Hydroxyl mechanism of the antimalarial effect of artemisinin and its analogs

Kinetic schemes for the intramolecular oxidation of four artemisinin analogs, which are used as drugs against malaria, were developed. Each stage of the kinetic scheme is characterized by the enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant calculated using the model of intersecting parabolas. The competition of mono- and bimolecular radical reactions was taken into account when developing the schemes. The hydroperoxide groups are formed as a result of the intramolecular oxidation of these compounds and generate free radicals in the reaction with Fe^II. Among these free radicals, hydroxyl radicals play the key role, since their yield (n _OH) correlates with the antimalarial activity of the peroxide compound. The efficiency of the drug (index IC₅₀) exponentially depends on n _OH and is expressed by the formula IC₅₀(Artemisinin)/IC₅₀(Compound) = 1.54·10⁻⁶exp(3.9n _OH). The elementary reactions resulting in the generation of hydroxyl radicals are considered. It is supposed that DNA of a malaria parasite is the main biological target for hydroxyl radicals.     

Generation of radicals and antimalarial activity of dispiro-1,2,4-trioxolanes

The kinetic schemes of the intramolecular oxidation of radicals generated from substituted dispiro-1,2,4-trioxolanes (seven compounds) in the presence of Fe²⁺ and oxygen were built. Each radical reaction was defined in terms of enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant. The kinetic characteristics were calculated by the intersecting parabolas method. The competition between the radical reactions was considered. The entry of radicals generated by each compound into the volume was calculated. High antimalarial activity was found for 1,2,4-trioxolanes, which generated hydroxyl radicals. The structural features of trioxolanes responsible for the generation of hydroxyl radicals were determined.     

Reactions of hydrated electron with various radicals: spin factor in diffusion-controlled reactions

The reactions of hydrated electron (eaq-) with various radicals have been studied in pulse radiolysis experiments. These radicals are hydroxyl radical (*OH), sulfite radical anion (*SO3-), carbonate radical anion (CO3*-), carbon dioxide radical anion (*CO2-), azidyl radical (*N3), dibromine radical anion (Br2*-), diiodine radical anion (I2*-), 2-hydroxy-2-propyl radical (*C(CH3)2OH), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propyl radical ((*CH2)(CH3)2COH), hydroxycyclohexadienyl radical (*C6H6OH), phenoxyl radical (C6H5O*), p-methylphenoxyl radical (p-(H3C)C6H4O*), p-benzosemiquinone radical anion (p-OC6H4O*-), and phenylthiyl radical (C6H5S*). The kinetics of eaq- was followed in the presence of the counter radicals in transient optical absorption measurements. The rate constants of the eaq- reactions with radicals have been determined over a temperature range of 5-75 degrees C from the kinetic analysis of systems of multiple second-order reactions. The observed high rate constants for all the eaq- + radical reactions have been analyzed with the Smoluchowski equation. This analysis suggests that many of the eaq- + radical reactions are diffusion-controlled with a spin factor of 1/4, while other reactions with *OH, *N3, Br2*-, I2*-, and C6H5S* have spin factors significantly larger than 1/4. Spin dynamics for the eaq-/radical pairs is discussed to explain the different spin factors. The reactions with *OH, *N3, Br2*-, and I2*- have also been found to have apparent activation energies less than that for diffusion control, and it is suggested that the spin factors for these reactions decrease with increasing temperature. Such a decrease in spin factor may reflect a changing competition between spin relaxation/conversion and diffusive escape from the radical pairs.     

