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Fluorocurcumins as Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor: Molecular Docking, Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution in Mice

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of newly synthesized Curcumin analogs on COX-2 protein by molecular docking studies and by assessments of the effect of one such analog (CDF) on nuclear factor NF-κB and PGE2. In addition, we have determined the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of CDF in mice compared to Curcumin.

Methods

Molecular docking on COX-2 protein was assessed by standard computer modeling studies. PGE2 assay in conditioned media was done utilizing high sensitivity immunoassay kit following manufacturer’s instructions, while NF-κB was done by routine EMSA. Serum pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies were carried out using the validated high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.

Results

The molecular docking showed that fluorocurcumin analogs do not introduce any major steric changes compared to the parent Curcumin molecule, which was consistent with down-regulation of NF-κB and reduced PGE2 levels in cells treated with CDF. Pharmacokinetic parameters revealed that CDF had better retention and bioavailability and that the concentration of CDF in the pancreas tissue was 10-fold higher compared to Curcumin.

Conclusion

Our observations clearly suggest that the bioavailability of CDF is much superior compared to Curcumin, suggesting that CDF would be clinically useful.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. D.Y.Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pune, 411018, India

    Subhash Padhye & Deepak Chavan

  2. Department of Pathology, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Room-740 HWCRC Bldg., 4100 John R Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48201, USA

    Sanjeev Banerjee, Shadan Ali, Q. Ping Dou & Fazlul H. Sarkar

  3. D.Y.Patil Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Institute, Pune, 411044, India

    Shubhangini Pandye & K.Venkateswara Swamy

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacology Core Services at Karmanos Cancer Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, 48201, USA

    Jing Li

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  1. Subhash Padhye
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  9. Fazlul H. Sarkar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fazlul H. Sarkar.

Additional information

Subhash Padhye and Sanjeev Banerjee contributed equally.

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Padhye, S., Banerjee, S., Chavan, D. et al. Fluorocurcumins as Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor: Molecular Docking, Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution in Mice. Pharm Res 26, 2438–2445 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-009-9955-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-009-9955-6

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