Cathepsin K is a papain-like cysteine protease and is responsible for collagen degradation in bone tissue and thus represents an important target for the development of new therapies for treating diseases such as osteoporosis. Quinolines are an important class of heterocyclic molecular leads with a great pharmacological potential and represent a relevant scaffold to explore the chemical space of cathepsin K (CatK) inhibitors. This study presents the synthesis of nine 2,4-diphenylquinolines, including five phthalonitrile quinolines dyads, and the evaluation of their CatK inhibitory activity. Among the evaluated compounds, 4b was the most potent inhibitor with an IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value of 1.55 µM (against Z-Phe-Arg-MCA substrate) acting in an uncompetitive inhibition mode. Molecular docking studies provided important information on the interaction of the inhibitor with the enzyme showing that these quinoline derivatives can play an important role as CatK inhibitors.

A oxidação da LDL e o estresse oxidativo estão intimamente relacionados com a aterosclerose. Por isso, os antioxidantes naturais têm sido estudados como candidatos promissores. No presente trabalho foi avaliada in vitro a capacidade de inibição da oxidação da LDL pelos compostos bioativos da alga Halimeda incrassata em associação à capacidade antioxidante. O trabalho experimental foi conduzido com extratos polares (extrato aquoso liofilizado e frações ricas em fenólicos) e seu efeito na oxidação da LDL foi avaliado usando LDL precipitada com heparina (hep-LDL), oxidada com íons de Cu2+ e AAPH, como geradores de radicais livres. A H. incrassata apresentou efeito protetor para hep-LDL em ambos sistemas e a presença de compostos fenólicos contribuiu para a atividade em que as frações ricas em fenólicos demonstram capacidade significativa em inibir a oxidação mediada pelos íons de Cu2+. O efeito observado deve estar relacionado com o potencial antioxidante das frações polares medido pela atividade redutora e varredura do radical DPPH. Os resultados obtidos demonstram as propriedades antioxidantes e de inibição da oxidação da LDL da H. incrassata e podem contribuir para as evidências de futuras aplicações fitoterapêuticas desta alga.

LDL oxidation and oxidative stress are closely related to atherosclerosis. Therefore, natural antioxidants have been studied as promising candidates. In the present study, the LDL oxidation inhibition activity of bioactive compounds from Halimeda incrassata seaweed. associated to antioxidant capacity, was evaluated in vitro. Experimental work was conducted with lyophilized aqueous extract and phenolic-rich fractions of the seaweed and their effect on LDL oxidation was evaluated using heparin-precipitated LDL (hep-LDL) with exposure to Cu2+ ions and AAPH as the free radical generator. H. incrassata had a protective effect for hep-LDL in both systems and the presence of phenolic compounds contributed to the activity where phenolic-rich fractions showed significant capacity for inhibition of oxidation mediated by Cu2+ ions. The observed effect could be related to the antioxidant potential of polar fractions evidenced by reducing activity and DPPH• radical scavenging. The results obtained in vitro further support the antioxidant and LDL oxidation inhibition properties of H. incrassata and further knowledge toward future phytotherapeutic application of the seaweed.

Uma série de organosselenanas foi sintetizada utilizando-se uma metodologia quimio-enzimática. Estas organosselenanas apresentam variações na estereoquímica e no halogênio ligado ao átomo de selênio. Devido à reação característica envolvendo compostos de selênio e tióis, estas organosselenanas foram avaliadas como inibidores de cisteíno proteases (catepsinas V e S). As constantes de inibição de segunda-ordem mostraram que a catepsina S é inibida mais rapidamente do que a catepsina V. Pode-se observar que as organosselenanas dibromadas são inibidores mais potentes do que as dicloradas. Desta forma, os resultados obtidos mostram que compostos hipervalentes de selênio podem ser aplicados como inibidores de cisteíno proteases.

A series of organoselenium dihalides (organoselenanes) was synthesized from organoselenides using a chemoenzymatic approach. The organoselenanes have variations in their stereochemistry and in the halogen atom bonded to the selenium atom. Because of the unique selenium-thiol chemistry displayed by several organoselenium compounds, the organoselenanes were evaluated as new potential inhibitors of cysteine proteases (cathepsins S and V). By the analysis of the second-order rate constants of the inhibition of cathepsin S and V, it was possible to conclude that organoselenanes inhibited the cathepsin S faster than cathepsin V. It was observed higher inhibitory potencies for the dibromo organoselenanes derivatives than the dichloro analogues. In addition, the present data suggest the use of hypervalent selenium compounds as novel motifs for cysteine proteases inhibitors.