Generation of hydroxyl radicals by the intramolecular oxidation of tricyclic artemisinin analogs and their antimalarial activity

The kinetic schemes were constructed for the intramolecular oxidation of four tricyclic artemisinin derivatives differed in number and arrangement of the methyl groups. Each step of the scheme was characterized by the enthalpy. The activation energies and rate constants were calculated by using the intersecting parabolas model. Three of the four tricyclic derivatives were found to undergo intramolecular oxidation, and the hydroperoxide groups formed generate free radicals. Owing to this, the compounds possess antimalarial activity. The fourth compound is not substantially oxidized due to certain specific features of its structure and exhibits no antimalarial activity. The latter correlates with the number of hydroxyl radicals generated by the compound (n _OH). The dep endence of the IC₅₀ index on n _OH is nonlinear. Three elementary reactions leading to the generation of reactive hydroxyl radicals were identified.     

Mechanism of hydroxyl radical induced antimalarial action of hybrid analogues of 10-dihydroartemisinin

Kinetic schemes of intramolecular oxidation were constructed for ten hybrid analogues of 10-dihydroartemisinin with heteroatom-containing substituents (N, F, Cl). All steps of the kinetic scheme were characterized by the enthalpy of the reaction. The activation energies and rate constants were calculated using the intersecting parabolas model. During intramolecular oxidation of the model compounds, free radicals are generated, and the key role belongs to hydroxyl radicals. The kinetic method was developed, which provides the possibility to differentiate the therapeutic effect of hybrid compounds induced by the hydroxyl radicals alone from that induced in addition by the presence of substituents. Some compounds showed therapeutic effect which exceeds the effect caused by generation of the hydroxyl radicals alone. Several compounds bear substituents, which decrease the action induced by generation of the hydroxyl radicals. Substituents were identified, which made additional contribution to the therapeutic effect of the substance, thus providing the complex action.     

Synthesis and DPPH radical scavenging activity of prenylated phenol derivatives

The synthesis of twenty six prenylated phenols derivatives is reported. These compounds were obtained under mild conditions via Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS) coupling reactions between phenol derivatives containing electron-donor subtituents and 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol using BF(3)×OEt(2). Dialkylations were also produced with this method. The formation of a chroman ring by intramolecular cyclization between a sp2 carbon from the prenyl group with the hydroxyl substituent in the ortho position occurred with some phenols. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated as antioxidants according to a DPPH radical scavenging activity assay. IC(50) values of five synthesized compounds indicated they were as good antioxidants as Trolox?.     

Peroxy radical isomerization in the oxidation of isoprene

We report experimental evidence for the formation of C(5)-hydroperoxyaldehydes (HPALDs) from 1,6-H-shift isomerizations in peroxy radicals formed from the hydroxyl radical (OH) oxidation of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene). At 295 K, the isomerization rate of isoprene peroxy radicals (ISO2?) relative to the rate of reaction of ISO2? + HO2 is k(isom)(295)/(k(ISO2?+HO2)(295)) = (1.2 ± 0.6) x 10(8) mol cm(-3), or k(isom)(295) ? 0.002 s(-1). The temperature dependence of this rate was determined through experiments conducted at 295, 310 and 318 K and is well described by k(isom)(T)/(k(ISO2?+HO2)(T)) = 2.0 x 10(21) exp(-9000/T) mol cm(-3). The overall uncertainty in the isomerization rate (relative to k(ISO2?+HO2)) is estimated to be 50%. Peroxy radicals from the oxidation of the fully deuterated isoprene analog isomerize at a rate ～15 times slower than non-deuterated isoprene. The fraction of isoprene peroxy radicals reacting by 1,6-H-shift isomerization is estimated to be 8-11% globally, with values up to 20% in tropical regions.     

