Monogalactosyldiacylglycerols, potent nitric oxide inhibitors from the marine microalga Tetraselmis chui

Nat Prod Res. 2013;27(12):1084-90. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2012.717285. Epub 2012 Sep 14.

Abstract

Methanolic extracts of some marine and freshwater microalgae were tested for their nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Among the tested extracts, Tetraselmis chui extract showed the strongest NO inhibitory activity, thus selected for further study. NO inhibitory activity guided isolation led to identification of two monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs) (2S)-1-O-(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatetranoyl)-2-O-(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatetranoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosylglycerol (1) and (2S)-1-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrinoyl)-2-O-(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatetranoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosylglycerol (2) from the MeOH extract of T. chui. The stereo-chemistry of 1 was elucidated by classical degradation method. MGDGs 1 and 2 showed strong NO inhibitory activity compared to N(G)-methyl-L-arginine acetate salt, a well known NO inhibitor used as a positive control. Isolated MGDGs suppressed NO production through down-regulation of inducible NO synthase protein. A structure activity relationship study suggested that the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the MGDGs are responsible for NO inhibition. Moreover, increasing unsaturation on the fatty acid side chains enhanced the NO inhibitory potency of the MGDGs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Cell Line / drug effects
  • Chlorophyta / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry
  • Galactolipids / chemistry*
  • Galactolipids / pharmacology*
  • Galactosides / chemistry
  • Galactosides / pharmacology
  • Glycerol / analogs & derivatives
  • Glycerol / chemistry
  • Glycerol / pharmacology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microalgae / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • (2S)-1-O-(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatetranoyl)-2-O-(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatetranoyl)-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosylglycerol
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Galactolipids
  • Galactosides
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • N(G)-monomethylarginine acetate
  • monogalactosyldiacylglycerol
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Arginine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Glycerol