@article{HofmannGinexEspargaroetal.2021,
  author    = {Hofmann, Julian and Ginex, Tiziana and Espargar{\´o}, Alba and Scheiner, Matthias and Gunesch, Sandra and Arag{\´o}, Marc and Stigloher, Christian and Sabat{\´e}, Raimon and Luque, F. Javier and Decker, Michael},
  title     = {Azobioisosteres of Curcumin with Pronounced Activity against Amyloid Aggregation, Intracellular Oxidative Stress, and Neuroinflammation},
  series = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
  volume    = {27},
  journal   = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
  number    = {19},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.202005263},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-238988},
  pages     = {6015 -- 6027},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Many (poly-)phenolic natural products, for example, curcumin and taxifolin, have been studied for their activity against specific hallmarks of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) aggregation and neuroinflammation. Due to their drawbacks, arising from poor pharmacokinetics, rapid metabolism, and even instability in aqueous medium, the biological activity of azobenzene compounds carrying a pharmacophoric catechol group, which have been designed as bioisoteres of curcumin has been examined. Molecular simulations reveal the ability of these compounds to form a hydrophobic cluster with Aβ42, which adopts different folds, affecting the propensity to populate fibril-like conformations. Furthermore, the curcumin bioisosteres exceeded the parent compound in activity against Aβ42 aggregation inhibition, glutamate-induced intracellular oxidative stress in HT22 cells, and neuroinflammation in microglial BV-2 cells. The most active compound prevented apoptosis of HT22 cells at a concentration of 2.5 μm (83 \% cell survival), whereas curcumin only showed very low protection at 10 μm (21 \% cell survival).},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GuneschHoffmannKiermeieretal.2020,
  author    = {Gunesch, Sandra and Hoffmann, Matthias and Kiermeier, Carolina and Fischer, Wolfgang and Pinto, Antonio F. M. and Maurice, Tangui and Maher, Pamela and Decker, Michael},
  title     = {7-O-Esters of taxifolin with pronounced and overadditive effects in neuroprotection, anti-neuroinflammation, and amelioration of short-term memory impairment in vivo},
  series = {Redox Biology},
  volume    = {29},
  journal   = {Redox Biology},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.redox.2019.101378},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202718},
  pages     = {101378},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease and the most common form of dementia. There are no treatments to cure, prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. Natural products hold considerable interest for the development of preventive neuroprotectants to treat neurodegenerative disorders like AD, due to their low toxicity and general beneficial effects on human health with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant features. In this work we describe regioselective synthesis of 7-O-ester hybrids of the flavonoid taxifolin with the phenolic acids cinnamic and ferulic acid, namely 7-O-cinnamoyltaxifolin and 7-O-feruloyltaxifolin. The compounds show pronounced overadditive neuroprotective effects against oxytosis, ferroptosis and ATP depletion in the murine hippocampal neuron HT22 cell model. Furthermore, 7-O-cinnamoyltaxifolin and 7-O-feruloyltaxifolin reduced LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglia cells as assessed by effects on the levels of NO, IL6 and TNFα. In all in vitro assays the 7-O-esters of taxifolin and ferulic or cinnamic acid showed strong overadditive activity, significantly exceeding the effects of the individual components and the equimolar mixtures thereof, which were almost inactive in all of the assays at the tested concentrations. In vivo studies confirmed this overadditive effect. Treatment of an AD mouse model based on the injection of oligomerized Aβ\(_{25-35}\) peptide into the brain to cause neurotoxicity and subsequently memory deficits with 7-O-cinnamoyltaxifolin or 7-O-feruloyltaxifolin resulted in improved performance in an assay for short-term memory as compared to vehicle and mice treated with the respective equimolar mixtures. These results highlight the benefits of natural product hybrids as a novel compound class with potential use for drug discovery in neurodegenerative diseases due to their pharmacological profile that is distinct from the individual natural components.},
  language  = {en}
}