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2-Mercaptomethylbenzo[d]imidazole (2-MMBI) derivatives were designed and synthesized as tyrosinase (TYR) chelators using 2-mercaptomethylimidazole scaffolds. Seven of the ten 2-MMBI derivatives exhibited stronger inhibition of mushroom TYR activity than kojic acid. Their ability to chelate copper ions was demonstrated through experiments using the copper chelator pyrocatechol violet and assays measuring TYR activity in the presence or absence of exogenous CuSO4. The inhibition mechanisms of derivatives 1, 3, 8, and 9, which showed excellent TYR inhibitory activity, were elucidated through kinetic studies and supported by the docking simulation results. Derivatives 3, 7, 8, and 10 significantly inhibited cellular TYR activity and melanin production in B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with stronger potency than kojic acid. Furthermore, in situ, derivatives 7 and 10 showed stronger inhibitory effects on B16F10 cell TYR activity than kojic acid. Six derivatives, including 8, showed highly potent depigmentation in zebrafish larvae, outpacing kojic acid even at 200–670 times lower concentrations. Additionally, all derivatives could scavenge for reactive oxygen species without causing cytotoxicity in epidermal cells. These results suggested that 2-MMBI derivatives are promising anti-melanogenic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity of phenolic compounds with a 2-phenylbenzo[d]thiazole scaffold, we explored phenolic compounds 1–15 with 2-phenylbenzo[d]oxazole, which is isosterically related to 2-phenylbenzo[d]thiazole, as novel tyrosinase inhibitors. Among these, compounds 3, 8, and 13, featuring a resorcinol structure, exhibited significantly stronger mushroom tyrosinase inhibition than kojic acid, with compound 3 showing a nanomolar IC50 value of 0.51 μM. These results suggest that resorcinol plays an important role in tyrosinase inhibition. Kinetic studies using Lineweaver–Burk plots demonstrated the inhibition mechanisms of compounds 3, 8, and 13, while docking simulation results indicated that the resorcinol structure contributed to tyrosinase binding through hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Additionally, these compounds effectively inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16F10 cells and inhibited B16F10 tyrosinase activity in situ in a concentration-dependent manner. As these compounds showed no cytotoxicity to epidermal cells, melanocytes, or keratinocytes, they are appropriate for skin applications. Compounds 8 and 13 demonstrated substantially higher depigmentation effects on zebrafish larvae than kojic acid, even at 800- and 400-times lower concentrations than kojic acid, respectively. These findings suggest that 2-phenylbenzo[d]oxazole is a promising candidate for tyrosinase inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the fact that substances with a β-phenyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl (PUSC) motif confer strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity, benzylidene-3-methyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (BMTTZD) analogs 1–8 were prepared as potential tyrosinase inhibitors. Four analogs (1–3 and 5) inhibited mushroom tyrosinase strongly. Especially, analog 3 showed an inhibitory effect that was 220 and 22 times more powerful than kojic acid in the presence of l-tyrosine and l-dopa, respectively. A kinetic study utilizing mushroom tyrosinase showed that analogs 1 and 3 competitively inhibited tyrosinase, whereas analogs 2 and 5 inhibited tyrosinase in a mixed manner. A docking simulation study indicated that analogs 2 and 5 could bind to both the tyrosinase active and allosteric sites with high binding affinities. In cell-based experiments using B16F10 cells, analogs 1, 3, and 5 effectively inhibited melanin production; their anti-melanogenic effects were attributed to their ability to inhibit intracellular tyrosinase activity. Moreover, analogs 1, 3, and 5 inhibited in situ B16F10 cellular tyrosinase activity. In three antioxidant experiments, analogs 2 and 3 exhibited strong antioxidant efficacy, similar to that of the positive controls. These results suggest that the BMTTZD analogs are promising tyrosinase inhibitors for the treatment of hyperpigmentation-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with increasing incidence and prevalence worldwide. Here we investigated the newly synthesized jasmonate analogue 2-hydroxyethyl 5-chloro-4,5-didehydrojasmonate (J11-Cl) for its anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal inflammation. First, to test whether J11-Cl can activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), we performed docking simulations because J11-Cl has a structural similarity with anti-inflammatory 15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the endogenous ligands of PPARγ. J11-Cl bound to the ligand binding domain of PPARγ in the same manner as 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone, and significantly increased transcriptional activity of PPARγ. In animal experiments, colitis was significantly reduced in mice with J11-Cl treatment, determined by analyses of survival rate, body weight changes, clinical symptoms, and histological evaluation. Moreover, J11-Cl decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, and G-CSF as well as chemokines including chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)20, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)2, CXCL3, and chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1) in colon tissues, and LPS or TNF-α-stimulated macrophages and epithelial cells. In contrast, production of anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-2 and IL-4 as well as the proliferative factor, GM-CSF, was increased by J11-Cl. Furthermore, inhibition of MAPKs and NF-κB activation by J11-Cl was also observed. J11-Cl reduced intestinal inflammation by increasing the transcriptional activity of PPARγ and modulating inflammatory signaling pathways. Therefore, our study suggests that J11-Cl may serve as a novel therapeutic agent against IBD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a kidney structure and function abnormality. CKD development and progression are strongly influenced by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which can lead to tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Unfortunately, there are no effective or specific treatments for CKD. We investigated the potential of the thiobarbiturate-derived compound MHY1025 to alleviate CKD by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. In vitro experiments using NRK52E renal tubular epithelial cells revealed that MHY1025 significantly reduced LPS-induced oxidative stress and inhibited the activation of the NF-κB pathway, which is involved in inflammatory responses. Furthermore, treatment with MHY1025 significantly suppressed the expression of fibrosis-related genes and proteins induced by TGFβ in NRK49F fibroblasts. Furthermore, we analyzed the MHY1025 effects in vivo. To induce kidney fibrosis, mice were administered 250 mg/kg folic acid (FA) and orally treated with MHY1025 (0.5 mg/kg/day) for one week. MHY1025 effectively decreased the FA-induced inflammatory response in the kidneys. The group treated with MHY1025 exhibited a significant reduction in cytokine and chemokine expression and decreased immune cell marker expression. Decreased inflammatory response was associated with decreased tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Overall, MHY1025 alleviated renal fibrosis by directly modulating renal epithelial inflammation and fibroblast activation, suggesting that MHY1025 has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (2-MBI) analogs were synthesized as potential tyrosinase inhibitors because mercapto-containing compounds can bind to copper ions at the active site of tyrosinase to inhibit enzyme activity. Nine 2-MBI analogs showed sub-micromolar IC50 values for mushroom tyrosinase monophenolase activity; analog 4 was 280-fold more potent than kojic acid, and in diphenolase activity, 6 was 970-fold more potent than kojic acid. The inhibition mode of the 2-MBI analogs was investigated using kinetic studies supported by docking simulations. Benzimidazoles without the 2-mercapto substituent of the 2-MBI analogs lost their tyrosinase inhibitory activity, implying that the 2-mercapto substituent plays an important role in tyrosinase inhibition. The 2-MBI analogs exerted potent antioxidant effects against 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results obtained from apple slices and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) suggest that most 2-MBI analogs are sufficiently safe candidates to delay the browning of apple slices effectively. Thus, these results support the potential use of 2-MBI analogs as anti-browning agents in foods such as mushrooms, vegetables, and fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Z)-5-Benzylidene-2-phenylthiazol-4(5H)-one ((Z)-BPT) derivatives were designed by combining the structural characteristics of two tyrosinase inhibitors. The double-bond geometry of trisubstituted alkenes, (Z)-BPTs 1–14, was determined based on the 3JC,Hβ coupling constant of 1H-coupled 13C NMR spectra. Three (Z)-BPT derivatives (1–3) showed stronger tyrosinase inhibitory activities than kojic acid; in particular, 2 was to be 189-fold more potent than kojic acid. Kinetic analysis using mushroom tyrosinase indicated that 1 and 2 were competitive inhibitors, whereas 3 was a mixed-type inhibitor. The in silico results revealed that 1–3 could strongly bind to the active sites of mushroom and human tyrosinases, supporting the kinetic results. Derivatives 1 and 2 decreased the intracellular melanin contents in a concentration-dependent manner in B16F10 cells, and their anti-melanogenic efficacy exceeded that of kojic acid. The anti-tyrosinase activity of 1 and 2 in B16F10 cells was similar to their anti-melanogenic effects, suggesting that their anti-melanogenic effects were primarily owing to their anti-tyrosinase activity. Western blotting of B16F10 cells revealed that the derivatives 1 and 2 inhibited tyrosinase expression, which partially contributes to their anti-melanogenic ability. Several derivatives, including 2 and 3, exhibited potent antioxidant activities against ABTS cation radicals, DPPH radicals, ROS, and peroxynitrite. These results suggest that (Z)-BPT derivatives 1 and 2 have promising potential as novel anti-melanogenic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]