4-(5-Amino-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives as novel multi-target anti-inflammatory agents endowed with inhibitory activity against COX-2, 5-LOX and carbonic anhydrase: Design, synthesis, and biological assessments

In the current medical era, the single target inhibition paradigm of drug discovery has given way to the multi-target design concept. As the most intricate pathological process, inflammation gives rise to a variety of diseases. There are several drawbacks to the single target anti-inflammatory drugs currently available. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a novel series of 4-(5-amino-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives (7a-j) with COX-2, 5-LOX and carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitory activities as potential multi-target anti-inflammatory agents. The pharmacophoric 4-(pyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide moiety in Celecoxib was used as the core scaffold and different substituted phenyl and 2-thienyl tails were grafted via a hydrazone linker to enhance inhibitory activity against hCA IX and XII isoforms, yielding target pyrazoles 7a-j. All reported pyrazoles were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX. Pyrazoles 7a, 7b, and 7j showed the best inhibitory activities against the COX-2 isozyme (IC₅₀ = 49, 60 and 60 nM, respectively) and against 5-LOX (IC₅₀ = 2.4, 1.9, and 2.5 μM, respectively) with excellent SI indices (COX-1/COX-2) of 212.24, 208.33, and 158.33, respectively. In addition, the inhibitory activities of pyrazoles 7a-j were evaluated against four different hCA isoforms I, II, IX, and XII. Both transmembrane hCA IX and XII isoforms were potently inhibited by pyrazoles 7a-j with K_I values in the nanomolar range; 13.0-82.1 nM and 5.8-62.0 nM, respectively. Furthermore, pyrazoles 7a and 7b with the highest COX-2 activity and selectivity indices were evaluated in vivo for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and ulcerogenic activities. The serum level of the inflammatory mediators was then measured in order to confirm the anti-inflammatory activities of pyrazoles 7a and 7b.

Papaverinol-N-Oxide: A Microbial Biotransformation Product of Papaverine with Potential Antidiabetic and Antiobesity Activity Unveiled with In Silico Screening

Bioconversion of biosynthetic heterocyclic compounds has been utilized to produce new semisynthetic pharmaceuticals and study the metabolites of bioactive drugs used systemically. In this investigation, the biotransformation of natural heterocyclic alkaloid papaverine via filamentous fungi was explored. Molecular docking simulations, using protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase (PL) as target enzymes, were performed to investigate the antidiabetic potential of papaverine and its metabolites in silico. The metabolites were isolated from biotransformation of papaverine with Cunninghamella elegans NRRL 2310, Rhodotorula rubra NRRL y1592, Penicillium chrysogeneum ATCC 10002 and Cunninghamella blackesleeana NRRL 1369 via reduction, demethylation, N-oxidation, oxidation and hydroxylation reactions. Seven metabolites were isolated: namely, 3,4-dihydropapaverine (metabolite 1), papaveroline (metabolite 2), 7-demethyl papaverine (metabolite 3), 6,4'-didemethyl papaverine (metabolite 4), papaverine-3-ol (metabolite 5), papaverinol (metabolite 6) and papaverinol N-oxide (metabolite 7). The structural elucidation of the metabolites was investigated with 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy (EI and ESI). The molecular docking studies showed that metabolite 7 exhibited better binding interactions with the target enzymes PTP1B, α-glucosidase and PL than did papaverine. Furthermore, papaverinol-N-oxide (7) also displayed inhibition of α-glucosidase and lipase enzymes comparable to that of their ligands (acarbose and orlistat, respectively), as unveiled with an in silico ADMET profile, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for enhanced inhibition of PTP1B, α-glucosidase and PL via some papaverine fungal transformation products and, therefore, potentially better antidiabetic and antiobesity effects than those of papaverine and other known therapeutic agents.

