Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-carbamate smilagenin derivatives as potential neuroprotective agents

Abstract Studies indicated that smilagenin, isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, could improve cognitive impairment and exhibit neuroprotective activity. On the basis of the structure of smilagenin, a series of derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their neuroprotective effects of H2O2-induced, oxygen glucose deprivation-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Structure activity relationship of derivatives revealed that benzyl-substituted piperazine formate derivatives showed the potent neuroprotective activity such as A12. These findings may provide new insights for the development of neuroprotective agents against Alzheimer’s disease.