Metabolic stability, mutagenicity, antimutagenicity, and the ability to scavenge free radicals of four novel 8-methoxy-purine-2,6-dione derivatives (compounds 1-4) demonstrating analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties were determined. Metabolic stability was evaluated in Cunninghamella and microsomal models, mutagenic and antimutagenic properties were assessed using the Ames and the Vibrio harveyi tests, and free radical scavenging activity was evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. In the Cunninghamella model, compound 2 did not undergo any biotransformation; whereas 3 and 4 showed less metabolic stability: 1-9 and 53-88% of the parental compound, respectively, underwent biotransformation reactions in different Cunninghamella strains. The metabolites detected after the biotransformation of 3 and 4 were aromatic hydroxylation and N-dealkylation products. On the other hand, the N-dealkylation product was the only metabolite formed in microsome assay. Additionally, these derivatives do not possess mutagenic potential in microbiological models (Vibrio harveyi and Salmonella typhimurium) considered. Moreover, all compounds showed a strong chemopreventive activity in the modified Vibrio harveyi strains BB7X and BB7M. However, radical scavenging activity was not the mechanism which explained the observed chemopreventive activity.
Keywords: Alternative test; Ames test; Cunninghamella assay; DPPH assay; Microsomal stability.