Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (NDGA) is a polyphenol, antioxidant, natural product lignan isolated from the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). The in vivo and in vitro Pharmacology and Toxicology of NDGA has been continuously studied for more than 36 years. The Pharmacology of NDGA has been studied in Diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Amyotrophic Sclerosis. Most of the research on NDGA has been in anticancer and cancer prevention models. Toxicology studies reveal NDGA-mediated hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. This data has influenced a recent interest in semi-synthetic derivatives of NDGA focused on modifying the phenolic groups which are responsible for in vivo toxicity. The tetra-methylether of NDGA (M4N) has shown reduction in toxicity and enhanced anti-melanoma activity when compared to NDGA.The specific aim of this project was to increase the number of NDGA analogs with anti-melanoma activity and explore a novel synthetic approach by binding the ortho-phenols together by one atom, creating a 5-membered ring as opposed to the prior work which involved tetra-substituted phenolic hydroxyl group modifications.Eleven new analogs were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their anti-melanoma activity. The anti-melanoma activity was evaluated by 5-day colorimetric-based, and DNA, RNA and protein synthesis inhibition-based cytotoxicity assays. The cytotoxicity assays were compared to NDGA and M4N in terms of structure and activity. Selected analogs were evaluated in an in vivo, mouse, tumor growth inhibition model. In the first in vivo model, tetra acetyl NDGA (TA-NDGA) and ortho-cyclic carbonate NDGA (OCC-NDGA) were evaluated at two dose-levels, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg. They both showed dose-dependent, but moderate tumor growth inhibition at the 200 mg/kg dose-level. An ortho-cyclic sulfate of NDGA showed in vivo toxicity at 100 mg/kg. In the second in vivo model, the dose was escalated to 300 mg/kg, TA-NDGA showed moderate tumor growth inhibition, but OCC-NDGA-mediated tumor growth inhibition was not repeated. However, in the second study an ortho-difluoromethylene NDGA analog did show moderate tumor growth inhibition.Structure-activity relationships indicated that the ortho-cyclic analogs are inferior to the tetra-substituted phenolic group-modified analogs in terms of anti-melanoma activity and therefore future synthesis' should be focused on generating more tetra-substituted phenolic group analogs of NDGA.

This dissertation refines knowledge synthesis from publicly accessible databases, based on the model of D.R. Swanson. Knowledge synthesis endeavors bring together two or more non-interactive literatures to create combinatorial research data on a specific topic. In this endeavor the biomedical literature was searched on the anti-neoplastic agent nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) for its potential role as a functional food in the chemoprevention of breast cancer. Bibliometric cocitation was utilized to identify complementary but non-interactive literatures in the disciplines of biomedicine and dietary science. The continuing specialization and fragmentation of the cancer literature degenerates the potential usefulness of cross-disciplinary research and information. As the biomedical sciences become more specialized the potential increases for isolation of discoveries and for failures to connect science to the needs of the people. Within the information science discipline several techniques are available to bridge the isolation between discoveries recorded in different sets of literatures. Electronic database searching with combinatorial keyword entries, syllogistic modeling and bibliometric author cocitation analysis are the principle techniques applied in this endeavor. The research questions are addressed to the absence or presence of human in vivo research on breast cancer with the potentially chemopreventative functional food NDGA. Utilizing a syllogistic model the literatures of functional foods, nordihydroguaiaretic acid and breast cancer were searched with designated combinatorial keywords. The documents retrieved were subjected to author cocitation analysis to demonstrate disjointness or connectivity of the two complementary literatures. The results demonstrated a possible preventative relationship between breast cancer in women and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a phytochemical antioxidant and potential functional food. The results of this study are consistent with D.R. Swanson's pioneering work in knowledge synthesis. Swanson's methods can be used to identify non-interactive, disjoint literatures. Continuing support for his techniques has been demonstrated.

