Thymoquinone/harmaline and related reaction products
New compositions of matter useful for the treatment of human diabetes and cancers comprise the reaction products of thymoquinone and harmaline or harmaline-like compounds, such as β-carboline compounds, and the derivatives, solvates, prodrugs, isomers, and tautomers of such compounds.
1. A method of preparing a reaction product compound, said method comprising mixing together thymoquinone and a harmaline tautomer comprising the structure:
and
causing said mixed reactants to react and form said reaction product compound.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing step comprises mixing together solid particulate thymoquinone with said harmaline in a non-interfering solvent, and allowing the mixture to stand for a period of time to effect said reaction and form said reaction product compound.
3. The method of claim 1 , the weight ratio of thymoquinone:harmaline compound ranging from about 0.5:1 to 25:1.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said non-interfering solvent is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 lower alcohols, DMSO, and mixtures thereof.
5. The method of claim 2 , said period of time ranging from about 12 hours-4 weeks.
6. The method of claim 1 , said reaction being carried out at room temperature.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said thymoquinone comprises the structure:
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said reaction products are isomers comprising a single thymoquinone moiety and a single harmaline moiety and having the structures:
9. The method of claim 8 , said reaction products having a molecular weight of approximately 378.