| abstract |
Compounds useful as preventive and therapeutic agents for bone and cartilage diseases; and drug compositions containing the same. The compounds are polyhydroxyphenol derivatives of general formula (I) and quinone analogues derived therefrom (wherein R1 is alkyl, optionally substituted benzyl or optionally substituted aryl; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or optionally substituted benzyl; R3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, optionally substituted benzyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy or optionally substituted benzyloxy; R4 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, optionally substituted benzyl or hydroxyl; and R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or optionally substituted benzyl). The polyhydroxyphenol derivatives and the quinone analogues exhibit a potent inhibitory activity against bone resorption and are useful as preventive and therapeutic agents for bone and cartilage diseases. |