frações livres de alcalóides demonstraram baixa atividade. Por outro lado, as frações livres de alcalóides apresentaram atividade mais pronunciada para a linhagem de Câncer de Pulmão (NCIH-460) do que os alcalóides. Assim, a atividade citotóxica encontrada no extrato bruto é decorrente do sinergismo ou complementação entre os componentes das frações alcaloídicas e não alcaloídicas, isto é, nenhuma das frações isoladamente é responsável pela atividade observada no extrato bruto. / Annona hypoglauca Mart. was collected in the flooded areas of the Amazonian Forest near Manaus (Brazil). The alkaloids were obtained from the stems crude extract by acid-base partitioning and the remaining alkaloid-free extract was partitioned with organic solvents of different polarity. The GC/MS analysis of the total alkaloids allowed the identification of seven aporphine alkaloids (actinophanine, anonaine, glaucine, isoboldine, isodomesticine, nornuciferine and roemerine) and possibly two proberberine alkaloids (scoulerine and caseadine). The total alkaloids were fractionated by column chromatography and further purified by preparative thin-layer chromatography allowing the isolation of two aporphine alkaloids: actinodaphnine and isoboldine. The structures of these natural products were defined based on their spectral data, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 13C DEPT and CG/MS. This is the first report for the occurrence of actinodaphnine in Annona species. The crude extract, alkaloid-free organic extracts, total alkaloids and its fractions were tested for their antibacterial activity by the microdilution broth assay and cytotoxic activity against in vitro tissue culture cells of human. From all the extracts assayed, only the total alkaloids and their fractions showed a relevant antibacterial activity against Gram positive organisms. In the cytotoxicity assay with human tumor cell lines, the crude extract was able to inhibit the growth of all cell lines tested, with a lethal effect for the colon cancer (KM-12) cell line. The evaluation of this activity with the total alkaloid and alkaloid-free fractions indicated selectivity for the different cellular lines. The alkaloid fraction presented high growth inhibition for the colon cancer cell line (KM-12), while the alkaloid-free fractions displayed lower activity. On the other hand, the alkaloid free fractions showed a higher activity for the lung cancer cell line (NCIH-460) than the total alkaloids. Thus, the cytotoxic activity found in the crude extract is the result of the synergism or complementary activity among the components of the alkaloid and alkaloid-free fractions, e.g, none of the fractions separately is responsible for the activity observed in the crude extract.

Os venenos de serpentes são ricos em proteínas, enzimas e peptídeos biologicamente ativos. Diversas enzimas tais como fosfolipases A2 (PLA2s), metaloproteases (MP), L-aminoácido oxidases (LAAOs) são responsáveis pelo quadro clínico do envenenamento ofídico. Atualmente, o isolamento e a caracterização funcional e estrutural destas enzimas têm auxiliado na compreensão do mecanismo de ação destas toxinas e nas formas alternativas de tratamento. Além disso, estas enzimas se tornaram valiosas ferramentas de aplicação biotecnológica, na busca de novos fármacos de interesse na clínica médica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar e caracterizar bioquímica e funcionalmente a L-aminoácido oxidase do veneno de Bothrops atrox. O isolamento da LAAO de B. atrox (LAAOBatrox) envolveu três etapas cromatográficas: a exclusão molecular em Sephadex G-75, troca iônica em ES-502N utilizando CLAE e, por último, a cromatografia de afinidade com uso da Lentil-Lectina, conferindo um alto grau de pureza à proteína confirmado por SDS-PAGE. Após a caracterização