Macamides and their synthetic analogs: evaluation of in vitro FAAH inhibition

Bioorg Med Chem. 2013 Sep 1;21(17):5188-97. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2013.06.034. Epub 2013 Jun 27.

Abstract

Maca (Lepidium meyenii), a traditional food crop of the Peruvian Andes is now widely touted as a dietary supplement. Among the various chemical constituents isolated from the plant are a unique series of non-polar, long-chain fatty acid N-benzylamides known as macamides. We have synthesized 11 of the 19 reported macamides and have tested each as potential inhibitors of the human enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The five most potent macamides were FAAH inhibitors (IC50=10-17μM). These amides were derivatives of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids and benzylamine or 3-methoxybenzylamine. Of the three compounds evaluated in a pre-incubation time study, two macamides were not irreversible inhibitors of FAAH. The third, a carbamate structurally related to macamides, was shown to be an irreversible inhibitor of FAAH (IC50=0.153μM).

Keywords: 3-Methoxybenzylamine; Anandamide; Carbamate; FAAH; Fatty acid amide; Lepidium meyenii; Maca; Macamide; OL-135; Oleamide; PF-750; Urea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemical synthesis
  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Amides / metabolism
  • Amidohydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amidohydrolases / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Lepidium / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amides
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Amidohydrolases
  • fatty-acid amide hydrolase