Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation, and docking studies of novel 4-substituted quinazoline derivatives as DNA-gyrase inhibitors

Recent Advances in the Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Quinazolines

Quinazolines are a privileged class of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, widely present in a variety of natural products and synthetic chemicals with a broad spectrum of biological and medicinal activities. Owing to their pharmaceutical applications and promising biological value, a variety of synthetic methodologies have been reported for these scaffolds. From the perspective of green and sustainable chemistry, transition-metal-free synthesis provides an alternative method for accessing several biologically active heterocycles. In this review, we summarize the recent progress achieved in the transition-metal-free synthesis of quinazolines and we cover the literature from 2015 to 2022. This aspect is present alongside the advantages, limitations, mechanistic rationalization, and future perspectives associated with the synthetic methodologies.

Designing, Synthesis, and Anti-Breast Cancer Activity of a Series of New Quinazolin-4(1H)-one Derivatives

The inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) protein could be a promising treatment for breast cancer. In this regard, docking studies were accomplished on various functionalized organic molecules. Among them, several derivatives of quinazolin-4(1H)-one exhibited anti-breast cancer activity and satisfied the drug likeliness properties. Further, the in vitro inhibitory studies by a series of 2-(2-phenoxyquinolin-3-yl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one molecules showed strong anti-cancer activity than the currently available drug, wortmannin. The MTT cytotoxicity assay was used to predict the anti-proliferative activity of these drugs against MCF-7 cancer cells by inhibiting the PIK3CA protein. The dose-dependent analysis showed a striking decrease in cancer cell viability at 24 h with inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀ ) of 3b, 3c, 3d, 3f and 3m are 15±1, 17±1, 8±1, 10±1 and 60±1 (nanomoles), respectively. This is the first report in the literature on the inhibition of PIK3CA protein by quinazolinone derivatives that can be used in the treatment of cancer. Quinazolinone analogs have the potential to be safe and economically feasible scaffolds if they are produced using a chemical technique that is both straightforward and amenable to modification. From the cancer research perspective, this study can eventually offer better care for cancer patients.

Mitochondrial DNA as a Possible Ligand for TLR9 in Irinotecan-induced Small Intestinal Mucositis

Cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy may result in mucositis characterized by stem cell damage and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. The molecular mechanisms underlying this pathology remain unknown. Based on the assumption that mitochondrial CPG-DNA (mtDNA) released and sensed by TLR9 could underlie mucositis pathology, we analyzed the mtDNA levels in sera as well as inflammatory and disease parameters in the small intestine from wild-type (WT) and TLR9-deficient mice (TLR9-/-) in an experimental model of intestinal mucositis induced by irinotecan. Additionally, we verified the ability of WT and TLR9-/- macrophages to respond to CpG-DNA in vitro. WT mice injected with irinotecan presented a progressive increase in mtDNA in the serum along with increased hematocrit, shortening of small intestine length, reduction of intestinal villus:crypt ratio and increased influx of neutrophils, which were followed by higher expression of Nlrp3 and Casp1 mRNA and increased IL-1β levels in the ileum when compared to vehicle-injected mice. TLR9-deficient mice were protected in all these parameters when compared to WT mice. Furthermore, TLR9 was required for the production of IL-1β and NO after macrophage stimulation with CpG-DNA. Overall, our findings show that the amount of circulating free CpG-DNA is increased upon chemotherapy and that TLR9 activation is important for NLRP3 inflammasome transcription and further IL-1β release, playing a central role in the development of irinotecan-induced intestinal mucositis. We suggest that TLR9 antagonism may be a new therapeutic strategy for limiting irinotecan-induced intestinal inflammation.

