Maltol Alternate Iron Chelator?

I am hoping someone might know a bit more about this than I do.

WHY when so many need a inexpensive iron chelator has noone pushed the use of the highly available natural sugar .. maltol .. ?
It has been shown to be safer than deferoxamine?
 
"Maltol a sugar used as a common food additive"

 
Comparative study of iron mobilization from haemosiderin, ferritin
and iron(III) precipitates by chelators.
Kontoghiorghes GJ, Chambers S, Hoffbrand AV.
The heteroaromatic chelators 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one,
MALTOL , mimosine and 2,4-dihydroxypyridine-N-oxide, have been shown
to
mobilize iron from human spleen haemosiderin, ferritin and also from
iron(III) precipitates, all containing equal amounts of iron, at
physiological pH.
In the case of almost every chelator, the least-solubilized
polynuclear iron form was ferritin, whereas haemosiderin was more
soluble and the iron(III) precipitate the most soluble of all.
Most of the chelators were more efficient than desferrioxamine at
releasing iron from ferritin, but less efficient in the removal of
iron from the other two polynuclear iron forms.
It is suggested that the chelator differences in iron mobilization
may be related to variations in the chelator molecular structure, the
protein structure, iron forms and in the mechanism of iron release.

PMID: 3566714
-----------------------


"Chelators of synthetic or plant origin may carry less risk"

 
The effect of synthetic iron chelators on bacterial growth in human
serum
J.H. Brock a , Joan Licéaga a G.J. Kontoghiorghes b
a University Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Western
Infirmary, Glasgow, USA b Department of Haematology, Royal Free
Hospital, London, U.K.
Correspondence to: Dr. J.H. Brock, Dept. of Bacteriology and
Immunology, Western Ifirmary, Glasgow, G11 6NT, Scotland, U.K.


ABSTRACT
Abstract The effect of synthetic iron chelators of the 1-alkyl-3-
hydroxy-2-methylpyrid-4-one class (the L1 series) and 1-
hydroxypyrid-2- one (L4) on bacterial growth in human serum was
compared with those of the plant iron chelators mimosine and maltol
and of the microbial siderophore desferrioxamine.
None of the synthetic chelators enhanced growth of 3 Gram-negative
organisms (Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa); in some cases they were even inhibitory. L4 strongly
stimulated growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, but the L1 series
had only a marginal effect.
Maltol was mildly inhibitory to all 4 bacterial species, while
mimosine enhanced the growth of S. epidermidis and Y. enterocolitica
but had little effect on E. coli or P. aeruginosa.
Desferrioxamine enhanced the growth.
Chelators of synthetic or plant origin may carry less risk of
increasing susceptibility to bacterial infection in patients
undergoing chelation therapy for iron overload than does
desferrioxamine, the drug currently in clinical use.
Copyright 1988 Federation of European Microbiological Societies
KEYWORDS
Iron * Chelator * Bacterial growth * Infection


FEMS Microbiology Letters
Volume 47 Issue 1, Pages 55 - 60
Published Online: 27 Mar 2006


by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved


Received 23 September 1987, Accepted 4 November 1987


DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb02490.x About DOI


---------------------------


http://www.jbc.org/cgi/reprint/184/1/131.pdf


The formation of maltol upon heating certain aqueous
carbohydrate glycine systems has been investigated.
Carbohydrates used in the experiment included starch,
cellulose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, glucose, galactose,
and methyl a-n-glucopyranoside.
Of these, maltol was obtained from only lactose and maltose.


--------------------------
The Concise Encyclopedia of Foods & Nutrition
Formation and Occurence of Maltol
Chemists have demonstrated that maltol may be formed by heating
maltose at 375 degrees F for 1 hour ( note the similaritiies of these
conditions to those in baking), or by heating mixtures of sugars ,
such as maltose and lactose with amino acids , such as glycine (the
latter procedure is known as nonenzymatic browning reaction of the
Maillard type).
Maltol is found in roasted materials which have a moderate to high
carbohydrate content, such as bread crusts, cocoa beans , cellulose ,
cereals , chicory , coffee beans , diastatic flour doughs ( where
some
of the starch has been convertd by enzyme action to maltose), malt
products, soft woods , and soybeans.
It is also found in heated products which contain moderate amounts of
both sugars and amino acids, such as condensed and dried milks, dried
whey , and soy sauce.
Apparently heating is not always required for the production of
maltol, since it also occurs in larch bark and the dry needles of
cone- bearing evergreen trees.

An experimental study on the effect of maltol against oxygen
toxicity.
Korean J Prev Med. 1993 Dec;26(4):551-564. Korean.
Hwang SJ, Cho SH, Yon DR.


Department of Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University,
Korea.
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National
University, Korea.

Abstract
Since the widespread application of hyperbaric oxygenation in
clinical medicine, the problems of oxygen toxicity have been
attracting a deep interest from the researchers on hyperbaric
medicine as a practical issue.
Among extensive research trials, the study on the protective
agents oxygen toxicity occupied one of the most challenging
field.
As the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity, the role of the oxygen
free radicals produced by peroxidation process are strongly
accepted by the leading researchers on oxygen toxicity, the
probable protective effects of antioxidant against oxygen
toxicity are sustaining a sufficient rational.
Maltol(2-methyl-3-hydroxy-gamma-pyrone) which is known to be a
component of Korean red ginseng has been reporting to have an
antioxidant action.
But, further study is needed to provide definite evidence for
this compound to be an antioxidant, since the action was based
on the results which were obtained under in vitro experiment.
In this study, the author attempted to evaluate the effect of
maltol as protective agent against oxygen toxicity through the
observation of death rate, convulsion rate, time to convulsion
and microscopic pathological changes in some organs of
experimental rats exposed to various conditions.
The findings observed are as follows:
1) The death rate, convulsion rate, time to convulsion, lung/weight
ratio and microscopic pathological finding of lung were identified
as reliable objective and quantitative indices for oxygen toxicity.
2) Maltol showed excellent protective effect against pulmonary oxygen
toxicity as an antioxidant.

"Maltol as tobacco smoking inhibitor"

"The antioxidant properties of hydroxypyrones allow us to explain and
apply their chemoprotective activity and anticarcinogenic effects.
Besides their ability to inhibit formation of N-nitrosoamines, the
ability of maltol and ethylmaltol to suppress oxidative stress, which
accompanies consumption of alcohol and smoking , is to be considered
as a most valuable property.
Maltol and ethylmaltol as tobacco smoking inhibitors are introduced
in a 500 mg/day dose into the compositions of chewing gums, caramels
or
other food agents, which should be present in the mouth over 10
minutes.
The administration of these peroaral medicinal forms of maltol
displays an additional advantage, since a chewing gum with maltol is
patented as a dental caries inhibitor."

Biotic Type Antioxidants: The Prospective Search Area for Novel ... -
Google Books Resultby E. A. Parfenov, Gennadiĭ Efremovich Zaikov -
2000 - Science - 560 pages
The experimental results confirm that as compared with maltol and
hydroxypyridones, desferal increases the risk of infection
diseases112' 13°. ...
books.google.com/books?isbn=9067643084...

This is very interesting...

manal

The experimental results confirm that as compared with maltol and
hydroxypyridones, desferal increases the risk of infection

"Maltol remarkably attenuated the neurobehavioral signs and neuronal
loss"

"Leading to a decrease in mortality of animals to 12.5%"


Neuroprotective Effect of Maltol Against Oxidative Stress in Brain of
Mice Challenged with Kainic Acid
Authors: Yun-Bae Kim a;  Sang Hee Oh b;  Dai-Eun Sok; Mee Ree Kim b
Affiliations:    a College of Veterinary Medicine and Research
Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University,
Cheongju, South Korea
 b Department of Food and Nutrition and Cancer Research Institute,
College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Taejon, South
Korea


Abstract
The neuroprotective effect of maltol on oxidative damage in the brain
of mice challenged with kainic acid was examined.
Male ICR mice, 6-8 weeks of age, were administered orally with maltol
(50 or 100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days.
Thirty minutes after the final administration, the animals were
challenged s.c. with kainic acid (50 mg/kg), and neurobehavioral
activities were monitored.
In addition, biomarkers of oxidative stress and neuronal loss in
hippocampus for the biochemical and morphological evaluations were
analyzed 2 days after the kainic acid challenge.
During 5-day treatment with maltol, the body weight gain was not
significantly different from that of vehicle-treated control animals.
Administration of kainic acid alone induced severe epileptiform
seizures, causing a lethality of approximately 50%, and injuries of
pyramidals cells in hippocampus of mice survived the challenge.
Kainic acid exposure also resulted in marked decreases in total
glutathione level and glutathione peroxidase activity, and an
increase
in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) value in brain
tissues.
In comparison, coadministration with maltol (100 mg/kg) remarkably
attenuated the neurobehavioral signs and neuronal loss in
hippocampus,
leading to a decrease in mortality of animals to 12.5% (p<0.05),
although maltol at a dose of 50 mg/kg failed to show any remarkable
protection.
In addition, the changes in glutathione and TBARS values and
glutathione peroxidase activity induced by kainic acid were restored
to control levels by pretreatment with maltol (100 mg/kg).
On the basis of these results, maltol is suggested to be a functional
agent to prevent the oxidative damage in the brain of mice.


Keywords: Glutathione; Kainic acid; Lipid peroxidation; Maltol;
Neuroprotection; Maltol, butanol fraction from methanol extract of
Thunb; GSH, reduced glutathione; KA, kainic acid; DTNB, 5,5'-
dithiobis
(2-nitrobenzoic acid); TBARS, thiobarbituric acid-reactive
substances
---------------------

Malten, a new synthetic molecule showing in vitro antiproliferative
activity against tumour cells and induction of complex DNA structural
alterations.
Amatori S, Bagaloni I, Macedi E, Formica M, Giorgi L, Fusi V, Fanelli
M.
Br J Cancer. 2010 Jul 13;103(2):239-48. Epub 2010 Jun 22.
Molecular Pathology and Oncology Lab. 'PaoLa', Department of
Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino 'Carlo Bo', via Arco
d'Augusto, 2, 61032 Fano (PU), Italy.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Hydroxypyrones represent several classes of molecules known
for their high synthetic versatility.
This family of molecules shows several interesting pharmaceutical
activities and is considered as a promising source of new
antineoplastic compounds.
METHODS:
In the quest to identify new potential anticancer agents, a
new maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone)-derived molecule, named
malten (N,N'-bis((3-hydroxy-4-pyron-2-yl)methyl)-N,N'
-dimethylethylendiamine), has been synthesised and analysed at
both biological and molecular levels for its antiproliferative
activity in eight tumour cell lines.
RESULTS:
Malten exposure led to a dose-dependent reduction in cell
survival in all the neoplastic models studied.
Sublethal concentrations of malten induce profound cell cycle
changes, particularly affecting the S and/or G2-M phases,
whereas exposure to lethal doses causes the induction of
programmed cell death.
The molecular response to malten was also investigated in
JURKAT and U937 cells.
It showed the modulation of genes having key roles in cell
cycle progression and apoptosis.
Finally, as part of the effort to clarify the action mechanism,
we showed that malten is able to impair DNA electrophoretic
mobility and drastically reduce both PCR amplificability and
fragmentation susceptibility of DNA.
CONCLUSION:
Taken together, these results show that malten may exert its
antiproliferative activity through the induction of complex
DNA structural modifications.
This evidence, together with the high synthetic versatility
of maltol-derived compounds, makes malten an interesting
molecular scaffold for the future design of new potential
anticancer agents.


PMID: 20571494