Synthesis, characterization, and computational studies on phthalic anhydride-based benzylidene-hydrazide derivatives as novel, potential anti-inflammatory agents

Levofloxacin reposition-based design: synthesis, biological evaluation of new levofloxacin derivatives targeting topoisomerase II beta polymerase as promising anticancer agents, molecular docking, and physicochemical characterization

Repositioning of already approved medications through repurposing or re-profiling for new medical uses after certain structural modifications is a novel approach in drug discovery. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are one of the cardinal agents investigated for potential anticancer activities. In this work, levofloxacin was repositioned for anticancer activities. A series of levofloxacin-based compounds were designed and synthesized through the derivatization of levofloxacin's carboxylic acid functionality. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for cytotoxic activities against breast, liver, and leukemia cancer cell lines. Their effect on normal cells was also investigated. The target compounds were evaluated for their proliferative inhibitory activity toward topoisomerase II beta polymerization. Compound 5 showed higher inhibitory activity against a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with IC50 = 1.4 μM and lesser side effects on a normal breast cell line (MCF-10a) with IC50 = 30.40 μM than reference drugs. The best activity against a liver cancer cell line (Hep3B) was exhibited by compounds 3c, 4b, 5, 7, 8, 13a and 13c with IC50 values ranging from 0.43 to 8.79 μM. Regarding the effect of compounds 5 and 13a on a leukemia cancer cell line (L-SR), their IC50 values were 0.96 and 3.12 μM, respectively. Compounds 3c and 5 showed Topo2β inhibitory effects on Hep3B cells (81.33% and 83.73%, respectively), which was better than levofloxacin and etoposide as reference drugs. Cytometry cell cycle analysis revealed that compounds 3c and 5 arrested the cell cycle at the S phase (37.56% and 39.09%, respectively). Compounds 3c and 5 exhibited an elevation in active caspase-3 levels by 4.9 and 4.5 folds, respectively. Molecular modeling simulation of compounds 3c and 5 demonstrated energy scores (-29.77 and -20.46 kcal mol-1, respectively) more than those of the reference drugs as they interact with the most essential amino acids required for good affinity towards human topoisomerase II beta enzyme (PDB ID: 3QX3). Physicochemical characteristics of the most promising cytotoxic compounds 3c and 5 were investigated and compared to etoposide and levofloxacin as reference drugs. However, they showed high gastrointestinal absorption and could not penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of novel 1,8-acridinedione derivatives bearing phthalimide moiety as potential antitumor agents

In this study, we aimed to develop hybrid antitumor compounds by synthesizing and characterizing novel N-substituted acrididine-1,8-dione derivatives, designed as hybrids of phthalimide and acridine-1,8-diones. We employed a three-step synthetic strategy and characterized all compounds using IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and LC-MS. The cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of five compounds (8c, 8f, 8h, 8i, and 8L) against four cancer cell lines (H460, A431, A549, and MDA-MB-231) compared to human skin fibroblast cells were evaluated. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 8f showed promising activity against skin and lung cancers, with favorable IC50 values and selectivity index. The relative changes in mRNA expression levels of four key genes (p53, TOP2B, p38, and EGFR) in A431 cells treated with the five synthesized compounds (8c, 8f, 8h, 8i, and 8L) were also investigated. Additionally, molecular docking studies revealed that compound 8f exhibited high binding affinity with TOP2B, p38, p53, and EGFR, suggesting its potential as a targeted anticancer therapy. The results obtained indicate that N-substituted acrididine-1,8-dione derivatives have the potential to be developed as novel antitumor agents with a dual mechanism of action, and compound 8f is a promising candidate for further investigation.

Phthalic anhydride (PA): a valuable substrate in organic transformations

This review has been centralized on applications of phthalic anhydride (PA) as a valuable and significant heterocyclic substrate in two- and multicomponent organic reactions. The article has been subdivided into the following parts: (i) PA introduction by focusing on its characterization, synthesizing procedure, and multiple-aspect applications. In addition, the previous review articles based on PA have also been indicated; (ii) the applications of PA as a substrate have been subdivided into parts with a glance on the reaction components numbers; (iii) the applications of PA in esterification reactions; and (iv) some examples of PA in multistep synthesis. The review covers the corresponding literature up to the end of 2022. According to the abovementioned classifications, PA is a potent substrate to design a wide range of heterocyclic compounds that possess various kinds of properties and applications in chemistry, industry, and pharmaceuticals.

Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial activity of new steroidal hydrazone derivatives

Background

For many years, various drugs have been used for the treatment of infectious diseases but some bacterial microorganisms have induced resistance to several drugs. In a search of new antimicrobial agents, a series of new steroidal hydrazones were designed and synthesized.

Result

The structures of the compounds were established based on the spectral data. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of some newly synthesized compounds against bacteria and fungi was studied.

Conclusion

New compounds showed better or similar antimicrobial activity. Designing more efficient steroidal hydrazones from ketosteroid based on the current study may successfully lead to the development of antimicrobial agent.

Graphical abstract

Molecular Hybrids of N-Phthaloylglycyl Hydrazide and Hydrazinecarbothioamide with Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Activities

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress due to high levels of reactive organic species is the cause of the progression of inflammation in various diseases. The molecules possessing both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity can be the promising key to treat inflammatory diseases. Phthalimide and hydrazinecarbothioamide are anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant pharmacophores.

