• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2003

1-Methylated $\beta$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine and ascorbate) reduced the loss of cell viability in differentiated PC 12 cells treated with 5 mM glutamate. $\beta$-Carbolines prevented the glutamate-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in PC 12 cells. $\beta$-Carbolines reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione due to glutamate in PC12 cells. $\beta$-Carbolines revealed a scavenging action on hydrogen peroxide and reduced the iron and EDTA-mediated degradation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose. The results suggest that I-methylated $\beta$-carbolines attenuate the cytotoxic effect of glutamate on PC12 cells by reducing the alteration of mitochondrial membrane permeability that seems to be mediated by oxidative stress.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2004

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore has been recognized to be involved in cell death. The present study investigated the effect of ${\beta}$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) and deprenyl on the dopamine-induced change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability and cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. Cell death due to 250 4{\mu}$M dopamine was inhibited by caspase inhibitors (z-IETD.fmk, z-LEHD.fmk and z-DQMD.fmk) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, ascorbate, superoxide dismutase, catalase and carboxy-PTIO). ${\beta}$-Carbolines prevented the dopamine-induced cell death in PCl2 cells, while deprenyl did not inhibit cell death. ${\beta}$-Carbolines decreased the condensation and fragmentation of nuclei caused by dopamine in PC12 cells. ${\beta}$-Carbolines inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH caused by dopamine in PC12 cells, whereas deprenyl did not decrease dopamine-induced mitochondrial damage. ${\beta}$-Carbolines, deprenyl and antioxidants depressed the formation of nitric oxide and melanin in dopamine-treated PC12 cells. The results suggest that cell death due to dopamine PC12 cells is mediated by caspase-8, -9 and -3. Unlike deprenyl, ${\beta}$-carbolines may attenuate the dopamineinduced cell death in PC12 cells by suppressing change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability through inhibition of the toxic action of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2002

The present study elucidated the effect of $\beta$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) on brain mitochondlial dysfunction caused by the tyrosinase-induced oxidation of dopamine. Harmaline, harmalol and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase) attenuated the dopamine-induced alteration of membrane potential, cytochrome c release and thiol oxidation in mitochondria. In contrast, antioxidant enzymes failed to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction induced by dopmnine plus tyrosinase. $\beta$-Carbolines decreased the damaging effect of dopamine plus tyrosinase against mitochondria, except no effect of harmalol on thiol oxidation. Antioxidant enzymes decreased the melanin formation from dopamine in the reaction mixture containing mitochondria but did not reduce the formation of dopamine quinone caused by tyrosinase. Both harmalol and harmaline inhibited the formation of reactive quinone and melanin. Harmalol being more effective for quinone formation and vise versa. The results indicate that compared to MAO-induced dopamine oxidation, the toxic effect of dopamine in the presence of tyrosinase against mitochondria may be accomplished by the dopamine quinone and toxic substances other than reactive oxygen species. $\beta$-Carbolines may decrease the dopamine plus tyrosinase-induced brain mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibition of the formation of reactive quinone and the change in membrane permeability.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.85.2-85.2
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• 2003

In vivo aromatic ${\beta}$-carbolines, such as harman and norharman, may easily be formed by cyclization of indoleamines with e.g. aldehydes. Because of the structural similarity to MPTP, ${\beta}$-carbolines have been proposed as endogenous toxins. In this study, we have investigated the effects of harman and norharman on dopamine biosynthesis and L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. Treatment of PC12 cells with harman and norharman showed 48.8% and 49.5% inhibition of dopamine content at a concentration of 20 ${\mu}$M and 100 ${\mu}$M for 48h. (omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.478-479
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• 1986

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.253-254
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• 1986

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.676-684
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• 2019

The Pictet-Spengler reactions have widely known for the organic synthesis or biosynthesis of biologically active compounds, tetrahydro-${\beta}$-carbolines. We have developed the simple and efficient synthetic method for the synthesis of ${\beta}$-carbolines in water. Their chemical structures were characterized by nmr and UPLC/MS/QTOF. Calculated masses of compound 1 ($C_{17}H_{17}N_2$ 249.1392), 2 ($C_{17}H_{23}N_2$ 255.1861), 3 ($C_{19}H_{21}N_2O_3$ 325.1552) and 4 ($C_{19}H_{19}N_2O$ 279.1497) were almost identical with the detected masses of compound 1 (249.1315), 2 (255.1789), 3 (325.1460) and 4 (279.1364) respectively. Those synthesized four compounds showed strong antibiotic activity against the common E. coli.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 1995

${\beta}-Carboline$ alkaloids including harmaline have been shown to inhibit enzymatically or nonenzymatically induced-lipid peroxidation of microsomes. This study was done to explore the antioxidant ability of harmaline and harmalol on the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and collagen by $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$. Their scavenging actions on reactive oxygen species were also examined. Harmaline, harmalol, superoxide dismutase, catalase and DMSO inhibited both degradation of hyaluronic acid by $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxidation of microsomes by $Fe^{2+}$. In these reactions, DABCO inhibited degradation of hyaluronic acid but did not affect lipid peroxidation. ${\beta}-Carbolines$ inhibited degradation of cartilage collagen by $Fe^{2+}$, $H_2O_2$ and ascorbic acid. The reduction of ferricytochrome c due to autoxidation of $Fe^{2+}$, which is inhibited by superoxide dismutase, was not affected by harmaline and harmalol. They also did not have a decomposing action on $H_2O_2$. Hydroxyl radical production in the presence of $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ was inhibited by harmaline, harmalol and DMSO. Harmaline and harmalol may inhibit the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and cartilage collagen by $Fe^{2+}$ and $H_2O_2$ through their scavenging actions on reactive oxygen species, OH and probably iron-oxygen complexes and exert antioxidant abilities.