O Glioblastoma é um dos tumores mais agressivos do sistema nervoso central e entre as diversas neoplasias possui um dos piores prognósticos. Mesmo com as novas estratégias de tratamento, a sobrevida de pacientes portadores de glioblastoma continua sendo muito baixa, sendo a temozolomida (TMZ) o agente mais comum usado no seu tratamento. O ácido tetra-o-metil nordihidroguaiarético (M4N), é um novo agente terapêutico que funciona como um repressor transcricional global de genes dependentes do fator de transcrição Sp1, tais como Survivina e Cdk1. No presente estudo, foram investigados os níveis de expressão do gene Survivina, suas variantes gênicas por splicing alternativo e Cdk1 em amostras tumorais e linhagens celulares de GBM. Adicionalmente, foram investigados os efeitos do M4N em combinação ou não com TMZ e/ou radiação em culturas primárias e linhagens celulares de GBM. Ensaios de qRT-PCR foram realizados para determiner a expressão de mRNA das variantes gênicas de Survivina e Cdk1. A proliferação celular foi analisada pelo ensaio XTT e os niveis de apoptose e variações do ciclo celular foram determinados por citometría de fluxo. Analises de combinação de drogas utilizando diferentes estratégias de administração (simultânea e seqüencial) foram realizados baseados no método de Chou-Talalay em linhagens celulares e culturas primárias de GBM. Para os ensaios de sobrevivência clonogênica, foram utilizadas as doses de 2, 4 e 6 Gy de radiação gamma. Todas as variantes por splicing alternativo de Survivina e o gene Cdk1 foram expressos em amostras (n=16) e linhagens celulares (n=6) de GBM, exceto a variante Survivina-2B que apenas foi expressa nas linhagens celulares de GBM. O tratamento com M4N diminuiu a expressão de Cdk1, Survivina e a variante Survivina-Ex3, enquanto que houve um aumento da expressão da variante Survivina-2B. O M4N diminuiu a proliferação celular de forma isolada e sinérgicamente quando combinada com TMZ. Além disso, o M4N aumentou os efeitos da radiação, principalmente quando associado com TMZ. O M4N causou morte celular apoptótica, diminuição do índice mitótico e parada do ciclo celular principalmente na fase x G2/M. Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem a potencial aplicação clínica de M4N em combinação com TMZ e radiação no tratamento do GBM. / Glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most human malignant neoplasia, responds poorly to current treatment modalities, being temozolomide (TMZ) the most used drug in its treatment. TetraO-methyl Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (M4N) is a global transcriptional repressor of genes dependents of Sp1 transcription factor, such as Survivin and Cdk1. In this study was evaluated the gene expression of Survivin, their spliced-variants and Cdk1 in GBM samples and cell lines. Moreover, it was investigated the effects of M4N combined or not with TMZ and/or radiation on primary cultures and cell lines of GBM. qRT-PCR assays were performed to determine the Survivin-spliced variants and Cdk1 gene mRNA expression in GBM tumor samples and cell lines. Cell proliferation was measured by XTT assay and cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. Drug combination analyzes using different schedules of administration (simultaneous and sequential) were performed based in ChouTalalay method on GBM cell lines and primary cultures. For clonogenic survival, it was used the doses of 2, 4, and 6 Gy of gamma radiation. All Survivin-spliced variants and Cdk1 gene were expressed in GBM samples (n=16) and cell lines (n=6), except the Survivin-2B variant that was only expressed in GBM cell lines. M4N treatment down regulated the expression of Cdk1, Survivin and Survivin-Ex3 variant, while the Survivin-2B variant was up-regulated. M4N decreased the cell proliferation separately and synergistically with TMZ, moreover it enhanced the radiation effects, mainly when associated with TMZ. M4N also induced apoptotic cell death, decreased mitotic index and arrested the cell cycle mainly in G2/M phase. Our results suggest a potential clinical application of M4N in combination with TMZ and radiation in GB treatment.

In order to investigate the structural features responsible for the cytotoxicity of the naturally occurring lignan nordihydroguaiaretic acid, the synthesis of four structural analogues of NDGA is proposed for the purpose of studying their oxidative metabolism. One analogue in particular (1), a mono-catechol analogue, is successfully synthesized employing a double Stobbe condensation approach. Following synthesis of this compound a series of oxidation experiments is performed consisting of: incubation in rat liver microsomes with and without the trapping agent glutathione (GSH), oxidation with mushroom tyrosinase, oxidation with silver oxide, and oxidation with horseradish peroxidase. Results are analyzed via HPLC and UPLC-MS. It is found that 1 does not autoxidize at pH 7.4 as NDGA does. Two products are produced during incubation of 1 in rat liver microsomes with UPLC-ESI(-)-MS results giving m/z of 879.2 and 574.18. This is consistent with 1 plus 2 GSH and 1 plus 1 GSH respectively; confirming 1 will oxidize to an electrophilic moiety. Oxidation with mushroom tyrosinase is found to produce high levels of product two with m/z 574.2. Oxidation with horseradish peroxidase is found to produce high levels of the m/z 879.2 product. Silver Oxide produced multiple products rather than the expected one major product, but most are found to be inconsistent with the products seen during rat liver microsomal incubation, and are not pursued.