New antileishmanial quinoline linked isatin derivatives targeting DHFR-TS and PTR1: Design, synthesis, and molecular modeling studies

In a search for new drug candidates for one of the neglected tropical diseases, leishmaniasis, twenty quinoline-isatin hybrids were synthesized and tested for their in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmaniamajor strain. All the synthesized compounds showed promising in vitro activity against the promastigote form in a low micromolar range (IC₅₀ = 0.5084-5.9486 μM) superior to the reference miltefosine (IC₅₀ = 7.8976 μM). All the target compounds were then tested against the intracellular amastigote form and showed promising inhibition effects (IC₅₀ = 0.60442-8.2948 μM versus 8.08 μM for miltefosine). Compounds 4e, 4b and 4f were shown to possess the highest antileishmanial activity against both promastigote and amastigote forms. The most active compounds were proven to exhibit their significant antileishmanial effects through antifolate mechanism, targeting DHFR-TS and PTR1. To evaluate the safety profile of the most active derivatives 4e, 4b and 4f, the in vitro cytotoxicity test was carried out and displayed higher selectivity indices than the reference miltefosine. Molecular docking within putative target protein PTR1 confirmed the high potentiality of the most active compounds 4e, 4b and 4f to block the catalytic activity of Lm-PTR1.

Discovery of new quinoline and isatine derivatives as potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors: design, synthesis, antiproliferative, docking and MD simulation studies

A new set of quinoline and isatine derivatives were synthesized as antiangiogenic VEGFR-2 inhibitors. On a biological level, the in vitro ability of the obtained candidates to inhibit VEGFR-2 was found to be strong with IC50 values in the range of 76.64-175.50 nM. To investigate the cytotoxicity and safety, all compounds were tested against a panel of four cancer cell lines (A549, Caco2, HepG2 and MDA) as well as two normal cell lines (Vero and WI-38). Interestingly, compound 12 exhibited noticeable cytotoxicity against A549, Caco2 and MDA with IC50 values of 5.40, 0.58 and 0.94 µM, respectively. These results were better and comparable to that of doxorubicin (0.70, 0.82 and 0.90 µM, respectively) with more than three folds higher selectivity index against the Caco2 cell lines. Compound 9 prevented the healing of the cancer cells at a low concentration. Also, the compound's potential to induce programmed cell death in Caco-2 was proved through the significant down regulating of the expression of Bcl2, Bcl-xl and Survivin in addition to the slight upregulation of the TGF-β gene. The cell cycle analysis indicated that compound 9 arrested the Caco-2 cells in the G2/M phase. Interestingly, the molecular docking studies against VEGFR-2 revealed the correct binding of the targeted compounds similar to sorafenib. Furthermore, MD experiments validated the binding of compound 12 with VEGFR-2 over 100 ns, as well as MM-PBSA analysis that confirmed the precise binding with optimum energy. Finally, ADMET analysis showed the general drug-likeness and confirmed the safety of the tested compounds.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Evaluation of Zamia floridana A. DC. Leaves and Its Isolated Secondary Metabolites as Natural Anti-Toxoplasma and Anti-Cancer Agents Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Toxoplasmosis and cancer are life-threatening diseases with worldwide distribution. However, currently used chemosynthetic treatments are not devoid of their own intrinsic problems. Natural metabolites are gaining attention due to their lower side effects. In this study, we investigated for the first time Zamia floridana leaves extract and its different fractions for their toxoplasmocidal activity, using Virulent RH Toxoplasma gondii, and cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and HCT-116 cancer cell lines using MTT assay. The n-butanol fraction was the most potent fraction against T. gondii with an EC50 of 7.16 ± 0.4 µg/mL compared to cotrimoxazole (4.18 ± 0.3 µg/mL). In addition, the n-BuOH fraction showed a significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and HCT-116 with IC50 of 12.33 ± 1.1 and 17.88 ± 1.4 µg/mL, respectively, compared to doxorubicin (4.17 ± 0.2 and 5.23 ± 0.3 µg/mL, respectively), with higher safety index against normal cell line (WISH). Therefore, the n-BuOH fraction was investigated for its phytochemicals using extensive chromatographic techniques, which led to the isolation of six compounds that were fully characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. Three biflavonoids (1, 2 and 4) in addition to two phenolic acid derivatives (3 and 5) and a flavonoid glycoside (6) were isolated. Compounds (1, 3, 5 and 6) were reported for the first time from Z. floridana. In silico docking studies for toxoplasmocidal and cytotoxic effects of these compounds revealed that compounds (1, 2, 4 and 6) have promising inhibition potential of either thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase (TS-DHFR) or cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) target proteins. This study is considered the first report of chemical and biological investigation of Z. floridana leaves.

Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities Supported by In-Silico Study of n-Hexane Extract and Essential Oil of Guava Leaves

Psidium guajava (Guava tree) is one of the most widely known species in the family Myrtaceae. The Guava tree has been reported for its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. In the current study, the chemical compositions of the n-hexane extract and the essential oil of P. guajava were investigated using the GC/MS analysis, along with an evaluation of their antioxidant potential, and an investigation into the enzyme inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BchE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Moreover, molecular docking of the major identified active sites of the target enzymes were investigated. The chemical characterization of the n-hexane extract and essential oil revealed that squalene (9.76%), α-tocopherol (8.53%), and γ-sitosterol (3.90%) are the major compounds in the n-hexane extract. In contrast, the major constituents of the essential oil are D-limonene (36.68%) and viridiflorol (9.68%). The n-hexane extract showed more antioxidant potential in the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), the ferric reducing power (FRAP), and the metal chelating ability (MCA) assays, equivalent to 70.80 ± 1.46 mg TE/g, 26.01 ± 0.97 mg TE/g, and 24.83 ± 0.35 mg EDTAE/g, respectively. In the phosphomolybdenum (PM) assay, the essential oil showed more antioxidant activity equivalent to 2.58 ± 0.14 mmol TE/g. The essential oil demonstrated a potent BChE and tyrosinase inhibitory ability at 6.85 ± 0.03 mg GALAE/g and 61.70 ± 3.21 mg KAE/g, respectively. The α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the n-hexane extract and the essential oil varied from 0.52 to 1.49 mmol ACAE/g. Additionally, the molecular docking study revealed that the major compounds achieved acceptable binding scores upon docking with the tested enzymes. Consequently, the P. guajava n-hexane extract and oil can be used as a promising candidate for the development of novel treatment strategies for oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, and diabetes mellitus diseases.

Development of Novel Isatin-Tethered Quinolines as Anti-Tubercular Agents against Multi and Extensively Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We describe the design and synthesis of two isatin-tethered quinolines series (Q6a-h and Q8a-h), in connection with our research interest in developing novel isatin-bearing anti-tubercular candidates. In a previous study, a series of small molecules bearing a quinoline-3-carbohydrazone moiety was developed as anti-tubercular agents, and compound IV disclosed the highest potency with MIC value equal to 6.24 µg/mL. In the current work, we adopted the bioisosteric replacement approach to replace the 3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzylidene moiety in the lead compound IV with the isatin motif, a privileged scaffold in the TB drug discovery, to furnish the first series of target molecules Q6a-h. Thereafter, the isatin motif was N-substituted with either a methyl or benzyl group to furnish the second series Q8a-h. All of the designed quinoilne-isatin conjugates Q6a-h and Q8a-h were synthesized and then biologically assessed for anti-tubercular actions towards drug-susceptible, MDR, and XDR strains. Superiorly, the N-benzyl-bearing compound Q8b possessed the best activities against the examined M. tuberculosis strains with MICs equal 0.06, 0.24, and 1.95 µg/mL, respectively.

Identification of novel piperazine-tethered phthalazines as selective CDK1 inhibitors endowed with in vitro anticancer activity toward the pancreatic cancer

