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La presente invenzione riguarda il campo dei profarmaci, utili nel trattamento delle disfunzioni endoteliali e di ogni altra patologia causata da una ridotta disponibilità di arginina e/o di monossido d’azoto. L’Arginina è considerata l’unico precursore fisiologico per la formazione di NO. Essa è classificata come aminoacido semi-essenziale essendo parzialmente assorbita dalla dieta e parzialmente sintetizzata de novo nell’adulto sano (Nutr. Rev. 1976, 34, 307-9; J. parent. Ent. Nutr. 1986, 10, 227-238). Si descrivono esteri dell’arginina (enantiomeri L- e/o D-) con D-galattosio utili come profarmaci dotati di elevata capacità di penetrazione attraverso le membrane cellulari e la barriera ematoencefalica. Gli esteri dell’invenzione, una volta assorbiti, rilasciano gradualmente l’arginina ed assicurano livelli di farmaco prolungati e elevati, generando una risposta terapeutica consistente e prolungata nel tempo. Ulteriori descrizioni Senza limitazione alcuna, ogni malattia che trae beneficio dal trattamento con arginina, è vantaggiosamente trattabile anche con i presenti esteri, i quali permettono una maggiore accessibilità dell’aminoacido nei comparti dell’organismo posti oltre le membrane cellulari e/o la BEE. Gli esteri dell’invenzione sono in grado di attraversare le membrane cellulari e la BEE sfruttando i sistemi di trasporto transmembranali specifici per gli aminoacidi cationici (Y+, B0,+, b0,+ e Y+L). Da un punto di vista tecnico, le metodologie utilizzate per l’ottenimento di questi risultati comprendono sintesi organica, NMR, HPLC-massa, colture cellulari, microscopia convenzionale e confocale. L’esterificazione con galattosio ha permesso l’ottenimento di una maggiore concentrazione di arginina a livello intracellulare e del SNC, facilitandone il passaggio attraverso le membrane plasmatiche e la BEE. Le malattie trattabili con gli esteri della presente invenzione sono in particolare le seguenti. Disfunzioni endoteliali, intendendo con tale termine ogni patologia caratterizzata da una alterata funzionalità dell’endotelio. Esempi di tali disfunzioni sono: insufficienza cardiaca congestizia, aterosclerosi, sindromi coronariche acute, angina pectoris, scompenso cardiaco cronico, ipertensione arteriosa (essenziale, reno-vascolare, gravidica o preclampsia, portale, ecc.). Altre malattie che possono vantaggiosamente essere trattate con gli esteri dell’invenzione sono: diabete, iperammoniemia da insufficienza epatica, disfunzioni erettili, dispermie seminali, in particolare quelle in presenza di oligoastenospermia, oligozoospermia e bradicinesi, patologie collegate ad una ridotta disponibilità di ormone della crescita (ad es. deficit della crescita), patologie collegate ad una ridotta disponibilità di poliamine cerebrali, patologie neurodegenerative quali il Morbo di Alzheimer, il morbo di Parkinson e l’ictus cerebrale, ecc. Grazie all’attività elevata e prolungata nel tempo dei presenti esteri, si è ottenuto il vantaggio di evitare somministrazioni di arginina in dosaggi particolarmente elevati, e/o ripetute a breve frequenza nel tempo, con particolare vantaggio per quei trattamenti di carattere curativo o preventivo che richiedono una terapia prolungata. Inoltre, il superamento della BEE ha permesso di sfruttare efficacemente le azioni dell’arginina per patologie a carico del sistema nervoso centrale e periferico, evitando complicate e fastidiose procedure di somministrazione in-situ. Ulteriore oggetto dell’invenzione sono composizioni farmaceutiche, utili per il trattamento di patologie che beneficiano del trattamento con arginina, caratterizzate dal contenere un estere di arginina e D-galattosio.

Ethylene is a major stimulating factor for natural rubber production in Hevea brasiliensis and is often applied in the form of Ethephon, an ethylene releaser. In a positive feedback type mechanism, the application of ethylene leads to the enhanced expression of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis such as ACC oxidases, which are also responsive to wounding. We studied the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis in rubber trees through the characterisation of the ACC oxidase multigene family and the responses of individual genes to ethylene and wounding. Three full-length cDNAs, HbACO1, HbACO2 and HbACO3, were isolated. The HbACOs were 1115, 1174 and 1074 bp long, respectively, with open reading frames encoding polypeptides of 312, 318 and 318 amino acids, respectively. The genomic sequences of HbACO1 and HbACO2 were also characterised, revealing divergent gene structures: HbACO1 (1456 bp) possesses three introns and four exons, while HbACO2 (1418 bp) consists of two introns and three exons. All of the HbACO genes were expressed at all stages of development studied, from in vitro callus to the exploited plant, but with different expression profiles. Nevertheless, no expression was detected in latex. In the bark of the shoot of the first flush of budded plants, HbACO1 was expressed at a higher level than the other genes, and was down-regulated by ethylene and wounding in both leaf and bark tissues. In contrast, HbACO2 and HbACO3 were transiently induced in response to ethylene and wounding. Treatment with 1-MCP, an ethylene action inhibitor, abolished the ethylene induction of HbACO2 gene, showing that this gene was under positive feedback regulation. The expression of HbACO3 gene was also induced by ethylene treatment and wounding, again with an antagonistic effect of 1-MCP. In conclusion, HbACO1 appears to be responsible for basal levels of ethylene production while HbACO2 and HbACO3 are up-regulated in response to external factors.

