| Description: |
Opicapone is an available catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor. Opicapone decreases the ATP content of the cells with IC50 values of 98 μM. |
| Target: |
COMT[1] |
| In Vivo: |
Opicapone has a prolonged inhibitory effect on peripheral COMT, which extends the bioavailability of levodopa, without inducing toxicity. Opicapone decreases the ATP content of the cells with IC50 values of 98 μM. Incubation of human primary hepatocytes for 24 h with increasing concentrations of Tolcapone, entacapone or Opicapone resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells, evaluated by the ratio JC-1 aggregates over JC-1 monomer (ratio λex 544 λem 590 over λex 485 λem 538). Opicapone decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells with IC50 of 181 μM[1]. |
| In Vitro: |
Opicapone has a prolonged inhibitory effect on peripheral COMT, which extends the bioavailability of levodopa, without inducing toxicity. Opicapone decreases the ATP content of the cells with IC50 values of 98 μM. Incubation of human primary hepatocytes for 24 h with increasing concentrations of Tolcapone, entacapone or Opicapone resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells, evaluated by the ratio JC-1 aggregates over JC-1 monomer (ratio λex 544 λem 590 over λex 485 λem 538). Opicapone decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells with IC50 of 181 μM[1]. |
| Kinase Assay: |
Opicapone has a prolonged inhibitory effect on peripheral COMT, which extends the bioavailability of levodopa, without inducing toxicity. Opicapone decreases the ATP content of the cells with IC50 values of 98 μM. Incubation of human primary hepatocytes for 24 h with increasing concentrations of Tolcapone, entacapone or Opicapone resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells, evaluated by the ratio JC-1 aggregates over JC-1 monomer (ratio λex 544 λem 590 over λex 485 λem 538). Opicapone decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells with IC50 of 181 μM[1]. |
| Animal Administration: |
Rats[1] Male Wistar rats (240) are used. In experiments designed to evaluate the efficacy of the compound at inhibiting COMT, animals are administered Opicapone (0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg) and are killed at 2 and 6 h post-administration. In experiments designed to evaluate COMT time-activity profile, animals are given Opicapone (3 mg/kg) and are killed at different post-administration periods (15 and 30 min, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 18, 24, and 48 h). In experiments designed to evaluate the effects of the compounds on central catecholamines, animals are given 3 mg/kg Opicapone or Tolcapone and 1 h before being killed, animals are administered levodopa/benserazide (levodopa 12 mg/kg and benserazide 3 mg/kg). |
| References: |
[1]. Bonifácio MJ, et al. Pharmacological profile of Opicapone, a third-generation nitrocatechol catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor, in the rat. Br J Pharmacol. 2015 Apr;172(7):1739-52. |