Pharmacologic inhibition of the oncogenic protein kinases using small molecules is a promising strategy to combat several human malignancies. CDK1 is an example of such a valuable target for the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC); its overexpression in PDAC positively correlates with the size, histological grade and tumor aggressiveness. Here we report the identification of novel series of 1-piperazinyl-4-benzylphthalazine derivatives (8a-g, 10a-i and 12a-d) as promising anticancer agents with CDK1 inhibitory activity. The anti-proliferative activity of these agents was first screened on a panel of 11 cell lines representing 5 cancers (pancreas, melanoma, leukemia, colon and breast), and then confirmed on two CDK1-overexpressing PDAC cell lines (MDA-PATC53 and PL45 cells). Phthalazines 8g, 10d and 10h displayed potent activity against MDA-PATC53 (IC₅₀ = 0.51, 0.88 and 0.73 μM, respectively) and PL45 (IC₅₀ = 0.74, 1.14 and 1.00 μM, respectively) cell lines. Furthermore, compounds 8g, 10d and 10h exhibited potent and selective inhibitory activity toward CDK1 with IC₅₀ spanning in the range 36.80-44.52 nM, whereas they exerted weak inhibitory effect on CDK2, CDK5, AXL, PTK2B, FGFR, JAK1, IGF1R and BRAF kinases. Western blotting of CDK1 in MDA-PATC53 cells confirmed the ability of target phthalazines to diminish the CDK1 levels, and cell cycle analyses revealed their ability to arrest the cell cycle at G2/M phase. In conclusion, a panel of potent and selective CDK1 inhibitors were identified which can serve as lead compounds for designing further CDK1 inhibitors.

Design and synthesis of thiazolidine-2,4-diones hybrids with 1,2-dihydroquinolones and 2-oxindoles as potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors: in-vitro anticancer evaluation and in-silico studies

A thiazolidine-2,4-dione nucleus was molecularly hybridised with the effective antitumor moieties; 2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline and 2-oxoindoline to obtain new hybrids with potential activity against VEGFR-2. The cytotoxic effects of the synthesised derivatives against Caco-2, HepG-2, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were investigated. Compound 12a was found to be the most potent candidate against the investigated cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 2, 10, and 40 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the synthesised derivatives were tested in vitro for their VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity showing strong inhibition. Moreover, an in vitro viability study against Vero non-cancerous cell line was investigated and the results reflected a high safety profile of all tested compounds. Compound 12a was further investigated for its apoptotic behaviour by assessing the gene expression of four genes (Bcl2, Bcl-xl, TGF, and Survivin). Molecular dynamic simulations authenticated the high affinity, accurate binding, and perfect dynamics of compound 12a against VEGFR-2.

New quinoline and isatin derivatives as apoptotic VEGFR-2 inhibitors: design, synthesis, anti-proliferative activity, docking, ADMET, toxicity, and MD simulation studies

New quinoline and isatin derivatives having the main characteristics of VEGFR-2 inhibitors was synthesised. The antiproliferative effects of these compounds were estimated against A549, Caco-2, HepG2, and MDA-MB-231. Compounds 13 and 14 showed comparable activities with doxorubicin against the Caco-2 cells. These compounds strongly inhibited VEGFR-2 kinase activity. The cytotoxic activities were evaluated against Vero cells. Compound 7 showed the highest value of safety and selectivity. Cell migration assay displayed the ability of compound 7 to prevent healing and migration abilities in the cancer cells. Furthermore, compound 7 induced apoptosis in Caco-2 through the expressive down-regulation of the apoptotic genes, Bcl2, Bcl-xl, and Survivin, and the upregulation of the TGF gene. Molecular docking against VEGFR-2 emerged the interactions of the synthesised compounds in a similar way to sorafenib. Additionally, seven molecular dynamics simulations studies were applied and confirmed the stability of compound 13 in the active pocket of VEGFR-2 over 100 ns.

Discovery of novel thiazolyl-pyrazolines as dual EGFR and VEGFR-2 inhibitors endowed with in vitro antitumor activity towards non-small lung cancer

New series of thiazolyl-pyrazoline derivatives (7a–7d, 10a–10d and 13a–13f) have been synthesised and assessed for their potential EGFR and VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities. Compounds 10b and 10d exerted potent and selective inhibitory activity towards the two receptor tyrosine kinases; EGFR (IC₅₀ = 40.7 ± 1.0 and 32.5 ± 2.2 nM, respectively) and VEGFR-2 (IC₅₀ = 78.4 ± 1.5 and 43.0 ± 2.4 nM, respectively). The best anti-proliferative activity for the examined thiazolyl-pyrazolines was observed against the non-small lung cancer cells (NSCLC). Compounds 10b and 10d displayed pronounced efficacy against A549 (IC₅₀ = 4.2 and 2.9 µM, respectively) and H441 cell lines (IC₅₀ = 4.8 and 3.8 µM, respectively). Moreover, our results indicated that 10b and 10d were much more effective towards EGFR-mutated NSCLC cell lines (NCI-H1650 and NCI-H1975 cells) than gefitinib. Finally, compounds 10b and 10d induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and inhibit migration in A549 cancerous cells.

