[0001] This invention relates to polyunsaturated linear aldehydes and their derivatives
with anti-radical activity.
[0002] More particularly, this invention relates to the use of polyunsaturated linear aldehydes
which can be extracted from parrot feathers and tissues or prepared synthetically,
and of derivatives of said aldehydes such as fatty esters of alcohols obtained by
reduction of the aldehyde group, or derivatives of inclusion of said aldehydes in
cyclodextrins, as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.
[0003] This invention also relates to novel derivatives of said aldehydes, such as some
alcohols obtained by reduction of the aldehyde group, fatty esters of alcohols and
derivatives of inclusion of aldehydes in cyclodextrins. Said polyunsaturated aldehydes
and the derivatives thereof will hereafter be generically referred to as "parrodienes".
[0004] It has been found that the parrodienes of the invention possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
activity and are therefore useful in preventing the damage caused by free radicals,
and in particular in the prevention and treatment of, and the prevention of alterations
caused by skin ageing.
[0005] Numerous natural products of plant origin, present in the diets of various populations,
possess a preventive or curative activity against numerous organic disorders and alterations
characteristic of various diseases.
[0006] These therapeutic properties are generally indicated by folk tradition, and their
validity has been investigated by modern chemical, biological, pharmacological and
clinical techniques.
[0007] Far fewer natural products of animal origin included in the diet have been found
to have therapeutic or preventive properties against particular disorders or diseases.
[0008] Known examples are polyunsaturated fatty acids extracted from fish (1, 2, 3), glycosaminoglycans
extracted from the cartilage of animals such as the shark (3, 4, 5, 6, 8), glycoproteins
such as lactoferrin extracted from milk or colostrum (9, 10), and lipid extracts of
molluscs such as oysters (11, 12).
[0009] However, the biological activity of the polyunsaturated linear aldehydes present
in the feathers and tissues of parrots is wholly unexplored.
[0010] Folk traditions of Brazilian and Venezuelan people hand down that external application
of the feathers of these birds heals skin infections, burns and poisonous insect bites,
and that eating their meat cures intestinal disorders, infections and tumours. It
is known that the coloured plumage of birds have numerous types of carotenoids which
are absorbed through the diet and can bond directly with the keratin in the feathers
or undergo a complex metabolic transformation.
[0011] Lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthins are carotenoids frequently found in foods
(berries, fruit, seeds, flowers and insects), which can be absorbed by tissues and
feathers with no metabolic modifications to their structure, whereas other compounds,
such as picofulvins, are the result of molecular modification (13, 14, 15, 16). The
psittacofulvins or the mixture of parrodienes (also indicated here by the name of
Parrodin) are the result of metabolic changes typical of various species of parrot
(
Poicephalus rufiventris, Ara macao, Ara manilata, Ara ararauna, Psittacus erithacus,
Aratinga canicularis, Aratinga acuticaudata, Psittacula krameri, etc.).
[0012] The parrodienes according to the invention have an antioxidant activity and in general
a protective effect against the free radicals, which may explain the exceptional longevity
of these animals (they can live for up to 100 years), their learning ability, and
above all their lack of diseases, especially tumours.
[0013] The compounds of the general formula (I)

wherein
n = 2 - 7,
R = CHO, CH
2OH, CH
2O-CO-R', wherein -CO-R' is the residue of a fatty acid with 12-22 carbon atoms,
were first obtained (R = CHO) as polyene aldehydes, the synthesis of which was described
for the first time by Kuhn in 1937 (17, 18). Aldehydes with an odd number of conjugated
double bonds were obtained by autocondensation of crotonaldehyde in the presence of
the catalyst piperidinium acetate (scheme 1A). Aldehydes with an even number of double
bonds were obtained by condensation between crotonaldehyde and acetaldehyde, again
in the presence of the catalyst piperidinium acetate (scheme 1B).

[0014] The corresponding alcohols (R = CH
2OH) were obtained by reduction of the aldehydes with NaBH
4; the esters were obtained by esterification with the required acyl halides, especially
chlorides.
[0015] Examples of preparation of the compounds according to the invention are set out below.
