Synthesis and investigation of anticancer, antibacterial activities and carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase inhibition profiles of novel (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)-2-[4-[1-acetyl-5-(aryl/heteroaryl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]phenyl]-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoisoindole-1,3(2H)-diones

Synthesis, characterization, biochemical, and molecular modeling studies of carvacrol-based new thiosemicarbazide and 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives

A series of carvacrol-based thiosemicarbazide (3a-e) and 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine (4a-e) were designed and synthesized for the first time. The structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and high resolution mass spectroscopy techniques. All compounds were examined for some metabolic enzyme activities. Results indicated that all the synthetic molecules exhibited powerful inhibitory actions against human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCAI and II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes compared to the standard molecules. Ki values of five novel thiosemicarbazides and five new 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine derivatives (3a-e and 4a-e) for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and BChE enzymes were obtained in the ranges 0.73-21.60, 0.42-15.08 µM, 3.48-81.48, 92.61-211.40 nM, respectively. After the experimental undertaking, an extensive molecular docking analysis was conducted to scrutinize the intricate details of interactions between the ligand and the enzyme in question. The principal focus of this investigation was to appraise the potency and efficacy of the most active compound. In this context, the calculated docking scores were noted to be remarkably low, with values of -8.65, -7.97, -8.92, and -8.32 kcal/mol being recorded for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and BChE, respectively. These observations suggest a high affinity and specificity of the studied compounds toward the enzymes, as mentioned earlier, which may pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the activity of these enzymes.

Novel triazole bridged quinoline-anthracene derivatives: synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, evaluation of electronic and enzyme inhibitory properties

Two novel quinoline-anthracene conjugates comprising styrylquinoline and anthracene moieties linked by triazole bridges were designed and synthesized in good yields. These molecules were determined for some metabolic enzymes activities. Results indicated that the synthetic molecules exhibited powerful inhibitory actions against all aims as compared to the control molecules. Ki values of novel compound QA-1 for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and α-glycosidase enzymes were obtained of 20.18 ± 2.46 µM, 14.63 ± 1.14 µM, 71.48 ± 7.76 nM, 401.35 ± 36.84 nM, respectively. Both compounds showed promising candidate complexes for drug development with considerable in vitro different enzymes inhibitory activities. The binding conformations patterns and interaction of QA-1 and QA-2 compounds with α-glucosidase, acetycholinesterase, carbonic anhydrase-I and carbonic anhydrase-II enzymes were investigated through molecular docking profiles. The docking outputs are consistent with the Ki and IC50 values of novel compounds. Three dimensional geometries and electronic properties of the title compounds were obtained by the applicational computational approach at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level of theory.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Biological Effects and Crystal X-Ray Study of Novel Schiff Base Containing Pentafluorophenyl Hydrazine: In Vitro and in Silico Studies

A novel Schiff base namely 3,5-di-tert-butyl-6-((2-(perfluorophenyl)hydrazono)methyl)phenol was successfully synthesized and characterized using FT-IR and 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, and 19 F-NMR. The crystal structure analysis of the Schiff base compound was also characterized with single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and supported the spectroscopic results. The cytotoxicity, anti-bacterial properties, and enzyme inhibition of the compound were also investigated. The molecular docking studies were performed in order to explain the interactions of the synthesized compound with target enzymes. The newly synthesized hydrazone derivative Schiff base compound showed high cellular toxicity on MCF-7 and PC-3 cells. Also, this compound caused low antibacterial effect on E. coli and S. aureus. Besides, the compound exhibited the inhibitory effect against pancreatic cholesterol esterase and carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme I, II with IC50 values 63, 99, and 188 μM, respectively. Consequently, it has been determined that the prepared Schiff base is an active compound in terms of cytotoxicity, enzyme inhibition, and anti-bacterial properties. These results provide preliminary information for some biological features of the compound and can play a major role in drug applications of the Schiff base compound.