The old world salsola as a source of valuable secondary metabolites endowed with diverse pharmacological activities: a review

Salsola is an important genus in the plant kingdom with diverse traditional, industrial, and environmental applications. Salsola species are widely distributed in temperate regions and represent about 45% of desert plants. They are a rich source of diverse phytochemical classes, such as alkaloids, cardenolides, triterpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and phenolic acids. Salsola spp. were traditionally used as antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulants. They attracted great interest from researchers as several pharmacological activities were reported, including analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, contraceptive, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial activities. Genus Salsola is one of the most notorious plant genera from the taxonomical point of view. Our study represents a comprehensive review of the previous phytochemical and biological research on the old world Salsola secies. It is designed to be a guide for future research on different plant species that still belong to this genus or have been transferred to other genera.

Multi-stage structure-based virtual screening approach towards identification of potential SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 helicase inhibitors

On account of its crucial role in the virus life cycle, SARS-COV-2 NSP13 helicase enzyme was exploited as a promising target to identify a novel potential inhibitor using multi-stage structure-based drug discovery approaches. Firstly, a 3D pharmacophore was generated based on the collected data from a protein-ligand interaction fingerprint (PLIF) study using key interactions between co-crystallised fragments and the NSP13 helicase active site. The ZINC database was screened through the generated 3D-pharmacophore retrieving 13 potential hits. All the retrieved hits exceeded the benchmark score of the co-crystallised fragments at the molecular docking step and the best five-hit compounds were selected for further analysis. Finally, a combination between molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA based binding free energy calculations was conducted on the best hit (compound FWM-1) bound to NSP13 helicase enzyme, which identified FWM-1 as a potential potent NSP13 helicase inhibitor with binding free energy equals -328.6 ± 9.2 kcal/mol.

Anti-cancer and immunomodulatory evaluation of new nicotinamide derivatives as potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors and apoptosis inducers: in vitro and in silico studies

New nicotinamide derivatives 6, 7, 10, and 11 were designed and synthesised based on the essential features of the VEGFR-2 inhibitors. Compound 10 revealed the highest anti-proliferative activities with IC₅₀ values of 15.4 and 9.8 µM against HCT-116 and HepG2, respectively compared to sorafenib (IC₅₀ = 9.30 and 7.40 µM). Compound 7 owned promising cytotoxic activities with IC₅₀ values of 15.7 and 15.5 µM against the same cell lines, respectively. Subsequently, the VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities were assessed for the titled compounds to exhibit VEGFR-2 inhibition with sub-micromolar IC₅₀ values. Moreover, compound 7 induced the cell cycle cessation at the cycle at %G2-M and G0-G1phases, and induced apoptosis in the HCT-116. Compounds 7 and 10 reduced the levels of TNF-α by 81.6 and 84.5% as well as IL-6 by 88.4 and 60.9%, respectively, compared to dexamethasone (82.4 and 93.1%). In silico docking, molecular dynamics simulations, ADMET, and toxicity studies were carried out.

GC-MS metabolites profiling of anethole-rich oils by different extraction techniques: antioxidant, cytotoxicity and in-silico enzymes inhibitory insights

GC-MS profiling and metabolomics study of anise and star anise oils obtained by hydrodistillation, n-hexane, and microwave-assisted extraction methods were conducted herein. Trans-anethole was the major phenylpropanoid in both oils. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed a clear separation of different extraction methods. Microwave-assisted star anise oil (MSA) revealed the highest anethole content (93.78%). MSA oil showed antioxidant activity using DPPH and ABTS assays, this was verified via an in-silico docking study of its major compounds on human tyrosinase and NAD(P)H oxidase. Trans-anethole displayed the best fitting scores (-8.9 and -10.1 Kcal/mole, respectively). MSA oil showed promising cytotoxic activity on different cell lines, mainly the cervical (HeLa) cell lines. Cell cycle inhibition at the G0-G1 phase was observed with an early apoptotic effect of the oil on HeLa cells. Trans-anethole achieved the best docking scores (-7.9, -9.3 and -9.9 Kcal/mole) for in-silico study on EGFR, CDK2 and CDK4 enzymes engaged in cancer, respectively.