Example 1A - Preparation of aldehydes with an odd number of double bonds
[0016] Formula (
I),n = 3: 2,4,6-octatrienal
n = 5: 2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentaenal
n = 7: 2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaenal
[0017] 250 ml of crotonaldehyde are added to a 1-litre flask and keep under magnetic stirring
for 15 minutes under nitrogen flow. 2.5 ml of piperidine and 2.5 ml of acetic acid
are slowly dropped therein (the reaction is exothermic) and the mixture is left under
magnetic stirring in a nitrogen atmosphere at 50°C for 30 minutes.
[0018] The reaction mixture is cooled in an ice bath and added with 600 ml of ethyl ether,
still under magnetic stirring. The brown precipitate formed is filtered and recrystallized
from toluene: 120 mg of 2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaenal is obtained.
[0019] The red ether solution is extracted with 200 x 5 ml of distilled water to wash away
the unreacted surplus crotonaldehyde; the organic phase is dried over sodium sulphate
and evaporated under pressure (30 mmHg). The brownish-red residue is taken up with
30 ml of 80% methanol and left in the refrigerator overnight at 3°C. 2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentaenal
is thus separated by precipitation, and is recrystallized from isopropanol (2.5 g).
[0020] The methanol solution is evaporated and distilled at low pressure (3 mmHg): the 2,4,6-octatrienal
separates at 55°-60°C and is purified on a silica gel flash chromatography column,
eluting with a mixture of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (ratio 98:2). 5 g of 2,4,6-octatrienal
is obtained.
TLC: Hexane 7/Acetone 3
Example 1B - Preparation of aldehydes with an even number of double bonds
[0021] Formula (
I), n = 2: 2,4-hexadienal
n = 4: 2,4,6,8-decatetraenal
n = 6: 2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenal
[0022] 190 ml of acetaldehyde and 140 ml of crotonaldehyde are placed in a 1-litre flask,
and kept under magnetic stirring for 30 minutes under nitrogen flow. 2 ml of piperidine
and 1.4 ml of acetic acid are slowly dropped therein, and the mixture is left under
magnetic stirring in a nitrogen atmosphere for 18 hours. 500 ml of ethyl ether are
added to the red solution; the precipitate is filtered, then recrystallized from toluene.
The precipitate obtained is 2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaenal (140 mg), whereas 2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenal
(25 mg) is isolated from the evaporated toluene phase.
[0023] The red ether solution is washed with 200 x 5 ml of distilled water, dried over sodium
sulphate and left to stand at -20°C for 12 hours. 2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenal
thus separated by precipitation is filtered and washed with ether (50 mg).
[0024] The residue obtained from evaporation of the organic phase is subjected to fractional
distillation: unreacted crotonaldehyde is obtained at 21°C (30 mmHg), 2,4-hexadienal
at 26°C (3 mmHg, 5.2 g) and 2,4,6-octatrienal at 55-60°C (3 mmHg). The residue is
taken up with 30 ml of 80% methanol; 2,4,6,8-decatetraenal is separated by precipitation
at -20°C and then filtered and recrystallized from hexane (420 mg).
[0025] The fraction of distillate containing 2,4,6-octatrienal is purified on a silica gel
flash chromatography column, eluting with a mixture of petroleum ether/ethyl acetate
(ratio 98:2), to obtain 3 g of 2,4,6-octatrienal.
TLC: Hexane 7/Acetone 3.
Example 2 - Preparation of 2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenol
[0026] 2.2 mmols of 2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenal are dissolved in 20 ml of anhydrous
ethanol in a flask under nitrogen flow; 3.3 mmols of NaBH
4, solubilized in 5 ml of anhydrous ethanol, are dropped into the solution. The mixture
is left at room temperature under magnetic stirring in a nitrogen atmosphere, checking
periodically with TLC (ethyl acetate). After reacting for 5 hours, 30 ml of distilled
water are added and the mixture is extracted with diethyl ether; the combined organic
phases are dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and evaporated under pressure (30
mmHg). The resulting crude product is purified by crystallisation from ethyl acetate.
2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenol is obtained with a 60% yield.