OBJECTIVE

Molecular hybrids possessing above two pharmacophores were designed. A series of N-phenyl substituted 2-(2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)acetyl)-N-phenylhydrazine-1-carbothioamide (CGS compounds) was synthesized and evaluated for biological activities.

METHODS

N-phthaloylglycyl hydrazide was reacted with unsubstituted/substituted phenyl isothiocyanates to yield CGS compounds. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan rat paw edema model, and in vitro anti-oxidant activity by DPPH assay. Levels of TNF-α and oxidative stress at the site of inflammation were measured. The genetic algorithm-PLS regression based QSAR model correlating the effect of N-phenyl substituent on the anti-inflammatory activity was developed. Further, the interaction of the active compound in the TNF-α binding pocket was studied by in silico docking.

RESULTS

Compound containing the 2-OCH3, 4-NO2 (CGS-5); 4-CF3 (CGS-9); 4-NO2 (CGS-3) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity (percentage inhibition of paw edema after 3 hour = 58.24, 50.38, 40.05, respectively) and potent anti-oxidant activity (IC50 =0.045, 0.998, 0.285 μg/ml, respectively). Reduced levels of TNF- α and increased levels of GSH were observed for the above three compounds. Descriptors for QSAR model identified by GA-PLS were WPSA1, Weta1unity, WDunity, SC3, VC5, MlogP, and WTPT3. The identified model was highly predictive, and value of root mean square error of prediction for internal (leave one out) and external validation was: 1.579, 1.325.

CONCLUSION

Molecular hybrids of phthalimide and hydrazinecarbothioamide were synthesized. Some of the compounds possessed promising anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities.

Synthesis of Phthaloylglycyl Hydrazide Derivatives: Selective Protection of Phthalimide Group from Hydrazinolysis

Background:

N-phthalimide amino acid hydrazide is a class of compounds that have the potential therapeutic use. In general, hydrazinolysis of N-substituted amino acid(s) ester removes the ester group and yields the corresponding hydrazide. However, in case if N-substitution group is phthalimide, phthalimide group is cleaved and not the ester group. The resulted compound, therefore, is amino acid ester rather than Nphthalimide amino acid hydrazide. The above class of compounds, because of susceptibility of phthalimide group to hydrazinolysis, has previously been synthesized by a lengthy three-step procedure.

Objective:

N-phthaloylglycyl hydrazide was synthesized by using new efficient, simplified, one step process. Hydrazone derivatives from substituted benzaldehydes, and substituted furaldehyde were also synthesized.

Method:

N-phthaloylglycyl hydrazide was synthesized from the corresponding carboxylic acid using 1-Ethyl- 3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) as a coupling agent and hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) as an activator. Hydrazone derivatives were synthesized by condensation of N-phthaloylglycyl hydrazide with substituted benzaldehyde/substituted furaldehydes. All the compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13CNMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis.

Results:

The presence of EDC/HOBt resulted in hydrazinolysis of the carboxylic acid group and not the phthalimide group. N-phthaloylglycyl hydrazide was synthesized in good yield.

Conclusion:

We report the improved process of the synthesis of N-phthaloylglycyl hydrazide. This is the first report where stability of phthaloyl amino acid compound to hydrazine is demonstrated. The reaction may be explored for the reaction schemes where stability of phthalimide group to hydrazinolysis is required.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and 2D-QSAR study of halophenyl bis-hydrazones as antimicrobial and antitubercular agents

In continuation of our endeavor towards the development of potent and effective antimicrobial agents, three series of halophenyl bis-hydrazones (14a-n, 16a-d, 17a and 17b) were synthesized and evaluated for their potential antibacterial, antifungal and antimycobacterial activities. These efforts led to the identification of five molecules 14c, 14g, 16b, 17a and 17b (MIC range from 0.12 to 7.81 μg/mL) with broad antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Aspergillus fumigates; Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Bacillis subtilis; and Gram negative bacteria, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli. Three of the most active compounds, 16b, 17a and 17b, were also devoid of apparent cytotoxicity to lung cancer cell line A549. Amphotericin B and ciprofloxacin were used as references for antifungal and antibacterial screening, while isoniazid and pyrazinamide were used as references for antimycobacterial activity. Furthermore, three Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) models were built to explore the structural requirements controlling the different activities of the prepared bis-hydrazones.

Therapeutic potential of hydrazones as anti-inflammatory agents

Hydrazones are a special class of organic compounds in the Schiff base family. Hydrazones constitute a versatile compound of organic class having basic structure (R₁R₂C=NNR₃R₄). The active centers of hydrazone, that is, carbon and nitrogen, are mainly responsible for the physical and chemical properties of the hydrazones and, due to the reactivity toward electrophiles and nucleophiles, hydrazones are used for the synthesis of organic compound such as heterocyclic compounds with a variety of biological activities. Hydrazones and their derivatives are known to exhibit a wide range of interesting biological activities like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, cardioprotective, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, antitubercular, trypanocidal, anti-HIV, and so forth. The present review summarizes the efficiency of hydrazones as potent anti-inflammatory agents.

4-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde series aroyl hydrazones: synthesis, thermostability and antimicrobial activities

Both number and position of hydroxyl groups contained in a series of aromatic hydrazides and aroyl hydrazones displayed remarkable difference in antimicrobial activity.