Discovery of 2,4-thiazolidinedione-tethered coumarins as novel selective inhibitors for carbonic anhydrase IX and XII isoforms

Different 2,4-thiazolidinedione-tethered coumarins 5a-b, 10a-n and 11a-d were synthesised and evaluated for their inhibitory action against the cancer-associated hCAs IX and XII, as well as the physiologically dominant hCAs I and II to explore their selectivity. Un-substituted phenyl-bearing coumarins 10a, 10 h, and 2-thienyl/furyl-bearing coumarins 11a-c exhibited the best hCA IX (KIs between 0.48 and 0.93 µM) and hCA XII (KIs between 0.44 and 1.1 µM) inhibitory actions. Interestingly, none of the coumarins had any inhibitory effect on the off-target hCA I and II isoforms. The sub-micromolar compounds from the biochemical assay, coumarins 10a, 10 h and 11a-c, were assessed in an in vitro antiproliferative assay, and then the most potent antiproliferative agent 11a was tested to explore its impact on the cell cycle phases and apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells to provide more insights into the anticancer activity of these compounds.

2-Arylquinolines as novel anticancer agents with dual EGFR/FAK kinase inhibitory activity: synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modelling insights

In this study, different assortments of 2-arylquinolines and 2,6-diarylquinolines have been developed. Recently, we have developed a new series of 6,7-dimethoxy-4-alkoxy-2-arylquinolines as Topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitors with potent anticancer activity. Utilising the SAR outputs from this study, we tried to enhance anticancer and TOP1 inhibitory activities. Though target quinolines demonstrated potent antiproliferative effect, specifically against colorectal cancer DLD-1 and HCT-116, they showed weak TOP1 inhibition which may be attributable to their non-coplanarity. Thereafter, screening against kinase panel revealed their dual inhibitory activity against EGFR and FAK. Quinolines 6f, 6h, 6i, and 20f were the most potent EGFR inhibitors (IC50s = 25.39, 20.15, 22.36, and 24.81 nM, respectively). Meanwhile, quinolines 6f, 6h, 6i, 16d, and 20f exerted the best FAK inhibition (IC50s = 22.68, 14.25, 18.36, 17.36, and 15.36 nM, respectively). Finally, molecular modelling was employed to justify the promising EGFR/FAK inhibition. The study outcomes afforded the first reported quinolines with potent EGFR/FAK dual inhibition.

Enaminone-based carboxylic acids as novel non-classical carbonic anhydrases inhibitors: design, synthesis and in vitro biological assessment

In searching for new molecular drug targets, Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs) have emerged as valuable targets in diverse diseases. CAs play critical functions in maintaining pH and CO₂ homeostasis, metabolic pathways, and much more. So, it is becoming attractive for medicinal chemists to design novel inhibitors for this class of enzymes with improved potency and selectivity towards the different isoforms. In the present study, three sets of carboxylic acid derivatives 5a-q, 7a-b and 12a-c were designed, developed and evaluated for the hCA inhibitory effects against hCA I, II, IX and XII. Compounds 5l, 5m, and 5q elicited the highest inhibitory activities against hCA II, IX and XII. In summary, structural rigidification, regioisomerism and structural extension, all played obvious roles in the degree of hCA inhibition. This present work could be a good starting point for the design of more non-classical selective hCA inhibitors as potential targets for several diseases.

Design and synthesis of benzothiazole-based SLC-0111 analogues as new inhibitors for the cancer-associated carbonic anhydrase isoforms IX and XII

In this work, different series of benzothiazole-based sulphonamides 8a-c, 10, 12, 16a-b and carboxylic acids 14a-c were developed as novel SLC-0111 analogues with the goal of generating potent carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors. The adopted strategy involved replacing the 4-fluorophenyl tail in SLC-0111 with a benzothiazole motif that attached to the ureido linker to produce compounds 8c and its regioisomers 8a-b. In addition, the ureido spacer was elongated by methylene or ethylene groups to afford the counterparts 10 and 12. In turn, the primary sulfamoyl zinc binding group (ZBG) was either substituted or replaced by carboxylic acid functionality in order to provide the secondary sulphonamide-based SLC-0111 analogues 16a-b, and the carboxylic acid derivatives 14a-c, respectively. All compounds (8a-c, 10, 12, 14a-c and 16a-b) were tested for their ability to inhibit CA isoforms CA I, II, IX and XII. Additionally, the in vitro anticancer properties of the developed CAIs were evaluated.

Anticoagulants as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors for COVID-19 Patients: In Vitro, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, DFT, and SAR Studies

In this article, 34 anticoagulant drugs were screened in silico against the main protease (M^pro) of SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking tools. Idraparinux, fondaparinux, eptifibatide, heparin, and ticagrelor demonstrated the highest binding affinities towards SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. A molecular dynamics study at 200 ns was also carried out for the most promising anticoagulants to provide insights into the dynamic and thermodynamic properties of promising compounds. Moreover, a quantum mechanical study was also conducted which helped us to attest to some of the molecular docking and dynamics findings. A biological evaluation (in vitro) of the most promising compounds was also performed by carrying out the MTT cytotoxicity assay and the crystal violet assay in order to assess inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀). It is worth noting that ticagrelor displayed the highest intrinsic potential for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 with an IC₅₀ value of 5.60 µM and a safety index of 25.33. In addition, fondaparinux sodium and dabigatran showed promising inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values of 8.60 and 9.40 µM, respectively, and demonstrated safety indexes of 17.60 and 15.10, respectively. Moreover, the inhibitory potential of the SARS-CoV-2 M^pro enzyme was investigated by utilizing the SARS-CoV-2 M^pro assay and using tipranavir as a reference standard. Interestingly, promising SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitory potential was attained for fondaparinux sodium with an IC₅₀ value of 2.36 µM, surpassing the reference tipranavir (IC₅₀ = 7.38 µM) by more than three-fold. Furthermore, highly eligible SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitory potential was attained for dabigatran with an IC₅₀ value of 10.59 µM. Finally, an SAR was discussed, counting on the findings of both in vitro and in silico approaches.

Identification of Novel Cyanopyridones and Pyrido[2,3-D]Pyrimidines as Anticancer Agents with Dual VEGFR-2/HER-2 Inhibitory Action: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies

In the current work, we designed and synthesized three families of non-fused and fused compounds based on cyanopyridone: derivatives of 6-amino-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (5a-f) and 3,4,7,8-tetrahydro pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (6a-b and 7a-e). The newly synthesized compounds’ structure were determined using a variety of techniques, including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectrum, infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The developed compounds were tested for the ability to inhibit the growth of breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and hepatic adenocarcinoma (HepG2) cell lines using MTT assay. Some of the synthesized compounds were more effective towards the cancer cell lines than the standard treatment taxol. The best antiproliferative activities were demonstrated by non-fused cyanopyridones 5a and 5e against the MCF-7 cell line (IC₅₀ = 1.77 and 1.39 μM, respectively) and by compounds 6b and 5a against the HepG2 cell line (IC₅₀ = 2.68 and 2.71 μM, respectively). We further explored 5a and 5e, the two most potent compounds against the MCF-7 cell line, for their ability to inhibit VEGFR-2 and HER-2. Finally, docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed as part of the molecular modeling investigation to elucidate the molecular binding modes of the tested compounds, allowing for a more thorough comprehension of the activity of compounds 5a and 5e.

