Neuroprotective effects of (E)-3,4-diacetoxystyryl sulfone and sulfoxide derivatives in vitro models of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

(E)-3,4-dihydroxystyryl aralkyl sulfones and sulfoxides have been reported as novel multifunctional neuroprotective agents in previous studies, which as phenolic compounds display antioxidative and antineuroinflammatory properties. To further enhance the neuroprotective effects and study structure-activity relationship of the derivatives, we synthesized their acetylated derivatives, (E)-3,4-diacetoxystyryl sulfones and sulfoxides, and examined their neuroprotective effects in vitro models of Parkinson’s disease. The results indicate that (E)-3,4-diacetoxystyryl sulfones and sulfoxides can significantly inhibit kinds of neuron cell injury induced by toxicities, including 6-OHDA, NO, and H₂O₂. More important, they show higher antineuroinflammatory properties and similar antioxidative properties to corresponding un-acetylated compounds. Thus, we suggest that (E)-3,4-diacetoxystyryl sulfones and sulfoxides may have potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, especially Parkinson’s disease.

• Acetylated derivatives
• (E)-3
• 4-diacetoxystyryl sulfones and sulfoxides
• neuroprotective agents

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 20972011, 21042009, and 21172014) and Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant 2009ZX09301-010).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.