In order to investigate the structural features responsible for the cytotoxicity of the naturally occurring lignan nordihydroguaiaretic acid, the synthesis of four structural analogues of NDGA is proposed for the purpose of studying their oxidative metabolism. One analogue in particular (1), a mono-catechol analogue, is successfully synthesized employing a double Stobbe condensation approach. Following synthesis of this compound a series of oxidation experiments is performed consisting of: incubation in rat liver microsomes with and without the trapping agent glutathione (GSH), oxidation with mushroom tyrosinase, oxidation with silver oxide, and oxidation with horseradish peroxidase. Results are analyzed via HPLC and UPLC-MS. It is found that 1 does not autoxidize at pH 7.4 as NDGA does. Two products are produced during incubation of 1 in rat liver microsomes with UPLC-ESI(-)-MS results giving m/z of 879.2 and 574.18. This is consistent with 1 plus 2 GSH and 1 plus 1 GSH respectively; confirming 1 will oxidize to an electrophilic moiety. Oxidation with mushroom tyrosinase is found to produce high levels of product two with m/z 574.2. Oxidation with horseradish peroxidase is found to produce high levels of the m/z 879.2 product. Silver Oxide produced multiple products rather than the expected one major product, but most are found to be inconsistent with the products seen during rat liver microsomal incubation, and are not pursued.

O Glioblastoma é um dos tumores mais agressivos do sistema nervoso central e entre as diversas neoplasias possui um dos piores prognósticos. Mesmo com as novas estratégias de tratamento, a sobrevida de pacientes portadores de glioblastoma continua sendo muito baixa, sendo a temozolomida (TMZ) o agente mais comum usado no seu tratamento. O ácido tetra-o-metil nordihidroguaiarético (M4N), é um novo agente terapêutico que funciona como um repressor transcricional global de genes dependentes do fator de transcrição Sp1, tais como Survivina e Cdk1. No presente estudo, foram investigados os níveis de expressão do gene Survivina, suas variantes gênicas por splicing alternativo e Cdk1 em amostras tumorais e linhagens celulares de GBM. Adicionalmente, foram investigados os efeitos do M4N em combinação ou não com TMZ e/ou radiação em culturas primárias e linhagens celulares de GBM. Ensaios de qRT-PCR foram realizados para determiner a expressão de mRNA das variantes gênicas de Survivina e Cdk1. A proliferação celular foi analisada pelo ensaio XTT e os niveis de apoptose e variações do ciclo celular foram determinados por citometría de fluxo. Analises de combinação de drogas utilizando diferentes estratégias de administração (simultânea e seqüencial) foram realizados baseados no método de Chou-Talalay em linhagens celulares e culturas primárias de GBM. Para os ensaios de sobrevivência clonogênica, foram utilizadas as doses de 2, 4 e 6 Gy de radiação gamma. Todas as variantes por splicing alternativo de Survivina e o gene Cdk1 foram expressos em amostras (n=16) e linhagens celulares (n=6) de GBM, exceto a variante Survivina-2B que apenas foi expressa nas linhagens celulares de GBM. O tratamento com M4N diminuiu a expressão de Cdk1, Survivina e a variante Survivina-Ex3, enquanto que houve um aumento da expressão da variante Survivina-2B. O M4N diminuiu a proliferação celular de forma isolada e sinérgicamente quando combinada com TMZ. Além disso, o M4N aumentou os efeitos da radiação, principalmente quando associado com TMZ. O M4N causou morte celular apoptótica, diminuição do índice mitótico e parada do ciclo celular principalmente na fase x G2/M. Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem a potencial aplicação clínica de M4N em combinação com TMZ e radiação no tratamento do GBM. / Glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most human malignant neoplasia, responds poorly to current treatment modalities, being temozolomide (TMZ) the most used drug in its treatment. TetraO-methyl Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (M4N) is a global transcriptional repressor of genes dependents of Sp1 transcription factor, such as Survivin and Cdk1. In this study was evaluated the gene expression of Survivin, their spliced-variants and Cdk1 in GBM samples and cell lines. Moreover, it was investigated the effects of M4N combined or not with TMZ and/or radiation on primary cultures and cell lines of GBM. qRT-PCR assays were performed to determine the Survivin-spliced variants and Cdk1 gene mRNA expression in GBM tumor samples and cell lines. Cell proliferation was measured by XTT assay and cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. Drug combination analyzes using different schedules of administration (simultaneous and sequential) were performed based in ChouTalalay method on GBM cell lines and primary cultures. For clonogenic survival, it was used the doses of 2, 4, and 6 Gy of gamma radiation. All Survivin-spliced variants and Cdk1 gene were expressed in GBM samples (n=16) and cell lines (n=6), except the Survivin-2B variant that was only expressed in GBM cell lines. M4N treatment down regulated the expression of Cdk1, Survivin and Survivin-Ex3 variant, while the Survivin-2B variant was up-regulated. M4N decreased the cell proliferation separately and synergistically with TMZ, moreover it enhanced the radiation effects, mainly when associated with TMZ. M4N also induced apoptotic cell death, decreased mitotic index and arrested the cell cycle mainly in G2/M phase. Our results suggest a potential clinical application of M4N in combination with TMZ and radiation in GB treatment.