Determination of Chemical Composition, In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Essential Oil from Leaves of Apium graveolens Grown in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study was to explore the composition and evaluate the in silico and in vitro antioxidants and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of Apium graveolens var. dulce leaves essential oil (AGO) collected from Al-Kharj (Saudi Arabia). AGO was isolated using the hydro-distillation method, and its composition was studied using gas-chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), antimicrobial activities using well diffusion assay, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using spectrophotometric methods. The pharmacological activities of their major compounds were predicted using PASS (prediction of activity spectra for substances) and drug-likening properties by ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) through web-based online tools. Isocnidilide (40.1%) was identified as the major constituent of AGO along with β-Selinene, Senkyunolide A, Phytyl acetate, and 3-Butylphthalide. AGO exhibited a superior antibacterial activity, and the strongest activity was detected against Gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans. Additionally, it exhibited a weaker antioxidant potential and stronger anti-inflammatory effects. PASS prediction supported the pharmacological finding, whereas ADMET revealed the safety of AGO. The molecular docking of isocnidilide was carried out for antibacterial (DNA gyrase), antioxidant (tyrosinase), and anti-inflammatory (cyclooxygenase-2) activities. The docking simulation results were involved hydrophilic interactions and demonstrated high binding affinity of isocnidilide for anti-inflammatory protein (cycloxygenase-2). The presence of isocnidilide makes AGO a potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. AGO, and its major metabolite isocnidilide, may be a suitable candidate for the future drug development.

New marine-derived indolymethyl pyrazinoquinazoline alkaloids with promising antimicrobial profiles

Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, the search for novel antimicrobials is urgent. Inspired by marine alkaloids, a series of indolomethyl pyrazino [1,2-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones was prepared using a one-pot microwave-assisted multicomponent polycondensation of amino acids. The compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of nine bacterial strains and five fungal strains. Compounds 26 and 27 were the most effective against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 reference strain with MIC values of 4 μg mL⁻¹, and a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolate with MIC values of 8 μg mL⁻¹. It was possible to infer that enantiomer (−)-26 was responsible for the antibacterial activity (MIC 4 μg mL⁻¹) while (+)-26 had no activity. Furthermore, compound (−)-26 was able to impair S. aureus biofilm production and no significant cytotoxicity towards differentiated and non-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells was observed. Compounds 26, 28, and 29 showed a weak antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum clinical isolate with MIC 128 μg mL⁻¹ and presented a synergistic effect with fluconazole.

Indolomethyl pyrazino [1,2-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones were prepared using a one-pot multicomponent polycondensation of amino acids and were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of nine bacterial strains and five fungal strains.

TMSOTf-catalyzed synthesis of substituted quinazolines using hexamethyldisilazane as a nitrogen source under neat and microwave irradiation conditions

An efficient synthetic route for the synthesis of substituted quinazolines under neat, metal-free and microwave irradiation conditions has been developed by using TMSOTf as an acid catalyst and HMDS as a nitrogen source.

Hydrotalcite Clay+[TBA][OH] Ionic Liquid Combination for Selective Dihydroquinazolines

Background:

We are submitting an easy, effective and environmentally benign protocol for the synthesis of 18 different 1,2-dihydroquinazoline derivatives.

Methods:

We implemented [TMA][OH] ionic liquid mediated hydrotalcite clay catalytic system as a green catalyst to perform this reaction.

Results:

Three-component reaction pathway was utilized to synthesize 1,2-dihydroquinazoline derivatives using aromatic aldehydes, 2-amino benzophenones, and ammonium acetate with green and recyclable ionic liquid mediated hydrotalcite clay catalytic system.

Conclusion:

The notable highlights of this method comprise short reaction time, operational simplicity, high yields, and high selectivity. Additionally, the catalyst can be recovered and recycled for up to eight cycles without any loss in catalytic activity.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activity of the Novel Harmine Derivative ZC-14 in Sf9 Cells

Harmine, one of the natural β-carboline alkaloids extracted from Peganum harmala L., exhibits broad spectrum but limited insecticidal ability against many pests. So there is an urgent need to synthesize novel derivatives with high efficiency. In the present study, a new synthetic compound, [1-(2-naphthyl)-3-(2-thioxo-1,3,4-oxadiazol-5-yl) β-carboline] (ZC-14), showed a strong proliferation inhibition effect against the Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, apoptosis induced by 7.5 μg/mL ZC-14 was confirmed with physiological and biochemical evidence, including typical apoptosis characteristics with shrinkage, apoptotic bodies, nuclear condensation/fragmentation, a clear DNA ladder, and a series of apoptotic rates. In addition, mitochondria were confirmed to be involved in apoptosis induced by ZC-14 accompanied with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol and increased expression of cleaved-caspase-3. However, harmine could not induce apoptosis at the same concentration. In summary, these data indicated that compound ZC-14 has a higher cytotoxicity than harmine against Sf9 cells. Besides, it exhibited an anti-proliferative effect in Sf9 cells via inducing apoptosis in which the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway plays a crucial role.

Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation and docking studies of some novel quinazolinone Schiff base derivatives

The quinazolin-4(3H)-one structural motif possesses a wide spectrum of biological activities. DNA gyrase play an important role in induction of bacterial death. It has been shown that many quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives have antibacterial effects through inhibition of DNA gyrase. Based on this information we decided to synthesize novel quinazolinone Schiff base derivatives in order to evaluate their antibacterial effects. A series of novel quinazolinone Schiff base derivatives were designed and synthesized from benzoic acid. The potential DNA gyrase inhibitory activity of these compounds was investigated using in silico molecular docking simulation. All new synthesized derivatives were screened for their antimicrobial activities against three species of Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella entritidis and three species of Gram-positive bacteria comprising of Staphylococcus aurous, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocitogenes as well as for antifungal activities against Candida albicans using the conventional micro dilution method. Most of the compounds have shown good antibacterial activities, especially against E. coli at 128 µg/mL concentration while no remarkable antifungal activities were observed for these compounds. All the synthesized compounds exhibit dock score values between -5.96 and -8.58 kcal/mol. The highest dock score among them was -8.58 kcal/mol for compound 4c.

Design, Synthesis and Bioactivity Evaluation of Novel β-carboline 1,3,4-oxadiazole Derivatives

A series of novel β-carboline 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized, and the in vitro cytotoxic activity against Sf9 cells and growth inhibitory activity against Spodoptera litura were evaluated. Bioassay results showed that most of these compounds exhibited excellent in vitro cytotoxic activity. Especially, compound 37 displayed the best efficacy in vitro (IC₅₀ = 3.93 μM), and was five-fold more potent than camptothecin (CPT) (IC₅₀ = 18.95 μM). Moreover, compounds 5 and 37 could induce cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and stimulate Sf-caspase-1 activation in Sf9 cells. In vivo bioassay also demonstrated that compounds 5 and 37 could significantly inhibit larvae growth of S. litura with decreasing the weight of larvae and pupae. Based on these bioassay results, compounds 5 and 37 emerged as lead compounds for the development of potential insect growth inhibitions.

Molecular docking and biological evaluation of some thioxoquinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives as anticancer, antioxidant and anticonvulsant agents

Background

The quinazoline are an important class of medicinal compounds that possess a number of biological activities like anticancer, anticonvulsant and antioxidant etc.

Results

We evaluated the previously synthesized quinazoline derivatives 1–3 for their anticancer activities against three cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, and HCT-116). Among the tested compounds, quinazolines 1 and 3 were found to be more potent than the standard drug Vinblastine against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. All the tested compounds had less antioxidant activity and did not exhibit any anticonvulsant activity. Also, molecular docking studies were performed to get an insight into the binding modes of the compounds with human cyclin-dependent kinase 2, butyrylcholinesterase enzyme, human gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor. These compounds showed better docking properties with the CDK2 as compared to the other two enzymes.

Conclusions

The overall study showed that thioxoquinazolines are suitable antitumor agents and they should be explored for other biological activities. Modification in the available lot of quinazoline and synthesis of its novel derivatives is essential to explore the potential of this class of compounds. The increase in the threat and with the emergence of drug resistance, it is important to explore and develop more efficacious drugs.

Docking study, synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of some novel 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives

A series of novel 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives were designed and synthesized from benzoic acid through ring closure, chlorination or nucleophilic substitution. The structures of compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR and mass spectroscopy. All synthesized derivatives were screened for their antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aurous, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocitogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella entritidis) bacteria and also for antifungal activities against Candida albicans using the conventional micro dilution method. Most of the compounds have shown good antibacterial activities, especially compound 4c having highest activities against E. coli at 32 μg/mL concentration while the tested compounds did not exhibited remarkable antifungal activities. The potential DNA gyrase inhibitory activity of these compounds was investigated in silico using molecular docking simulation method. All compounds showed good results especially compound 4c which showed the lowest ΔG_bind results (-8.16 Kcal/mol).

Recent advances in 4(3H)-quinazolinone syntheses

The new routes and strategies for the synthesis of valuable 4(3H)-quinazolinones have been summarized.