In vitro evaluation of thiazolyl and benzothiazolyl Schiff bases on pig cartilage

A series of anti-inflammatory agents known as Schiff bases, combining thiazolyl and benzothiazolyl ring and vanillin moieties in the same molecule, was synthesized and evaluated for screening anti-degenerative activity on nasal pig cartilage cultures treated with interleukin 1β (IL-1β). The amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), released into the culture medium, were detected. The tested Schiff bases decreased, dose-dependently, the NO and PGE2 production and the GAGs release with respect to samples treated with IL-1β alone, showing a different behavior correlated to their structure. These results suggest that thiazolyl and benzothiazolyl Schiff bases in general, and particularly the Schiff base with bromine and methoxyl group in position three would protect cartilage matrix from degenerative factors induced by IL-1β.