Synthesis and characterization of novel indole derivatives reveal improved therapeutic agents for treatment of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

To develop more potent therapeutic agents with therapeutic efficacy for ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, we linked an antiinflammatory moiety (1,3-dioxane derivative) to the key pharmacophoric moiety of melatonin. We hypothesized that the resulting new indole derivatives might induce a synergistic protection against oxidative damage associated with I/R injury. Our results indicate that one of these indole derivatives (7) manifests potent antiinflammatory antioxidant effects and exerts a protective effect against skeletal muscle injury and associated lung injury following limb I/R in rats.