Pyrazole/pyrazoline as an excellent pharmacophore in the design of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (2018-2022)

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the interconversion between carbon dioxide and water and dissociated ions of carbonic acid. In addition, CA performs various other functions in animals and plants, depending on the part of the living being. CAs have been found in almost all organisms. Besides, CAs are associated with several diseases, such as glaucoma, obesity, epilepsy, cancer, and so on. CAs are also involved in tumor cell growth and angiogenesis. Thus, inhibition of CA may be an attractive way of control of such diseases. Hence, CA inhibitors have been designed and developed to cure CA-associated diseases. Some examples of approved CA inhibitors are dorzolamide, methazolamide, brinzolamide, and dichlorphenamide. Furthermore, various heterocyclic scaffolds were utilized for the design of CA inhibitors. Among those, pyrazole/pyrazoline derivatives have exhibited greater potency toward CA inhibition. Hence, research that took place in the field of drug design and discovery of CA inhibition has been systematically reviewed and collated. Alongside, the structure-activity relationship has been described, followed by a description of the most potent molecules and their structural features.

Design, Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structure, In silico Studies, and Inhibitory Properties of the PEPPSI Type Pd(II)NHC Complexes Bearing Chloro/Fluorobenzyl Group

This work contains synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and biological activity of a new series of the PEPPSI type Pd(II)NHC complexes [(NHC)Pd(II)(3-Cl-py)]. NMR, FTIR, and elemental analysis techniques were used to characterize all (NHC)Pd(II)(3-Cl-py) complexes. Also, molecular and crystal structures of complex 1c were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Regarding the X-ray studies, the palladium(II) atom has a slightly distorted square-planar coordination environment. Additionally, the enzyme inhibitory effect of new (NHC)Pd(II)(3-Cl-py) complexes (1a-1g) was studied. They exhibited highly potent inhibition effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) (Ki values are in the range of 0.08 ± 0.01 to 0.65 ± 0.06 µM, 10.43 ± 0.98 to 22.48 ± 2.01 µM, 6.58 ± 0.30 to 10.88 ± 1.01 µM and 6.34 ± 0.37 to 9.02 ± 0.72 µM for AChE, BChE, hCA I, and hCA II, respectively). Based on the molecular docking, among the seven synthesized complexes, 1c, 1b, 1e, and 1a significantly inhibited AChE, BChE, hCA I, and hCA II enzymes, respectively. The findings highpoint that (NHC)Pd(II)(3-Cl-py) complexes can be considered as possible inhibitors via metabolic enzyme inhibition.

Novel tetrakis-phthalocyanines bearing pyrimidine derivative: crystal XRD analysis, enzyme inhibition, molecular docking, and anticancer effects

In this study, the novel 4-(4-Aminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalonitrile (1) as starting material was synthesized and its 3D structure was verified by the single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. Then, its peripherally tetra-substituted phthalocyanines (2,3) and the methylated derivatives (2a,3a) containing pyrimidine derivative were synthesized. All these newly synthesized compounds were characterized with various spectroscopic methods such as UV-Vis, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and MALDI-TOF MS by obtaining satisfactory results. In addition, these novel phthalocyanines effectively inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme, with K_i values in the range of 10.43 ± 2.38 to 41.70 ± 9.32 µM. For the related enzyme, the IC₅₀ values were obtained in the range of 11.68 to 44.28 µM. For α-glycosidase enzyme the most effective K_i values of (3a) and (2) were with K_i values of 92.87 ± 10.70 and 95.18 ± 17.83 µM, respectively. Indeed, the most potent phthalocyanines against both enzymes were recorded for the purpose of investigating interaction modes of these complexes in the active site of the target enzyme. The cytotoxicity potential of these phthalocyanines against human breast, colon, and prostate cancers demonstrated that these compounds had normal cytotoxic effects.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Norbornene and Related Structures as Scaffolds in the Search for New Cancer Treatments

The norbornene scaffold has arisen as a promising structure in medicinal chemistry due to its possible therapeutic application in cancer treatment. The development of norbornene-based derivatives as potential chemotherapeutic agents is attracting significant attention. Here, we report an unprecedented review on the recent advances of investigations into the antitumoral efficacy of different compounds, including the abovementioned bicyclic scaffold in their structure, in combination with chemotherapeutic agents or forming metal complexes. The impact that structural modifications to these bicyclic compounds have on the antitumoral properties and the mechanisms by which these norbornene derivatives act are discussed in this review. In addition, the use of norbornene, and its related compounds, encapsulation in nanosystems for its use in cancer therapies is here detailed.