bioquímica, a LAAOBatrox demonstrou ser uma glicoproteína com 12% de açúcar, massa molecular relativa de 67.000 e pI de 4,4 confirmando seu caráter ácido pela composição em aminoácidos, predominando Asx (Ácido aspártico ou asparagina) e Glx (Ácido glutâmico ou glutamina). LAAOBatrox apresentou especificidade de substrato para L-Met e L-Leu. Com o seqüenciamento dos peptídeos trípticos internos e em comparação com as LAAOs de outros venenos, a LAAOBatrox apresentou homologia de 100% com LAAOs isoladas de B. moojeni e B. jararacussu e apresentou sequenciamento N-terminal de ADDN-NPLEE-NIRRDD que é homólogo ao das LAAOs já descritas. A LAAOBatrox apresentou atividade edematogênica moderada quando comparada ao veneno bruto, atividade coagulante baixa sobre o plasma humano citratado, atividade de agregação plaquetária sendo que 25µg/mL foi capaz de agregar aproximadamente 100% de plaquetas, onde o efeito obtido pela proteína pode ser devido à liberação de H2O2, sendo que a catalase foi adicionada ao meio tratado com LAAOBatrox e o efeito de agregação plaquetária obtido foi próximo à 0%. LAAOBatrox apresentou efeito citotóxico sobre diferentes linhagens tumorais: B16F10 onde as células apresentaram 70% de morte por apoptose e PC12 que apresentaram uma viabilidade celular de 20% após o tratamento com a enzima. LAAOBatrox não apresentou efeito citotóxico significativo sobre células normais. Portanto, a LAAOBatrox consiste de uma enzima multifuncional que poderá servir como ferramenta para investigação dos processos celulares que estão envolvidos no envenenamento. / Snake venoms are rich in proteins, enzymes and biological active peptides. Many enzymes, like phospholipases A2, metalloproteinases, L-amino acid oxidases are responsible by clinical aspects of ophidian poisoning. Nowadays, isolation and the functional and structural characterizations of these enzymes have been useful to elucidate their mechanisms of action. Besides, these enzymes have great value for biotechnology on searching of new molecules for medicine development. The aim of this work was isolate Lamino acid oxidase from B. atrox venom (LAAOBatrox) and characterize biochemical and functionally LAAOBatrox. The isolation consisted of 3 chromatographic steps: molecular exclusion using a G-75 Sephadex column, ion exchange using ES-502N column in HPLC and affinity chromatography with Lentil-Lectin column. Afterward, LAAOBatrox was analyzed by SDS-PAGE to confirm an expected high purity level. Biochemical characterization showed LAAOBatrox is a glycoprotein of 12% sugar-containing with relative molecular weight of 67000, pI estimated in 4,4 pointing to acid character due to its amino acids composition, rich for Asx and Glx residues. LAAOBatrox displays high specificity to hydrophobic L-amino acids (best substrates: L-Met and L-Leu). The Nterminal amino acid sequence (ADDN-NPLEE-NIRRDD) and the internal peptide sequences showed close structural homology to other snake venom L-amino acid oxidades, presenting 100% homology to LAAO from B. moojeni and B. jararacussu. This enzyme induces moderate edema compared to crude venom, low coagulating activity in human plasma and 100% of in vitro platelet aggregation induction with 25 g/mL, but this can be due to H2O2 production by LAAOs once added catalase has inhibited aggregation induced by LAAOBatrox and the effect was close to 0%. LAAOBatrox presents citotoxicity effect for tumor cell lines: 70% of death by apoptosis in B16F10 and 20% cellular viability for PC12, after LAAOBatrox treatment. LAAOBatrox did not display citotoxicity effect in normal cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Thus, LAAOBatrox is a multifunctional enzyme of huge potential for investigation of cellular processes involved on poisoning and also for developing new medicines.