[0027] The alcohols described in the table below were prepared in accordance with the procedure
described above.
| No. |
NAME |
Reaction time |
Purification |
% yield |
| 2 |
2,4-hexadienol (19) |
1 hour |
|
84 |
| 3 |
2,4,6-octatienol (19) |
1½ hours |
Recrystallized from petroleum ether |
70 |
| 4 |
2,4,6,8-decatetraenol (19) |
2 hours |
Recrystallized from ethanol |
70 |
| 5 |
2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentaenol (20, 21) |
3 hours |
Recrystallized from ethyl acetate |
78 |
| 6 |
2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaenol |
5 hours |
Chromatography column, eluting with ethyl acetate |
40 |
Example 3 - Preparation of 2,4,6-octatrienyl palmitate
[0028] 2 mmols of 2,4,6-octatrienol under nitrogen stream are solubilized in anhydrous CHCl
3 not stabilized with ethanol; 2 mmols of anhydrous triethylamine are dropped into
the solution. Keeping the flask under magnetic stirring in an ice bath, 3 mmols of
palmitoyl chloride are slowly dropped into 10 ml of CHCl
3. When the addition is finished, the reaction mixture is brought to room temperature,
checking periodically with TLC (ethyl acetate). The reaction is complete after approx.
5 hours. The reaction solution is extracted with distilled water and then with a saturated
aqueous solution of NaHCO
3 dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and evaporated (30 mmHg).
[0029] 2,4,6-Octatrienyl palmitate with the following spectroscopic characteristics is obtained
(yield 91 %):
- IR (KBr):
- 2920, 2850, 1740, 1560, 1264, 996.
- 1H-NMR (CDCl3):
- ppm 6.372-6.040 (4H, m, H3-6); 5.791-5.959 (2H, m, H2, H7); 4.634 (2H, d, J1,2= 5.64, CH2O); 2.326 (2H, t, J5,6 = 7.3, CH2CO); 1.816 (3H, d, J8,7 = 7.3, CH3-CH=); 1.430-1.157 (26H,m, CH2); 0.928 (3H, t, J = 6.23, CH3).
- 13C (CDCl3):
- ppm 173.648 COO; 134.687 C4; 134.454 C3; 134.454 C2; 134.454 C5; 134.454 C6; 134.454 C7; 64,709 CH2O; 34.430-22.738 CH2; 18.309 CH3-CH=; 14.134 CH3.
[0030] The esters described in the table below were prepared in accordance with the procedure
described above.
| No. |
NAME |
Reaction time |
% yield |
| 2 |
2,4-hexadienyl palmitate |
4 hours |
94 |
| 3 |
2,4,6,8-decatetraenyl palmitate |
24 hours |
86 |
| 4 |
2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentaenyl palmitate |
24 hours |
84 |
| 5 |
2,4,6,8,10,12-tetradecahexaenyl palmitate |
24 hours |
60 |
| 6 |
2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaenyl palmitate |
24 hours |
40 |
Example 4 - Preparation of inclusions of aldehydes in cyclodextrins
[0031] Equimolar quantities of polyene aldehyde and α or β-cyclodextrin are mixed and worked
in a mortar until a homogenous mixture is obtained. The mixture is worked for 30 minutes,
added with 2 ml of distilled water in two successive times; the semi-liquid mixture
thus obtained is placed into a flask kept in a nitrogen atmosphere overnight, and
resuspend in 200 ml of warm distilled water (40°C). The coloured suspension is kept
under magnetic stirring at 40°C for 20 minutes, then filtered while hot under vacuum
(30 mmHg) through a sintered glass filter. A small amount of the yellow solution,
stored at 4°C, does not contain any sediment or precipitate, even after several days.
The product to be characterized is obtained by evaporation under vacuum (30 mmHg)
of the aqueous solution.
[0032] Inclusions of polyene aldehydes containing 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 conjugated double bonds
in α and β-cyclodextrin were prepared in accordance with this procedure. Each complex
obtained was characterized by IR, Raman and UV/vis spectroscopy.
[0033] 2,4,6-octatrienal included in α-cyclodextrin
| IR (cm-1) |
2929; 1680; 1641; 1413; 1384; 1298, 1244, 1155; 1078; 1030; 951. |
| Raman (cm-1) |
1633, 1611; 1160; 1129. |
| UV/vis |
in H2O: λ (nm): 277.5
ε (1 cm-1 mol-1):705 |
[0034] 2,4,6-octatrienal included in β-cyclodextrin
| IR (cm-1) |
2927; 1667; 1644; 1417; 1369; 1302; 1247; 1158; 1080; 1028; 947. |
| Raman (cm-1) |
1678; 1636; 1126. |
| UV/vis |
in H2O: λ (nm): 276.5
ε (1 cm-1 mol-1): 604 |
[0035] Biochemical and pharmacological experiments conducted on the compounds according
to the invention have led to a characterization which indicates that they have a potential
role in the prevention and treatment of various common disorders.