Reactivities of hydroxyl and perhydroxyl radicals toward cytosine and thymine: A comparative study

As the hydroxyl (OH) and perhydroxyl (OOH) radicals are known to play important roles in biological systems, their reactions with cytosine and thymine were studied. Addition reactions of these radicals at different sites of cytosine and thymine, and hydrogen abstraction reactions by each of the two radicals from the different sites of the two molecules were studied at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p), B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ and BHandHLYP/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ levels of density functional theory. Effect of solvation in aqueous media on the reactions was studied at all these levels of theory using single point energy calculations using the polarizable continuum model. The present study shows that whereas the OH radical would abstract H atoms from the various sites of cytosine and thymine efficiently, the OOH radical would have poor reactivity in this regard. The OH radical is also predicted to be much more reactive than the OOH radical with regard to addition reactions at the C5 and C6 sites of both thymine and cytosine, though the OOH radical is also predicted to have significant reactivity in this respect. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Kinetic investigation of the OH radical and Cl atom initiated degradation of unsaturated ketones at atmospheric pressure and 298 K

Rate coefficients for the reactions of hydroxyl radicals and chlorine atoms with 4-hexen-3-one, 5-hexen-2-one, and 3-penten-2-one have been determined at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. Rate coefficients for the compounds were determined using a relative kinetic technique with different reference compounds. The experiments were performed in a large photoreactor (480 L) using in situ FTIR spectroscopy to monitor the decay of reactants. From the different measurements the following rate coefficients (in units of cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) have been determined: k(1)(OH + 4-hexen-3-one) = (9.04 ± 2.12) × 10(-11), k(2)(OH + 5-hexen-2-one) = (5.18 ± 1.27) × 10(-11), k(3)(OH + 3-penten-2-one) = (7.22 ± 1.74) × 10(-11), k(4)(Cl + 4-hexen-3-one) = (3.00 ± 0.58) × 10(-10), k(5)(Cl + 5-hexen-2-one) = (3.15 ± 0.50) × 10(-10) and k(6)(Cl + 3-penten-2-one) = (2.53 ± 0.54) × 10(-10). The reactivity of the double bond in alkenes and unsaturated ketones at 298 K toward addition of OH radicals and Cl atoms are compared and discussed. In addition, a correlation between the reactivity of the unsaturated ketones toward OH radicals and the HOMO of the compounds is presented. On the basis of the kinetic measurements, the tropospheric lifetimes of 4-hexen-3-one, 5-hexen-2-one, and 3-penten-2-one with respect to their reaction with hydroxyl radicals are estimated to be between 2 and 3 h.     

A long-lived luminescence and EPR bimodal lanthanide-based probe for free radicals

We developed a novel spin-labeled terbium complex Tb(3+)/cs124-DTPA-TEMPO (1) by covalently labeling a nitroxide radical on the terbium complex for monitoring free radicals of various areas. This lanthanide complex probe shows a high EPR signal which resulted from the nitroxide radical moiety, and is weakly luminescent which resulted from the intramolecular quenching effect of the nitroxide radical on sensitised terbium luminescence. The intensity of both the EPR and luminescence can be modulated by eliminating the paramagnetism of the nitroxide radical through recognition of a carbon-centered radical analyte and thus gives a quantification of the analyte. We have preliminarily applied this probe in the luminescent detection of model carbon-centered radicals and hydroxyl radicals (·OH). This probe is water-soluble and contains lanthanide-luminescence properties, favorable for the time-resolved luminescence technique. The investigation of the intramolecular quenching process has showed that the labeled nitroxide radical quenches multiple excited states of the terbium complex, resulting in highly efficient quenching of terbium luminescence. This probe is the first example of intramolecular modulation of lanthanide luminescence by a nitroxide radical.     

Hydroxyl mechanism of the antimalarial action of dimeric analogues of artemisinin

Kinetic schemes of intramolecular oxidation have been constructed for four model compounds containing two artemisinin residues. Each step of the kinetic scheme has been characterized by an enthalpy of reaction. The activation energy and rate constant have been calculated using the intersecting-parabolas model. The competition between unimolecular and bimolecular reactions has been taken into account in constructing the kinetic scheme. In the case of H atom abstraction from the C-H bond in the α-position with respect to the hydroperoxyl group, the fragmentation of the molecule concerted with H abstraction has been taken into consideration. The intramolecular oxidation of the model compounds yields hydroperoxide groups, which, reacting with Fe(II), generate free radicals. Among the latter, hydroxyl radicals play the key role, as in the case of artemisinin. It is the number of hydroxyl radicals generated by the artemisinin analogues (n _OH) that correlates with their antimalarial activity. The relationship between the effectiveness of the dimeric analogues, which is characterized by IC ₅₀, and n _OH is linear and, in the n _OH = 3–7 range, is given by the formula IC ₅₀(artemisinin)/IC ₅₀(analogue) = 1 + 0.27/(n _OH ? 3.17).     