Pyrazoline derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors with one hit for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 inhibition

In this work, to check the effect of the transposition of the rings in typical patterns, a series of pyrazoline derivatives 3a-3t bearing the characteristic 3,4,5-trimethoxy phenyl and thiophene moieties were synthesized and evaluated as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Basically, as the concise output of our design, a majority of the synthesized compounds showed potency in inhibiting the tubulin polymerization. The top hit, 3q, exhibited potent anti-proliferation activity on cancer cell lines. It was comparable on tubulin-polymerization inhibition with the positive control Colchicine but lower toxic. The VEGFR2 inhibitory potency was introduced occasionally. The flow cytometry assay confirmed the apoptotic procedure and the confocal imaging revealed the tubulin-microtubule dynamics pattern. The anti-cancer mechanism of 3q was similar to Colchicine but not exactly the same on forming multi-polar spindles. The docking simulation visualized the possible binding patterns of 3q into tubulin and VEGFR2, respectively. The results inferred that further investigations on the transposition of the rings might lead to the improvement of tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity and the steadily introduction of the VEGFR2 inhibition.

Synthesis, biological activity and docking calculations of bis-naphthoquinone derivatives from Lawsone

Some metabolic enzyme inhibitors can be used as Multi-target-Directed-Ligands (MTDL) in Medicinal chemistry therefore, synthesis and determination of alternative inhibitors are essential. In this study, novel bis-napthoquinone derivatives (5a-o) were synthesized through a multi-component cascade reaction of two molecules of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone with an aromatic aldehyde in basic media using triethylamine as a catalyst. This novel heterocyclic derivatives (5a-o) are applied to inhibit the carbonic anhydrase (hCA I and hCA II) isoform in low levels of nano molecules with Ki values exist between 4.62 ± 1.01 to 70.45 ± 9.03 nM for hCA I and for hCA II which is physiologically dominant K_is values are in the range of 5.61 ± 1.04 to 73.26 ± 10.25 nM. Further these novel derivatives (5a-o) efficiently inhibit AChE with Ki values in the range of 0.13 ± 0.02 to 3.16 ± 0.56 nM. The compounds are also applied for BChE with Ki values varying between 0.50 ± 0.10 to 9.23 ± 1.15 nM. For α-glycosidase, the most efficient Ki values of 5e and 5f are 76.14 ± 9.60 and 95.27 ± 12.55 nM respectively. Finally, molecular docking calculations against enzymes (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and the human carbonic anhydrase I and II) are compared using biological activities of heterocyclic derivatives. After these calculations, an ADME/T analysis is performed to study the future medicinal use of heterocyclic derivatives from lawsone.

Design, synthesis, characterization, enzymatic inhibition evaluations, and docking study of novel quinazolinone derivatives

In this study, novel quinazolinone derivatives 7a-n were synthesized and evaluated against metabolic enzymes including α-glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, human carbonic anhydrase I, and II. These compounds exhibited high inhibitory activities in comparison to used standard inhibitors with K_i values in the range of 19.28-135.88 nM for α-glycosidase (K_i value for standard inhibitor = 187.71 nM), 0.68-23.01 nM for acetylcholinesterase (K_i value for standard inhibitor = 53.31 nM), 1.01-29.56 nM for butyrylcholinesterase (K_i value for standard inhibitor = 58.16 nM), 10.25-126.05 nM for human carbonic anhydrase I (K_i value for standard inhibitor = 248.18 nM), and 13.46-178.35 nM for human carbonic anhydrase II (K_i value for standard inhibitor = 323.72). Furthermore, the most potent compounds against each enzyme were selected in order to evaluate interaction modes of these compounds in the active site of the target enzyme. Cytotoxicity assay of the title compounds 7a-n against cancer cell lines MCF-7 and LNCaP demonstrated that these compounds do not show significant cytotoxic effects.

Probing 4-(diethylamino)-salicylaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazones as multi-target directed ligands against cholinesterases, carbonic anhydrases and α-glycosidase enzymes