[0036] Their activity against the lipoperoxidation induced by CCl
4 on isolated rat hepatocytes, and against the oxidative phenomena induced by H
2O
2 on the phaeochromocytoma cell (PG 12), has been demonstrated by
in vivo and
in vitro tests.
[0037] Their ability to prevent hydroperoxide damage has also been demonstrated in a suspension
of red blood cells placed in contact with hydrogen peroxide.
[0038] This test demonstrated that the compounds according to the invention have an elective
inhibitory capacity against the damage caused by the toxic action of hydroperoxides.
[0039] Inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation, and even more significantly,
a reduction in reperfusion damage in the heart of the rat, has been found in the experimental
cardiovascular field.
Protection against H2O2-induced oxidation
[0040] A culture of phaeochromocytoma cells (PC-12) containing 3 x 10
-5 M cells/ml was used; according to the method described by Nordman (
Nordman R., Free Rad. Biol. Med., 1227, 1996) it was subjected to H
2O
2 at the concentration of 0.1 mM for 30 min.. 100 or 200 mcg/cc of "parrodin" (ie.
the mixture of aldehydes with formula (
I), wherein R = CHO) was added to the cell culture at the start of the experiment.
[0041] After 24 hours' incubation it was observed that with the peroxidation induced by
H
2O
2 the survival rate was 30%, whereas the survival rate of the cells incubated with
parrodin as well as H
2O
2 was 50% at the concentration of 100 mcg/cc and 90% at the concentration of 200 mcg/cc,
thus demonstrating that parrodin significantly protects against the peroxidative damage
caused by H
2O
2.
Tests of lipoperoxidation induced by CCl4.
[0042] The lipoperoxidative and toxic effect induced by CCl
4 (100 mg/L
-1) was evaluated on rat hepatocytes isolated according to the technique described by
Segler (
Segler P.O., Methods Cell. Biol. Chem., 264, 4747, 1989). CCl
4 is known to cause lipoperoxidation of the cell membranes which can lead to cell necrosis
(
Slater T.F., Philos Trans. R. Soc. Lond. (Biol) 311, 633, 1985;
Berger M.L., Hepatology, 6, 36, 1996;
Tribble D.L., Hepatology, 7, 377, 1987).
[0043] The damage to the cell membrane caused by CCl
4 and the protective effect performed were measured by assaying alanine aminotransferase
(AlaAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AspoAT) on the supernatant liquid of the cell
culture (Auto-biochemistry Assay System-Beeckman 700-Encore-2).
[0044] Cytological tests on the hepatocytes were performed under the optical or electronic
microscope after they had been fixed in formalin or glutaraldehyde. The results of
these tests demonstrated that the increase in AlaAT and AspAT concentrations caused
by CCl
4 is reduced by the presence of parrodin.
[0045] The histological tests also demonstrated the protection provided by parrodin. The
cell membranes and nucleus of the treated hepatocytes, unlike the controls, appeared
almost intact, and the mitochondria and the number of ribosomes also appeared normal.
Test of lipoperoxidation induced by hydrogen peroxide on red blood cells
[0046] Red blood cells were extracted from the venous blood of healthy volunteers; after
centrifugation and washing in saline buffered with PBS phosphates (0.15M, pH 7.4)
they were diluted with 10 cc of a solution containing 10
-3M of PBS-azide, and the haemoglobin concentration was measured with Drabkin's reagent.
Lipid peroxidation was induced by exposing a cell expansion contained in 5 cc of PBS-azide
with a final haemoglobin concentration of 3.75 mg/ml to hydrogen peroxide (20 mM of
hydrogen peroxide per ampoule containing 5 cc of cell suspension) and incubating them
at 37° for one hour.
