Opening a new avenue in neurodegenerative therapy: mitochondria-targeted antioxidants based on cinnamic scaffold

• Type: Summary of Presentation in a National Conference
• Date: 2010

Authors

Pedro Soares (Author) FCUP; Alexandra Gaspar (Author) FCUP; Nuno Milhazes (Author) Other; E. Manuela Garrido (Author) Other; Jorge Garrido (Author) Other; Fernanda Borges (Author) FCUP

Conference proceedings National

Title: XVII Congresso Nacional de Bioquímica

Pages: 366-366

XVII Congresso Nacional de Biquímica

Porto, Portugal, 15 – 17 December 2010

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences > Neuroscience > Neurochemistry ; Physical sciences > Chemistry > Biochemistry ; Physical sciences > Chemistry > Applied chemistry > Pharmaceutical chemistry

Other information

Abstract (EN): Neurodegenerative diseases confront mankind in a variety of guises inducing chronic suffering and debilitation for a significant percentage of the worldwide population. The quest for new targets within cell machinery is one of the major issues in this field of study. Apart from the major classic targets in neuronal system a battery of new putative targets has been proposed nowadays. In fact, targeting mitochondria could be an effctive way to slow the neurodegenerative disease progression and consequently the ageing processes of the brain. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for mitochondria-mediated disease processes are not yet fully elucidated, the oxidative stress appears to be critical. The matrix space in mitochondria is the intracellular compartment which is potentially the most active in production of ROS and is the most vulnerable to ROS damaging effects. In this context, the control of mitochondrial redox processes is an attractive perspective and the development of mitochondriotropic compounds is of great importance in such an effort. The development of phenolic antioxidants with natural or synthetic origin corresponds to a relevant research area, particularly in obtention of chemical entities suitable to prevent and/or treat diseases involving oxidative damage. Benzoic and cinamic acids (e.g. sinapic, ferulic and caffeic acids), flavonoids and coumarins, have been often used as templates for the design and development of new antioxidants. However, the majority of natural antioxidants, studied until the date, had limited success. One of the reasons mentioned for this limitation is related to the fact that the majority of natural antioxidants are distributed throughout the body and only a small fraction penetrates into the target sites (e.g. the mitochondria). The aim of our project is the design and synthesis of several hydroxycinnamic antioxidant derivatives harbouring positive charges at physiological pH (hence capable of mitochondrial accumulation) that could be used as potent and selective agents throughout specific targeting the mitochondria. Some of the results obtained so far will be presented in this communication.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific