Synthesis of Lipoamino Acids and Their Activity against Cerebral Ischemic Injury

A series of lipoamino acids were synthesized and their neuroprotective effect against brain ischemia induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) on rat cerebral slices was evaluated. Among these compounds, N-stearoyl-L-tyrosine (4), N-stearoyl-L-serine (5) and N-stearoyl-L-threonine (6) exhibited good neuroprotective activity. We found that the neuroprotective activity of lipoamino acids depended on the acyl group, the presence of a free carboxylic function and a free hydroxyl group at the branched chain of the amino acids. The results also showed that 5 was the most active compound, protecting rat brain slices against OGD as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) insult at the range of 1–10 M.