[0047] Peroxidation was determined after one hour according to the Stocks and Dormandy method
(
Stocks J., Dormandy T.L., Brit. J. Haematology, 29, 95, 1971) that measures the formation of malonaldehyde which, in combination with thiobarbituric
acid (TBA), forms a coloured chromogen with absorbance at 532 nm (
Bird R.P., Methods Enzymol, 105, 299, 1984).
[0048] The antilipoperoxidative activity of parrodin was evaluated by introducing it into
tubes containing the erythrocyte suspension at the dose of 100 mcg/ml.
[0049] The MDA measurement after one hour's incubation with hydrogen peroxide demonstrates
a highly significant reduction of MDA formation by parrodin, and consequently evident
protection against lipoperoxidation damage.
Platelet aggregation tests
[0050] Platelet aggregation was determined on platelet-rich plasma (PRP); the number of
platelets was counted with a CH58 oH platelet counter (Delcan) and made up to 300,000
platelets/ml with platelet-poor plasma (PPP).
[0051] Platelet aggregation was induced by adding collagen (2.5 ng/ml) and evaluated photometrically
with an aggregometer according to the technique described by Born (
Born G.V.R., Nature 194, 927, 1962).
[0052] After 10 minutes' incubation with Parrodin (2.5 ng/ml and 5 mg/ml), 55% and 75% inhibition
of platelet aggregation respectively was obtained.
UV-induced erythema prevention tests
[0053] UV-induced erythema was caused by applying a UV lamp (Hanoivna Kramager) to the ear
of a guinea pig for 30 sec; the lamp transmitted rays with a wavelength of 200 to
400 mm, which consequently included UV-B, UV-C and UV-A rays, through a special filter.
[0054] Excipients only or a suspension containing 5 or 10% 2,4,6,8,10,12,14-hexadecaheptaenol
palmitate were spread on the ear of the test animals, and the temperature increase
resulting from the UV-induced erythema was measured with a thermoelectric thermometer
after approx. 3 hours in the control animals and the test animals. It was found that
the 10% suspension inhibited the appearance of heat and erythema.
[0055] The set of tests performed indicates that the polyunsaturated linear compounds according
to the invention possess the biological characteristics common to carotenoids of plant
or other origin, and demonstrate a particular protective activity against hydroperoxides
and free radicals.
[0056] They consequently seem likely to be particularly useful in the prevention and treatment
of all the organic changes caused by the activation of free radical production. They
can be used as diet supplements, medicaments or cosmetics in the prevention or treatment
of various disorders associated with tissue aging. In cosmetology in particular, they
can be used to treat lesions caused by ultraviolet rays and skin aging processes,
inflammatory or degenerative reactions.
[0057] Depending on their use, the compounds according to the invention can be employed
alone or in association with one another, or in association with other carotenoids
or compounds with a similar, complementary activity, such as organic or inorganic
antioxidants, vitamins, aminoacids, enzymes or other products with nutritional characteristics
or characteristics available in cosmetology.
[0058] The compounds according to the invention may be formulated in the form of ointments,
creams or lotions for topical cosmetic cutaneous use.
[0059] The formulations will be prepared according to conventional techniques, using excipients
suitable for pharmaceutical or cosmetological use.
[0060] Some examples of formulations according to the invention are set out below.
Formulation example 1
For topical use
[0061]
(cream, ointment, lotions) - content/cc
Parrodienes
5% cyclodextrin -
dodecapentaenal hexadecapentaenal complex
Formulation example 2
Complexes based on Parrodienes for oral use
[0062]
| "Parrodin" cyclodextrin complex |
5 mg |
| Lycopene |
5 mg |
| β-carotene |
1 mg |
| Vit. E |
5 mg |
| Vit. C |
50 mg |
| Coenzyme Q10 |
20 mg |
| Selenium |
50 mcg |
| "Parrodin" cyclodextrin complex |
5 mg |
| Alpha-lipoic acid |
50 mg |
| Coenzyme Q10 |
30 mg |
| Vit. C |
50 mg |
| Vit. E |
5 mg |
| Vit. B1 |
5 mg |
Formulation example 3
Complex based on Parrodienes for cosmetic use
[0063]
| Cream containing the following in each cc "Parrodin" cyclodextrin complex |
5 mg |
| Melatonin |
10 mg |
| Alpha-lipoic acid |
50 mg |
| Vit. E |
10 mg |
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