Thesis (MSc. (Microbiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / This study was aimed at isolating and evaluating the antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of active compounds from selected medicinal plant species. The biological activities and cytotoxic effects of Commelina africana, Dombeya rotundifolia, Elephantorrhiza elephantina and Schkuhria pinnata were investigated based on their traditional uses. The plants were extracted with different solvents of varying polarities. Methanol was the best extractant with the highest yield. The presence of different phytoconstituents was screened using standard methods; this revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. Meanwhile, the phytochemicals were screened on TLC, where different colours observed indicated the presence of different compounds. The total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid content were estimated using spectrophotometric methods. D. rotundifolia had the highest amounts of phenol, tannin and flavonoid content, while S. pinnata had the least. The antibacterial and antioxidant screening employed both qualitative and quantitative assays. Although not separated, this study demonstrated the antioxidant potential of D. rotundifolia extracts developed in BEA and CEF. D. rotundifolia also demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging and reducing power antioxidant potential. These activities could be attributed to the high phenolic, tannin and flavonoid content observed. All the selected plants had antibacterial potential against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Only S. pinnata extracts were active against E. faecalis and S. aureus. The MIC values of the plants and ampicillin ranged from 0.02 to 2.50 mg/mL and 0.02 to 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. The plants were combined to determine any interaction effects in exhibiting antibacterial activity. Among all the possible combinations, combinations with S. pinnata had improved antibacterial activity. The effects of D. rotundifolia and S. pinnata extracts on the inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages was determined using the DCFHD-A assay. Both plants demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential by inhibiting the production of ROS in a dose-dependent manner. Cell viability assays revealed that S. pinnata had cytotoxic effects on African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells with the lowest LC50 (25 µg/mL). Bioassay guided fractionation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of dichloromethane extracts of S. pinnata on column chromatography afforded isolation and characterisation of three sesquiterpene lactones. These were identified as 6-(2, 3- xxvi dihydroangeloylory)-6α-hydroxyinuviscolide, heliangolide and eucannabiolide. All three compounds had antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects. The compounds may serve as leads for synthesis of less toxic therapeutic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

<p>This thesis describes the use of a new technology, the Cytosensor^® microphysiometer, in the in vitro evaluation of cytotoxic drugs, using the lymphoma cell line U-937 GTB and primary cultures of tumour cells from patients as model systems. The method was specifically applied to study the metabolic effects of the novel cyanoguanidine N-(6-(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl)-N’-cyano-N’’-4-pyridylguanidine, CHS 828, currently in phase I/II clinical trials. </p><p>The Cytosensor^® measures metabolic effects as changes in the rate of extracellular acidification of cells exposed to a drug by perfusion. A number of standard cytotoxic drugs were found to produce typical and reproducible acidification response patterns during observation times up to 20 h. There seemed to be a relationship between a decrease in acidification and cytotoxicity, measured in the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA), after 20-24 h of continuous drug exposure.</p><p>In U-937 cells, CHS 828 induced a cytotoxic effect characterised by a steep concentration-response relationship followed by a plateau. After 24 h of incubation the DNA and protein synthesis were turned off. CHS 828 was found to produce a rapid and prolonged increase in extracellular acidification and lactate production similar to that of the structurally related mitochondrial inhibitor m-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). The CHS 828 induced acidification was observed in cell lines as well as in cells from various tumour types from patients and probably originates from increased glycolytic flux. The effects may be secondary to block of oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria, but the relevance of the early acidification is not clear. CHS 828 seemed to induce a late, at approximately 15 h, inhibition of the glycolysis followed by loss of ATP and subsequent cell death. After exposure to MIBG the loss of ATP and cell death occurred earlier and in parallel. The effects of CHS 828 were not found to resemble those of the structurally related polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor methylglyoxal-bis(guanyl-hydrazone) (MGBG). Thus, CHS 828 may represent a new and, thus, interesting mode of cytotoxic action worthwhile for further development.</p><p>In combinatory studies, a synergistic interaction was demonstrated between CHS 828 and the non-toxic drug amiloride. Additive-to-synergistic effects were also seen between CHS 828 and the bioreductive cytotoxic drug mitomycin C. In U-937 cells as well as in tumour cells from patients, CHS 828 demonstrated synergistic interactions in combination with melphalan and etoposide. </p><p>It is concluded that measurement in the Cytosensor^® microphysiometer of early cellular metabolic changes is a feasible and potentially valuable complement to more conventional methods used in the evaluation of anticancer agents. </p>

