Synthesis and analgesic activities of endomorphin-2 and its analogues

Chem Biodivers. 2007 Mar;4(3):458-67. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200790038.

Abstract

Endomorphin-2 (1; H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH2; EM2) and its novel cyclic asparagine (cycloAsn) analogues, H-Tyr-cAsn(CHPh)-Phe-Phe-NH2 (2) and H-Tyr-cAsn(CHMe2)-Phe-Phe-NH2 (3), were synthesized via liquid-phase synthesis. The structures of the products and intermediates were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, MS, and HR-MS analyses. The antinociceptive activity of EM2 and its cyclic asparagine analogues were assessed in AcOH-induced abdominal constriction tests in mice with i.p. injection. The results show that the antinociceptive activities of EM2 and its cyclic asparagine analogue 2 were higher than those of aspirine and meperidine. Analogue 2 was observed to be a stronger analgesic with dose-dependence than EM2. The test mice did not show any tendency to be addicted while administrated of analogue 2 repeatedly and regularly.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / chemical synthesis*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Asparagine / analogs & derivatives
  • Asparagine / chemical synthesis
  • Asparagine / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Pain Measurement / drug effects
  • Receptors, Opioid / agonists
  • Receptors, Opioid / physiology

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Oligopeptides
  • Receptors, Opioid
  • endomorphin 2
  • Asparagine