Plumbagin, Juglone, and Boropinal as Novel TRPA1 Agonists

J Nat Prod. 2016 Apr 22;79(4):697-703. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00396. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Abstract

A series of seven oxyprenylated phenylpropanoids and naphthoquinones were tested regarding their ability to activate transient receptor potential ankyrin subtype 1 channel (TRPA1). Three of the assayed compounds, namely, boropinal (3), juglone (5), and plumbagin (7), acted as strong modulators of TRPA1 channels with EC50 values of 9.8, 1.7, and 0.5 μM, respectively, as assessed by Ca(2+) assays. Moreover, the compounds elicited TRPA1 currents in electrophysiological whole cell recordings. We additionally provide evidence that plumbagin activated TRPA1-positive neurons isolated from mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons but did not affect sensory neurons from TRPA1-deficient mice. The high potencies of plumbagin and juglone to activate TRPA1 channels may explain the molecular basis of the mucosal irritant properties of these compounds as well as of related naphthoquinones and phytopreparations, as widely reported in the literature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ankyrins
  • Calcium / analysis
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Coumarins / chemistry
  • Coumarins / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Ganglia, Spinal / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Naphthoquinones / chemistry
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Phenylpropionates / chemistry
  • Phenylpropionates / pharmacology*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / drug effects
  • TRPA1 Cation Channel
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Ankyrins
  • Coumarins
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Phenylpropionates
  • TRPA1 Cation Channel
  • Transient Receptor Potential Channels
  • Trpa1 protein, mouse
  • boropinal
  • aurapten
  • Calcium
  • juglone
  • plumbagin