Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture

Multi-target analgesics with minimal side effects and high efficacy are a key research focus in addressing the global pain crisis. Using a molecular networking approach, five pairs of potent analgesic alkaloid enantiomers were isolated from the roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum (A. pyrethrum). Their stru...

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Main Authors: Hui Chen, Hanqi Zhang, Chao Niu, Bianlin Wang, Biao Gao, Zhijun Liu, Guangmin Yao, Haji Akber Aisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525002990
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author Hui Chen
Hanqi Zhang
Chao Niu
Bianlin Wang
Biao Gao
Zhijun Liu
Guangmin Yao
Haji Akber Aisa
author_facet Hui Chen
Hanqi Zhang
Chao Niu
Bianlin Wang
Biao Gao
Zhijun Liu
Guangmin Yao
Haji Akber Aisa
author_sort Hui Chen
collection DOAJ
description Multi-target analgesics with minimal side effects and high efficacy are a key research focus in addressing the global pain crisis. Using a molecular networking approach, five pairs of potent analgesic alkaloid enantiomers were isolated from the roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum (A. pyrethrum). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, including LR-HSQMBC and 1H–15N HMBC, quantum 13C NMR DP4+ and ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Anacyphrethines A (1) and B (2) are highly conjugated and polymethylated 6/6/6/6/5/7/5/5-fused octacyclic tetraazabic alkaloids possessing an unprecedented 8,14,18,24-tetraaza-octacyclo[16.8.2.11,23.04,28.05,17.09,16.011,15.021,27] nonacosane motif. Their biosynthetic pathways are proposed involving key aldol, hydroamination, and Schiff base reactions. All isolates showed potent analgesic effects in vivo. Even at a lower dose of 0.2 mg/kg, (±)-1 and (+)-1 still exhibited more potent analgesic activities than morphine. Interestingly, the racemic mixture (±)-1 showed stronger analgesic effect than either pure enantiomer alone at higher doses of 5 and 1 mg/kg; while, (±)-1 showed significant analgesic activities comparable to (+)-1 at lower doses of 0.2 and 0.04 mg/kg. (+)-1 had stronger analgesic effect than (−)-1 at five tested does. Further tests on 44 analgesic-related targets demonstrated that (+)-1 showed significant inhibitory effects against many ion channels such as TRPM8, Kv1.2, Kv1.3, and Cav2.1 with IC50 values of 1.10 ± 0.26, 4.20 ± 0.07, 2.20 ± 0.24, and 10.40 ± 0.69 μmol/L, respectively, while (−)-1 primarily inhibited TRPC6, Kv1.2, and Kv1.3 ion channels with IC50 values of 0.81 ± 0.05, 0.91 ± 0.04, and 1.50 ± 0.13 μmol/L, respectively, without affecting the opioid receptors, suggesting their non-opioid analgesic potentials. The molecular dockings provided structural guidance to develop potent non-opioid analgesics.
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spelling doaj-art-e14c07c933284dc4b9cd8f51ce6bace92025-08-20T02:41:32ZengElsevierActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B2211-38352025-07-011573725373710.1016/j.apsb.2025.04.032Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architectureHui Chen0Hanqi Zhang1Chao Niu2Bianlin Wang3Biao Gao4Zhijun Liu5Guangmin Yao6Haji Akber Aisa7State Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, and the Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10004, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaState Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, and the Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, and the Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaHubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaState Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, and the Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China; Corresponding authors.State Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, and the Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; College of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10004, China; Corresponding authors.Multi-target analgesics with minimal side effects and high efficacy are a key research focus in addressing the global pain crisis. Using a molecular networking approach, five pairs of potent analgesic alkaloid enantiomers were isolated from the roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum (A. pyrethrum). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, including LR-HSQMBC and 1H–15N HMBC, quantum 13C NMR DP4+ and ECD calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Anacyphrethines A (1) and B (2) are highly conjugated and polymethylated 6/6/6/6/5/7/5/5-fused octacyclic tetraazabic alkaloids possessing an unprecedented 8,14,18,24-tetraaza-octacyclo[16.8.2.11,23.04,28.05,17.09,16.011,15.021,27] nonacosane motif. Their biosynthetic pathways are proposed involving key aldol, hydroamination, and Schiff base reactions. All isolates showed potent analgesic effects in vivo. Even at a lower dose of 0.2 mg/kg, (±)-1 and (+)-1 still exhibited more potent analgesic activities than morphine. Interestingly, the racemic mixture (±)-1 showed stronger analgesic effect than either pure enantiomer alone at higher doses of 5 and 1 mg/kg; while, (±)-1 showed significant analgesic activities comparable to (+)-1 at lower doses of 0.2 and 0.04 mg/kg. (+)-1 had stronger analgesic effect than (−)-1 at five tested does. Further tests on 44 analgesic-related targets demonstrated that (+)-1 showed significant inhibitory effects against many ion channels such as TRPM8, Kv1.2, Kv1.3, and Cav2.1 with IC50 values of 1.10 ± 0.26, 4.20 ± 0.07, 2.20 ± 0.24, and 10.40 ± 0.69 μmol/L, respectively, while (−)-1 primarily inhibited TRPC6, Kv1.2, and Kv1.3 ion channels with IC50 values of 0.81 ± 0.05, 0.91 ± 0.04, and 1.50 ± 0.13 μmol/L, respectively, without affecting the opioid receptors, suggesting their non-opioid analgesic potentials. The molecular dockings provided structural guidance to develop potent non-opioid analgesics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525002990Anacyclus pyrethrumAsteraceaeAlkaloidsAnalgesicsMulti-target analgesicsIon channel blocker
spellingShingle Hui Chen
Hanqi Zhang
Chao Niu
Bianlin Wang
Biao Gao
Zhijun Liu
Guangmin Yao
Haji Akber Aisa
Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
Anacyclus pyrethrum
Asteraceae
Alkaloids
Analgesics
Multi-target analgesics
Ion channel blocker
title Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
title_full Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
title_fullStr Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
title_full_unstemmed Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
title_short Anacyphrethines A and B as potent analgesics: Multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
title_sort anacyphrethines a and b as potent analgesics multiple ion channel inhibitors with an unprecedented chemical architecture
topic Anacyclus pyrethrum
Asteraceae
Alkaloids
Analgesics
Multi-target analgesics
Ion channel blocker
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383525002990
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