Plants produce a vast array of biomolecules with beneficial effects for human health. In this study, polyphenol and anthocyanin-rich extracts (PAE) from pigmented tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. varieties &ldquo, Blue Star&rdquo, &ldquo, Magenta Love&rdquo, and &ldquo, Double Fun&rdquo, in comparison with the more extensively studied &ldquo, Vitelotte&rdquo, were evaluated and compared for antiproliferative effects in human leukemia cells, and their phytochemical and genetic profiles were determined. In U937 cells, upon treatment with PAE, it was possible to reveal the expression of specific apoptotic players, such as caspase 8, 9, 3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), as well as the induction of monocyte and granulocyte differentiation. A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) investigation revealed the presence of polyphenolic compounds in all the varieties of potatoes analyzed, among which caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic acid derivatives were the most abundant, as well as several acylated anthocyanins. Each pigmented variety was genotyped by DNA-based molecular markers, and flavonoid-related transcription factors were profiled in tubers in order to better characterize these outstanding resources and contribute to their exploitation in breeding. Interesting biological activities were observed for &ldquo, varieties with respect to the minor or no effect of the &ldquo, variety.

Four new bibenzyl derivatives were isolated, together with other known bibenzyls, by bioassay-guided fractionation of a CHCl3-MeOH extract of Notholaena nivea Desv. (Pteridaceae) aerial parts. The structures were elucidated by NMR, ESIMS and other spectral analyses. Their antioxidative effects towards superoxide, lipidic peroxidation and the 2,2'- azino-bis-3- ethilbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical were assayed. Results showed that the compound 3,12-dihydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl (6) is the most active compound in the ABTS free-radical scavenging test, while in the coupled oxidation of ȕ-carotene and linoleic acid assay the compound 5,12-dihydroxy-3-methoxydibenzyl-6- carboxylic acid (1) exerted the highest activity after 1h. A superoxide anion enzymatic test was also carried out and the results were confirmed by an inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity assay. The putative protective role played by compounds 1 and 6 on the injurious effects of reactive oxygen metabolites on the intestinal epithelium, using a Caco-2 human cell line, was investigated. H2O2-induced alterations were prevented by preincubating the cells with compounds 1 and 6.

Nitric oxide (NO) is critical for the normal physiological regulation of the nervous system and other tissues. L-Arginine, but not D-arginine, is the natural substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), for it is enzymatically converted to NO and L-citrulline. However, recent evidence suggests that D-arginine can also produce NO and NO-derivatives via a different pathway. The aim of the present paper was to raise NO levels in the cells by increasing the cell permeation of its precursors. To this aim, two galactosyl prodrugs, L-arginine-D-galactos-6'-yl ester (L-ArgGal) and D-arginine-D-galactos-6'-yl ester (D-ArgGal) were synthesized. Remarkably, using the HPLC-ESI/MS technique, we found that L-ArgGal and D-ArgGal prodrugs both increased the concentration levels of L- and D-arginine and their derivatives in pituitary GH3 cells. Furthermore, we found that D-ArgGal (1) penetrated cell membranes more rapidly than its precursor D-arginine, (2) released arginine more slowly and in greater amounts than L-ArgGal, and (3) produced much higher levels of DAF-2 monitored NO and nitrite than did L-ArgGal under the same experimental conditions. In conclusion, these results indicate that an increase in the cell permeation of L- and D-arginine by L-ArgGal and D-ArgGal can lead to an increase in NO levels.

Yuccaols (A, B, C) are phenolic constituents isolated from Yucca schidigera bark characterized by unusual spirostructures made up of a C15 unit and a stilbenic portion closely related to resveratrol. These novel compounds are of particular interest for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their effects on cell proliferation, migration, and platelet-activating factor (PAF) biosynthesis remain unknown. PAF, a potent mediator of inflammation, is known to promote angiogenesis and in vitro migration of endothelial cells and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cells. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of Yuccaols and resveratrol on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced proliferation, migration, and PAF biosynthesis in KS cells. The results indicated that Yuccaols (25 microM) were more effective than resveratrol (25 microM) in inhibiting the VEGF-induced KS cell proliferation. Western blot analysis revealed that Yuccaols reduced the VEGF-induced phosphorylation of p38 and p42/44, thus indicating a possible interference with the mechanism underlying the VEGF-stimulated cell proliferation. Furthermore, Yuccaols completely inhibited the VEGF-stimulated PAF biosynthesis catalyzed by the acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferase and enhanced its degradation through the PAF-dependent CoA-independent transacetylase (250% of control). In addition, Yuccaol C abrogated the PAF-induced cell motility whereas Yuccaol A and Yuccaol B reduced the cell migration from 7.6 microm/h to 6.1 microm/h and 5.6 microm/h, respectively. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory properties attributed to Yucca schidigera can be ascribed to both resveratrol and Yuccaols and provide the first evidences of the anti-tumor and anti-invasive properties of these novel phenolic compounds.