Biologically Active Quinoline‐Hydrazone Conjugates as Potential Trypanosoma cruzi DHFR‐TS Inhibitors: Docking, Molecular Dynamics, MM/PBSA and Drug‐Likeness Studies

Synthesis and Chemopreventive Potential of 5-FU/Genistein Hybrids on Colorectal Cancer Cells

A series of 5-FU-Genistein hybrids were synthesized and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The chemopreventive potential of these compounds was evaluated in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (SW480 and SW620) and non-malignant cell lines (HaCaT and CHO-K1). Hybrid 4a displayed cytotoxicity against SW480 and SW620 cells with IC₅₀ values of 62.73 ± 7.26 µM and 50.58 ± 1.33 µM, respectively; compound 4g induced cytotoxicity in SW620 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 36.84 ± 0.71 µM. These compounds were even more selective than genistein alone, the reference drug (5-FU) and the equimolar mixture of genistein plus 5-FU. In addition, hybrids 4a and 4g induced time- and concentration-dependent antiproliferative activity and cell cycle arrest at the S-phase and G2/M. It was also observed that hybrid 4a induced apoptosis in SW620 cells probably triggered by the extrinsic pathway in response to the activation of p53, as evidenced by the increase in the levels of caspases 3/8 and the tumor suppressor protein (Tp53). Molecular docking studies suggest that the most active compound 4a would bind efficiently to proapoptotic human caspases 3/8 and human Tp53, which in turn could provide valuable information on the biochemical mechanism for the in vitro cytotoxic response of this compound in SW620 colon carcinoma cell lines. On the other hand, molecular dynamics (MD) studies provided strong evidence of the conformational stability of the complex between caspase-3 and hybrid 4a obtained throughout 100 ns all-atom MD simulation. Molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) analyses of the complex with caspase-3 showed that the interaction between the ligand and the target protein is stable. Altogether, the results suggest that the active hybrids, mainly compound 4a, might act by modulating caspase-3 activity in a colorectal cancer model, making it a privileged scaffold that could be used in future investigations.

Influence of derivatives of 2-((6-r-quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid on rhizogenesis of Paulownia clones

In recent years, the demand for effective and low-toxic stimulators of rhizogenesis, which are used in microclonal propagation of plants, has been increasing in Ukraine. One of the promising directions in the search for effective compounds is molecular modeling based on known natural and synthetic compounds. The development of new highly effective and low-toxic biologically active compounds is largely based on derivatives of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, and quinoline occupies a significant place among them. Modern methods of chemometric analysis make it possible to find certain regularities in the "chemical structure – biological activity" and to select the most promising compounds for experimental research. The values of lipophilicity log P for neutral forms and the value of the distribution coefficient log D at pH = 7 were obtained by quantum chemical calculation. The values of log P and log D of the studied compounds are in the most favourable interval for overcoming the biological membranes of the cells of the root system, depending on the pH of the environment. According to Lipinski’s "rule of five", all studied compounds can show high biological activity. The toxicity of compounds of 2-((6-R-quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid derivatives was evaluated by computer programs and experimentally. Among the derivatives of 2-((6-R-quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid, the most toxic compounds were those that did not have alkoxy substituents in the 6th position of the quinoline ring. Sodium salts are more toxic than the corresponding acids. This is due to an increase in the bioavailability of ionized compounds. Derivatives of 2-((6-R-quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid (sodium salt of 2-((quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid (QAC-5) showed the greatest toxic effect on the model of the study of progressive sperm motility) and 2-((quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid (QAC-1), which will reduce this indicator by 15–20% compared to intact. The toxicity assessment of the studied compounds made it possible to determine a number of factors of the structure of molecules which affect the level of toxic action of 2-((6-R-quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid derivatives and the directions of creation of non-toxic growth stimulants in this series. The impact on rhizogenesis during microclonal reproduction in vitro in explants Paulownia clone 112 and further adaptation of microplants in vivo hybrid molecules of quinoline and acetic acid, which are analogues of known growth stimulants, was studied. A number of factors influencing the level of influence on rhizogenesis of the action of derivatives of 2-((6-R-quinolin-4- yl)thio)acetic acid and directions of creation of highly active substances in this series was defined. The studied compounds showed a high stimulating effect on rhizogenesis in vitro in Paulownia explants. It was established that the sodium salt of 2-((quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid was the greatest stimulator of rhizogenesis compared to the corresponding original acid. The presence of alkoxy groups in the 6th position and methyl in the 2nd position of the quinoline ring of 2-((6-R-quinolin-4-yl)thio)acetic acid reduced the activity of the compounds. The selection of new effective, low-toxic, less expensive substances was carried out for further testing as potential stimulators of rhizogenesis for microclonal propagation of plants.