Search

Background and Purpose: 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) is an attractive therapeutic target of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Emodin, a natural product and active ingredient of various Chinese herbs, has been demonstrated to possess multiple biological activities. Here, we investigated the effects of emodin on 11beta-HSD1 and its ability to ameliorate metabolic disorders in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice.Experimental Approach: Scintillation proximity assay was performed to evaluate inhibition of emodin against recombinant human and mouse 11beta-HSDs. The ability of emodin to inhibit prednisone- or dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance was investigated in C57BL/6J mice and its effect on metabolic abnormalities was observed in DIO mice.Key Results: Emodin is a potent and selective 11beta-HSD1 inhibitor with the IC(50) of 186 and 86 nM for human and mouse 11beta-HSD1, respectively. Single oral administration of emodin inhibited 11beta-HSD1 activity of liver and fat significantly in mice. Emodin reversed prednisone-induced insulin resistance in mice, whereas it did not affect dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance, which confirmed its inhibitory effect on 11beta-HSD1 in vivo. In DIO mice, oral administration of emodin improved insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, and lowered blood glucose and hepatic PEPCK, and glucose-6-phosphatase mRNA.Conclusions and Implications: This study demonstrated a new role for emodin as a potent and selective inhibitor of 11beta-HSD1 and its beneficial effects on metabolic disorders in DIO mice. This highlights the potential value of analogues of emodin as a new class of compounds for the treatment of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Kansuinone (1), a rearranged euphane triterpenoid containing a spiro [5,6] ring system, was isolated from the roots of Euphorbia kansui. Its structure and stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic, CD, and computational methods. Kansuinone (1) exhibited inhibitory activity against human and mouse 11β-HSD1 (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1), with IC50 values of 1.12 and 1.08μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Selective inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) have considerable potential as treatments for type 2 diabetes. Presented herein are the syntheses, structure–activity relationships, and efficacy evaluation of 4-(phenylsulfonamidomethyl)benzamides as 11β-HSD1 inhibitors. Through modification of our initial lead 5, we have identified potent and selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitors, such as 11n, which demonstrated improved glycemic control, decreased serum lipids, and enhanced insulin sensitivity when dosed ip in diabetic ob/ob mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Structure-based pharmacophore models were built by using LigandScout and used for virtual screening of the SPECS database to identify new potential 11β-HSD1 inhibitors. As a refinement of the results obtained from virtual 3D pharmacophore screening, the best fitting virtual hits were subjected to docking study. The resulting compounds were tested in an enzyme assay and revealed several compounds with novel scaffolds that show sub-micromolar activity and high selectivity for 11β-HSD1 against 11β-HSD2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) is a potential target for treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Docking and pharmacophore modeling have been used to discover novel inhibitors of 11β-HSD1. Several compounds, with large structural diversity and good potency against 11β-HSD1, have been found and their potency was determined by the enzyme assay. New scaffolds of 11β-HSD1 inhibitors are also reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]