<p>During the last decades, chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs has played a significant role in cancer therapy. It’s important to develop new anticancer drugs, and drug sensitivity testing in vitro can be used to find the right diagnosis for the newly developed substances.</p><p>The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic activity of the new signal transduction modulators bortezomib, gefitinib and PKC412. The well-established substances cisplatin, cytarabine, doxorubicin and vincristin were investigated for comparison.</p><p>The activity of the cytotoxic drugs was analysed in human tumor samples from patients with ovarian carcinoma (n=16) and lymphoma (n=15) by using the Fluorometric Microculture Cytotoxicity Assay (FMCA). The testing of cellular drug resistance by FMCA was accomplished successfully in 33 out of the 34 samples (97%).</p><p>The results of this study indicated that the activity of cytotoxic drugs in tumor cells obtained from patients with ovarian carcinoma and lymphoma may be detected by the FMCA. It also suggested that bortezomib and gefitinib could represent promising agents for treatment of ovarian carcinoma and that PKC412 might be of less use for patients with this diagnose.</p>

<p>Marine invertebrates, in particular sponges, represent a source of a wide range of secondary metabolites, many of which have been attributed various defensive capabilities against environmental stress factors. In this thesis sponge-derived low-molecular peptide-like compounds and associated analogs are investigated for bioactivity and pharmacological targets. </p><p>The compound bromobenzisoxazolone barettin (cyclo[(6-bromo-8-(6-bromo-benzioxazol -3(1H)-one)-8-hydroxy)tryptophan)]arginine) was isolated from the sponge <i>Geodia barretti</i> and its ability to inhibit larval settlement of the barnacle <i>Balanus improvisus</i> was determined. With an EC₅₀ value of 15 nM, this compound’s antifouling effect was higher than those of the previously reported brominated dipeptides from <i>Geodia barretti</i>, i.e., barettin and 8,9-dihydrobarettin; moreover, this antifouling effect was demonstrated to be reversible. However, the compound lacked affinity for 5-HT_1-7 receptors, whereas barettin possessed specific affinity to 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2C and 5-HT₄, while 8,9-dihydrobarettin interacted with 5-HT₄. In an attempt to evaluate structure-activity relationships synthesized analogs with barettin and dipodazine scaffolds were investigated for antifouling activity. The analog benso[g]dipodazine, with an EC₅₀ value of 34 nM, displayed the highest settlement inhibition.</p><p>The studies of the structure-activity relationships of sponge-derived compounds were extended to cover analogs of agelasines and agelasimines originally isolated from sponges of the genus <i>Agelas</i>. Synthesized (+)-agelasine D and two structurally close analogs were investigated for cytotoxic and antibacterial activity. The profound cytotoxicity and broad spectrum antibacterial activity found prompted a further investigation of structure-activity relationships in 42 agelasine and agelasimine analogs and several characteristics that increased bioactivity were identified.</p><p>In conclusion this work has produced new results regarding the potent bioactivity of compounds derived from the sponges <i>Geodia barretti</i> and <i>Agelas</i> spp. and increased SAR knowledge of the fouling inhibition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of these compounds.</p>

Cyclotides are plant proteins with a unique topology, defined as the cyclic cystine knot motif. The motif endows cyclotides with exceptional chemical and biological stability. They also exhibit a wide range of biological activities including insecticidal, cytotoxic, anti-HIV and antimicrobial effects. Hence, cyclotides have become potential candidates in the development of peptide-based drugs; either as scaffolds to stabilize susceptible peptide sequences or as drugs by their own right. In this thesis, important parameters that could be inputs toward this development have been tuned. An extraction protocol that can be extended to industrial scale production of the cyclotides from natural sources was developed; accordingly, a single maceration with hydroalcoholic solutions of medium polarity represented an optimum extraction method. Moreover, it was shown that investigating the cyclotide content of cyclotide-bearing plants from diverse environments is a promising approach for extending the knowledge of both structural and biological diversity of these proteins. Five novel cyclotides with new sequence diversity were isolated and characterized from a violet that grows on Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 3400 m. One of the areas where the cyclotide framework has attracted interest is the development of stable antimicrobial peptides. A stability study was carried out to determine the stability of the cyclotide framework in a cocktail of bacterial proteases and serum where the native forms of tested cyclotides exhibited high stability profile. Understanding the modes of cyclotide-cell interaction is certainly an important factor for the potential development of cyclotide-based drugs. Cellular studies were carried out using the comet assay and microautoradiography. A bell-shaped dose response curve was obtained for the DNA damaging effect of the cyclotides in the comet assay, which was the first toxicological assay of its kind on this class of proteins. The microautoradiography study revealed that the cyclotides penetrate into the cells even at cytotoxic concentrations. From previous reports, it was known that the cyclotides interact with membranes; the cellular studies in this thesis added to this knowledge by clearly demonstrating that these proteins have multiple modes of action.