The rising use of natural products creates an imperative need for an enhanced awareness of the safety of current and new products making their way into the marketplace. An important example is natural products containing lignans as the principal active component. Despite their structural similarity the lignan of creosote bush can cause hepato- and renal toxicity while the lignans of flaxseed have no reported serious toxicity. This dissertation aimed to investigate the oxidative metabolism of such lignans to determine whether reversible, competitive interactions and/or bioactivation may explain the differences in their apparent toxicity.<p> The first objective was to study the metabolism and bioactivation of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (creosote bush) and secoisolariciresinol (flaxseed). Nordihydroguaiaretic acid metabolism in rat liver microsomes led to the production of three glutathione adducts formed via ortho¬-quinone reactive intermediates. This metabolism was independent of NADPH and thus attributed to autoxidation. Secoisolariciresinol metabolism yielded lariciresinol and no glutathione adducts suggesting an absence of bioactivation to reactive quinone intermediates.<p> The second objective was to study the autoxidation of nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The major autoxidation product was a unique, stable schisandrin-like cyclolignan which was the result of nordihydroguaiaretic acid cyclization. The half-life of nordihydroguaiaretic acid in aqueous solution, pH 7.4, 37ºC is 3.14 hours suggesting the cyclolignan may be responsible for some of the biological effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid.<p> The third objective was to study the inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoforms 1A2, 2B, 2C11 and 3A by lignans derived from creosote bush and flaxseed. None of the lignans caused irreversible inhibition. Both creosote bush and flaxseed lignans caused reversible inhibition of P450 enzyme activity that involved competitive or mixed-type inhibition, however the inhibition was present at nonphysiologically relevant concentrations. Activation of cytochrome P450 isoforms was also observed at low lignan concentrations. The results suggest that P450-mediated bioactivation or reversible inhibition cannot explain the differences in toxicity noted between the lignans of creosote bush and flaxseed.<p> This work suggests a minimal risk for drug-lignan interactions at P450 enzymes. Further studies are warranted to determine the presence and biological and toxicological role of the nordihydroguaiaretic acid cyclolignan in herbal preparations.

The rising use of natural products creates an imperative need for an enhanced awareness of the safety of current and new products making their way into the marketplace. An important example is natural products containing lignans as the principal active component. Despite their structural similarity the lignan of creosote bush can cause hepato- and renal toxicity while the lignans of flaxseed have no reported serious toxicity. This dissertation aimed to investigate the oxidative metabolism of such lignans to determine whether reversible, competitive interactions and/or bioactivation may explain the differences in their apparent toxicity.<p> The first objective was to study the metabolism and bioactivation of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (creosote bush) and secoisolariciresinol (flaxseed). Nordihydroguaiaretic acid metabolism in rat liver microsomes led to the production of three glutathione adducts formed via ortho¬-quinone reactive intermediates. This metabolism was independent of NADPH and thus attributed to autoxidation. Secoisolariciresinol metabolism yielded lariciresinol and no glutathione adducts suggesting an absence of bioactivation to reactive quinone intermediates.<p> The second objective was to study the autoxidation of nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The major autoxidation product was a unique, stable schisandrin-like cyclolignan which was the result of nordihydroguaiaretic acid cyclization. The half-life of nordihydroguaiaretic acid in aqueous solution, pH 7.4, 37ºC is 3.14 hours suggesting the cyclolignan may be responsible for some of the biological effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid.<p> The third objective was to study the inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoforms 1A2, 2B, 2C11 and 3A by lignans derived from creosote bush and flaxseed. None of the lignans caused irreversible inhibition. Both creosote bush and flaxseed lignans caused reversible inhibition of P450 enzyme activity that involved competitive or mixed-type inhibition, however the inhibition was present at nonphysiologically relevant concentrations. Activation of cytochrome P450 isoforms was also observed at low lignan concentrations. The results suggest that P450-mediated bioactivation or reversible inhibition cannot explain the differences in toxicity noted between the lignans of creosote bush and flaxseed.<p> This work suggests a minimal risk for drug-lignan interactions at P450 enzymes. Further studies are warranted to determine the presence and biological and toxicological role of the nordihydroguaiaretic acid cyclolignan in herbal preparations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 133 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.