Design, synthesis, anti-proliferative evaluation, docking, and MD simulations studies of new thiazolidine-2,4-diones targeting VEGFR-2 and apoptosis pathway

We report herein, the design and synthesis of thiazolidine-2,4-diones derivatives as new inhibitors for VEGFR-2. The designed members were assessed for their in vitro anticancer activity against four cancer cell lines; A549, Caco-2, HepG-2 and MDA-MB-231. Compound 14a showed the most potent effects against Caco-2, and HepG-2 cell lines (IC50 = of 1.5 and 31.5 μM, respectively). Next, the in vitro VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity, safety profiles and selectivity indices were examined for all the synthesized members against the normal Vero cell line. Compound 14a (the safest member against Caco-2 cell line) was further investigated for its ability to inhibit Caco-2 cells migration and healing. Moreover, the apoptotic induction of compound 14a against Caco-2 cell line was investigated by assessing against four apoptotic genes (Bcl2, Bcl-xl, TGF, and Survivin). The results revealed that compound 14a can exert apoptosis through significant reduction of Bcl2, Survivin, and TGF gene expression levels. Finally, deep computational studies including molecular docking, ADMET, toxicity studies, and MD simulation were carried out. Also, the DFT calculations were performed and discussed, and the results confirmed the inhibitory reactivity of 14a against VEGFR-2. Compound 14a is expected to be used as a potential lead in the development of new VEGFR-2 inhibitors with increased potency.

Discovery of New VEGFR-2 Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, Anti-Proliferative Evaluation, Docking, and MD Simulation Studies

Four new nicotinamide-based derivatives were designed as antiangiogenic VEGFR-2 inhibitors. The congeners were synthesized possessing the pharmacophoric essential features to bind correctly with the VEGFR-2 active pocket. All members were evaluated for their cytotoxic and VEGFR-2 inhibitory potentialities. Compound 6 was the most potent showingIC₅₀ values of 9.3 ± 0.02 and 7.8 ± 0.025 µM against HCT-116 and HepG-2 cells, respectively, and IC₅₀ of 60.83 nM regarding VEGFR-2 enzyme inhibition. Compound 6 arrested the growth of HCT-116 cells at the pre-G1 and G2-M phases. Further, it induced both early and late apoptosis. Additionally, compound 6 caused a significant decrease in TNF-α and IL6 by 66.42% and 57.34%, respectively. The considered compounds had similar docking performances to that of sorafenib against the VEGFR-2 (PDB ID: 2OH4). The correct binding of compound 6 with VEGFR-2 was validated using MD simulations, and MM-GPSA calculations.

The Anticancer Effects of the Pro-Apoptotic Benzofuran-Isatin Conjugate (5a) Are Associated With p53 Upregulation and Enhancement of Conventional Chemotherapeutic Drug Efficiency in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

The present study aimed to investigate in-depth a cytotoxic novel benzofuran-isatin conjugate (5a, 3-methyl-N'-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)benzofuran-2-carbohydrazide) with promising potential anticancer activities in colorectal adenocarcinoma HT29 and metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) SW620 cell lines. Thus, the primary cell events involved in tumorigenicity, tumor development, metastasis, and chemotherapy response were explored. Both CRC cell lines were exposed to different concentrations of Compound 5a and then subjected to real-time cell viability, migration, and invasion assays, colony formation and cytotoxicity assays, and flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis and apoptosis determination. Western blot and RT-qPCR were performed to assess the protein and transcript expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell cycle, and apoptosis markers. We showed that the Compound 5a treatment exhibited anticancer effects through inhibition of HT29 and SW620 cell viability, migration, and invasion, in a dose-dependent manner, which were associated with the upregulation of the tumor suppressor p53. Compound 5a also inhibited the colony formation ability of HT29 and SW620 cells and reversed EMT markers E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression. CRC cell exposure to Compound 5a resulted in a cell cycle arrest at the G1/G0 phase in HT29 cells and at the G2/M phase in SW620 cells, along with the downregulation of cyclin A1 expression, described to be involved in the S phase entry. Furthermore, Compound 5a-induced apoptosis was associated with the downregulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xl marker, upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and cytochrome c markers, and increased mitochondrial outer membrane permeability, suggesting the involvement of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway. In addition, the combination studies of Compound 5a with the main conventional chemotherapeutic drugs 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin showed a more potent cytotoxic effect in both CRC cells than a single treatment. In conclusion, our findings described the interesting in vitro anticancer properties of Compound 5a, shown to have possible antitumor, antimetastatic, and pro-apoptotic activities, with the enhancement of the cytotoxic efficiency of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. In vivo studies are requested to confirm the promising anticancer potential of Compound 5a for CRC therapy.