Codrugs linking L-dopa and sulfur-containing antioxidants: new pharmacological tools against Parkinson's disease

J Med Chem. 2009 Jan 22;52(2):559-63. doi: 10.1021/jm801266x.

Abstract

A series of multifunctional codrugs (1-6) were synthesized to overcome the pro-oxidant effect associated with L-dopa (LD) therapy. Target compounds release LD and dopamine (DA) in human plasma after enzymatic hydrolysis, displaying an antioxidant effect superior to that of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). After intracerebroventricular injection of codrug 4, the levels of DA in the striatum were higher than those in LD-treated groups, indicating that this compound has a longer half-life in brain than LD.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacokinetics
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Antiparkinson Agents / chemistry
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intraventricular
  • Levodopa / analysis*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Sulfur / analysis*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Levodopa
  • Sulfur