New Hydroxycinnamic Acid Esters as Novel 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors That Affect Leukotriene Biosynthesis

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:6904634. doi: 10.1155/2017/6904634. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Abstract

Leukotrienes are inflammatory mediators that actively participate in the inflammatory response and host defense against pathogens. However, leukotrienes also participate in chronic inflammatory diseases. 5-lipoxygenase is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and is thus a validated therapeutic target. As of today, zileuton remains the only clinically approved 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor; however, its use has been limited due to severe side effects in some patients. Hence, the search for a better 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor continues. In this study, we investigated structural analogues of caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a naturally-occurring 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, in an attempt to enhance the inhibitory activity against 5-lipoxygenase and determine structure-activity relationships. These compounds were investigated for their ability to attenuate the biosynthesis of leukotrienes. Compounds 13 and 19, phenpropyl and diphenylethyl esters, exhibited significantly enhanced inhibitory activity when compared to the reference molecules caffeic acid phenethyl ester and zileuton.

MeSH terms

  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / metabolism*
  • Caffeic Acids / chemistry*
  • Caffeic Acids / pharmacology
  • Coumaric Acids / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Hydroxyurea / analogs & derivatives
  • Hydroxyurea / chemistry
  • Hydroxyurea / pharmacology
  • Leukotrienes / biosynthesis*
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / chemistry
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Caffeic Acids
  • Coumaric Acids
  • Leukotrienes
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors
  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase
  • caffeic acid phenethyl ester
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol
  • zileuton
  • Hydroxyurea