Free-radical generation mechanism and antimalarial activity of cyclohexyl endoperoxides

A kinetic analysis has been carried out for a cascade of intramolecular oxidation reactions of free radicals generated in the redox reactions of substituted cyclohexyl endoperoxides (15 compounds) with the Fe²⁺ ion. Each radical conversion reaction has been characterized by its enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant. Kinetic characteristics have been calculated by the intersecting parabolas method. Depending on their structure, cyclohexyl endoperoxides generate one to three radicals. There is a linear empirical correlation between the number of radicals generated by a peroxide and its molar antimalarial activity (IC ₅₀/M, where M is the molar mass of the peroxide). The peroxides that generate no more than one radical show no antimalarial activity.     

Kinetic parameters for gas-phase reactions: experimental and theoretical challenges

This article aims to illustrate the added value provided to experimental kinetics investigations by complementary theoretical kinetics studies, using as examples (i) reactions of two major hydrocarbon flame radicals, HCCO and C(2)H, and (ii) reactions of several oxygenated organic compounds with hydroxyl radicals of interest to atmospheric chemistry. The first part, on HCCO and C(2)H kinetics, does not attempt to give an extensive literature review, but rather addresses some major experimental techniques, mainly specific ones, that have allowed a great part of the available reactivity databases on these two species to be established. For several key reactions, it is shown how potential energy surfaces and statistical rate predictions based thereon have provided insight into the molecular mechanisms and have allowed estimates of product distributions as well as reliable extrapolations of experimental rate coefficients and branching ratios to higher temperatures. The second part addresses current issues in atmospheric chemistry relating mainly to hydroxyl radical reactions with oxygenated organics, and focuses on the experimental characterization of the often unusual temperature dependence of their rate coefficients and on the theoretical rationalization thereof, through the formation of hydrogen-bonded pre-reactive complexes and resulting tunnelling-enhanced H-abstraction. Finally, the development of general structure-activity relationships for OH reactions with organics, H-abstractions as well as OH-additions for unsaturated compounds, is briefly discussed.     

Effect of Molecular Interactions on Electron‐Transfer and Antioxidant Activity of Bis(alkanol)selenides: A Radiation Chemical Study

Understanding electron‐transfer processes is crucial for developing organoselenium compounds as antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory agents. To find new redox‐active selenium antioxidants, we have investigated one‐electron‐transfer reactions between hydroxyl (^.OH) radical and three bis(alkanol)selenides (SeROH) of varying alkyl chain length, using nanosecond pulse radiolysis. ^.OH radical reacts with SeROH to form radical adduct, which is converted primarily into a dimer radical cation (>Se∴Se<)⁺ and α‐{bis(hydroxyl alkyl)}‐selenomethine radical along with a minor quantity of an intramolecularly stabilized radical cation. Some of these radicals have been subsequently converted to their corresponding selenoxide, and formaldehyde. Estimated yield of these products showed alkyl chain length dependency and correlated well with their antioxidant ability. Quantum chemical calculations suggested that compounds that formed more stable (>Se∴Se<)⁺, produced higher selenoxide and lower formaldehyde. Comparing these results with those for sulfur analogues confirmed for the first time the distinctive role of selenium in making such compounds better antioxidants.     

基于果糖自氧化体系的抗氧化剂筛选方法

机体内果糖的自氧化过程中会产生多种自由基, 并最终转化为羟自由基, 苯甲酸钠可捕获羟自由基生成具有强荧光信号的羟基苯甲酸钠. 本文采用荧光光度法考察了影响果糖自氧化体系的各种因素, 建立了果糖自氧化产生羟自由基体系. 实验结果表明, 在果糖浓度为8.00 mmol/L, CuSO₄浓度为20.0 μmol/L, 苯甲酸钠浓度为24.0 mmol/L, pH=7.4, 温度为37℃及反应时间为24 h的条件下, 果糖自氧化体系最终可产生19.27 μmol/L的羟自由基. 抗氧化剂的存在可清除果糖自氧化过程中产生的自由基, 使最终生成的羟自由基的量减少, 从而导致生成的羟基苯甲酸钠减少, 荧光信号减弱, 由此建立了基于果糖自氧化体系的抗氧化剂筛选方法. 利用本评价体系考察了抗氧化剂盐酸小檗碱和阿魏酸的抗氧化能力, 实验结果表明, 中药标准品盐酸小檗碱和阿魏酸均能有效清除果糖自氧化体系产生的羟自由基, 其IC₅₀值分别为0.023和0.036 mmol/L.     

Surface-mediated production of hydroxyl radicals as a mechanism of iron oxide nanoparticle biotoxicity

Emerging applications of nanosized iron oxides in nanotechnology introduce vast quantities of nanomaterials into the human environment, thus raising some concerns. Here we report that the surface of γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles 20-40 nm in diameter mediates production of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH(?)) under conditions of the biologically relevant superoxide-driven Fenton reaction. By conducting comparative spin-trapping EPR experiments, we show that the free radical production is attributed primarily to the catalytic reactions at the nanoparticles' surface rather than being caused by the dissolved metal ions released by the nanoparticles as previously thought. Moreover, the catalytic centers on the nanoparticle surface were found to be at least 50-fold more effective in OH(?) radical production than the dissolved Fe(3+) ions. Conventional surface modification methods such as passivating the nanoparticles' surface with up to 935 molecules of oleate or up to 18 molecules of bovine serum albumin per iron oxide core were found to be rather ineffective in suppressing production of the hydroxyl radicals. The experimental protocols developed in this study could be used as one of the approaches for developing analytical assays for assessing the free radical generating activity of a variety of nanomaterials that is potentially related to their biotoxicity.     

Master equation simulations of competing unimolecular and bimolecular reactions: application to OH production in the reaction of acetyl radical with O2

Master equation calculations were carried out to simulate the production of hydroxyl free radicals initiated by the reaction of acetyl free radicals (CH3(C=O).) with molecular oxygen. In particular, the competition between the unimolecular reactions and bimolecular reactions of vibrationally excited intermediates was modeled by using a single master equation. The vibrationally excited intermediates (isomers of acetylperoxyl radicals) result from the initial reaction of acetyl free radical with O2. The bimolecular reactions were modeled using a novel pseudo-first-order microcanonical rate constant approach. Stationary points on the multi-well, multi-channel potential energy surface (PES) were calculated at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311G(2df,p) level of theory. Some additional calculations were carried out at the CASPT2(7,5)/6-31G(d) level of theory to investigate barrierless reactions and other features of the PES. The master equation simulations are in excellent agreement with the experimental OH yields measured in N2 or He buffer gas near 300 K, but they do not explain a recent report that the OH yields are independent of pressure in nearly pure O2 buffer gas.     

Branching ratios in the hydroxyl reaction with propene

The branching ratios for the reactions of attachment of hydroxyl radical to propene and hydrogen-atom abstraction were measured at 298 K over the buffer gas pressure range 60-400 Torr (N(2)) using a subatmospheric pressure turbulent flow reactor coupled with a chemical ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer. Isotopically enriched water H(2)(18)O was used to produce (18)O-labeled hydroxyl radicals in reaction with fluorine atoms. The β-hydroxypropyl radicals formed in the attachment reactions 1a and 1b , OH + C(3)H(6) → CH(2)(OH)C(?)HCH(3) (eq 1a ) and OH + C(3)H(6) → C(?)H(2)CH(OH)CH(3) (eq 1b ), were converted to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in a sequence of secondary reactions in O(2)- and NO-containing environment. The (18)O-labeling propagates to the final products, allowing determination of the branching ratio for the attachment channels of reaction 1. The measured branching ratio for attachment is β(1b) = k(1b)/(k(1a) + k(1b)) = 0.51 ± 0.03, independent of pressure over the 60-400 Torr pressure range. An upper limit on the hydrogen-abstraction channel, OH + C(3)H(6) → H(2)O + C(3)H(5) (eq 1c ), was determined by measuring the water yield in reactions of OH and OD radicals (produced via H(D) + NO(2) → OH(OD) + NO reactions) with C(3)H(6) as k(1c)/(k(1a) + k(1b) + k(1c)) < 0.05 (at 298 K, 200 Torr N(2)).     

Radical identification by liquid chromatography/thermospray mass spectrometry

Radical adducts of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) with hydroxyl, methanol-derived, and ethanol-derived radicals were detected by a combination of liquid chromatography with either electron paramagnetic resonance or thermospray mass spectrometry (LC/EPR or LC/TSP-MS) in the Fenton system (with methanol or ethanol). One radical adduct was observed in the reaction of DMPO with the hydroxyl radical or the methanol-derived radical, while two adducts were detected in the reaction of DMPO with ethanol-derived radicals. The LC/TSP-MS spectra showed quasi-molecular ions [M + H]+ at m/z 146 and m/z 160 for the methanol-derived and ethanol-derived radical adducts, respectively, and an apparent molecular ion M+ at m/z 130 for the hydroxyl radical adduct. Use of methyl-D3 alcohol (CD3OH) and ethyl-D5 alcohol (CD3CD2OH) indicated that carbon-centered radicals are formed. Experiments with partially deuterated ethanol (CD3CH2OH and CH3CD2OH) indicated that the two adducts observed in the reaction of DMPO with ethanol-derived radicals correspond to the two diastereomeric adducts of DMPO with the alpha-hydroxyethyl free radical.     

Formation of hydroxyl radical from the photolysis of frozen hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) in ice and snow is an important chemical tracer for the oxidative capacities of past atmospheres. However, photolysis in ice and snow will destroy HOOH and form the hydroxyl radical (*OH), which can react with snowpack trace species. Reactions of *OH in snow and ice will affect the composition of both the overlying atmosphere (e.g., by the release of volatile species such as formaldehyde to the boundary layer) and the snow and ice (e.g., by the *OH-mediated destruction of trace organics). To help understand these impacts, we have measured the quantum yield of *OH from the photolysis of HOOH on ice. Our measured quantum yields (Phi(HOOH --> *OH)) are independent of ionic strength, pH, and wavelength, but are dependent upon temperature. This temperature dependence for both solution and ice data is best described by the relationship ln(Phi(HOOH --> *OH)) = -(684 +/- 17)(1/T) + (2.27 +/- 0.064) (where errors represent 1 standard error). The corresponding activation energy (Ea) for HOOH (5.7 kJ mol(-1)) is much smaller than that for nitrate photolysis, indicating that the photochemistry of HOOH is less affected by changes in temperature. Using our measured quantum yields, we calculate that the photolytic lifetimes of HOOH in surface snow grains under midday, summer solstice sunlight are approximately 140 h at representative sites on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. In addition, our calculations reveal that the majority of *OH radicals formed on polar snow grains are from HOOH photolysis, while nitrate photolysis is only a minor contributor. Similarly, HOOH appears to be much more important than nitrate as a photochemical source of *OH on cirrus ice clouds, where reactions of the photochemically formed hydroxyl radical could lead to the release of oxygenated volatile organic compounds to the upper troposphere.