With the fading of 'one drug-one target' approach, Multi-Target-Directed Ligands (MTDL) has become a central idea in modern Medicinal Chemistry. The present study aimed to design, develop and characterize a novel series of 4-(Diethylamino)-salicylaldehyde based thiosemicarbazones (3a-p) and evaluates their biological activity against cholinesterase, carbonic anhydrases and α-glycosidase enzymes. The hCA I isoform was inhibited by these novel 4-(diethylamino)-salicylaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazones (3a-p) in low nanomolar levels, the Ki of which differed between 407.73 ± 43.71 and 1104.11 ± 80.66 nM. Against the physiologically dominant isoform hCA II, the novel compounds demonstrated K_is varying from 323.04 ± 56.88 to 991.62 ± 77.26 nM. Also, these novel 4-(diethylamino)-salicylaldehyde based thiosemicarbazones (3a-p) effectively inhibited AChE, with Ki values in the range of 121.74 ± 23.52 to 548.63 ± 73.74 nM. For BChE, Ki values were obtained with in the range of 132.85 ± 12.53 to 618.53 ± 74.23 nM. For α-glycosidase, the most effective Ki values of 3b, 3k, and 3g were with Ki values of 77.85 ± 10.64, 96.15 ± 9.64, and 124.95 ± 11.44 nM, respectively. We have identified inhibition mechanism of 3b, 3g, 3k, and 3n on α-glycosidase AChE, hCA I, hCA II, and BChE enzyme activities. Hydrazine-1-carbothioamide and hydroxybenzylidene moieties of compounds play an important role in the inhibition of AChE, hCA I, and hCA II enzymes. Hydroxybenzylidene moieties are critical for inhibition of both BChE and α-glycosidase enzymes. The findings of in vitro and in silico evaluations indicate 4-(diethylamino)-salicylaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazone scaffold to be a promising hit for drug development for multifactorial diseases like Alzheimer's disease.

Novel quinazolin-sulfonamid derivatives: synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies

In the design of novel drugs, the formation of hybrid molecules via the combination of several pharmacophores can give rise to compounds with interesting biochemical profiles. A series of novel quinazolin-sulfonamid derivatives (9a-m) were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their in vitro antidiabetic, anticholinergics, and antiepileptic activity. These synthesized novel quinazolin-sulfonamid derivatives (9a-m) were found to be effective inhibitor molecules for the α-glycosidase, human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCA I and hCA II), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, with Ki values in the range of 100.62 ± 13.68-327.94 ± 58.21 nM for α-glycosidase, 1.03 ± 0.11-14.87 ± 2.63 nM for hCA I, 1.83 ± 0.24-15.86 ± 2.57 nM for hCA II, 30.12 ± 3.81-102.16 ± 13.87 nM for BChE, and 26.16 ± 3.63-88.52 ± 20.11 nM for AChE, respectively. In the last step, molecular docking calculations were made to compare biological activities of molecules against enzymes which are achethylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and α-glycosidase.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Pyrazoline Hybrids as Promising Anticancer Agents: An Up-to-Date Overview

Pyrazolines are five-membered heterocycles possessing two adjacent nitrogens. They have attracted significant attention from organic and medicinal chemists due to their potent biological activities and the numerous possibilities for structural diversification. In the last decade, they have been intensively studied as targets for potential anticancer therapeutics, producing a steady yearly rise in the number of published research articles. Many pyrazoline derivatives have shown remarkable cytotoxic activities in the form of heterocyclic or non-heterocyclic based hybrids, such as with coumarins, triazoles, and steroids. The enormous amount of related literature in the last 5 years prompted us to collect all these published data from screening against cancer cell lines, or protein targets like EGFR and structure activity relationship studies. Therefore, in the present review, a comprehensive account of the compounds containing the pyrazoline nucleus will be provided. The chemical groups and the structural modifications responsible for the activity will be highlighted. Moreover, emphasis will be given on recent examples from the literature and on the work of research groups that have played a key role in the development of this field.

Evaluation of parent and nano-encapsulated terbium(III) complex toward its photoluminescence properties, FS-DNA, BSA binding affinity, and biological applications

BACKGROUND

There is a crucial need for finding and developing new compounds as the anticancer and antimicrobial agents with better activity, specific target, and less toxic side effects.

OBJECTIVES

Base on the potential anticancer properties of lanthanide complexes, in the paper, the biological applications of terbium (Tb) complex, containing 2,9-dimethyl- 1,10-phenanthroline (Me2Phen) such as anticancer, antimicrobial, DNA cleavage ability, the interaction with FS-DNA (Fish-Salmon DNA) and BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) was examined.

METHODS

The interaction of Tb-complex with BSA and DNA was studied by emission spectroscopy, absorption titration, viscosity measurement, CD spectroscopy, competitive experiments, and docking calculation. Also, the ability of this complex to cleave DNA was reported by gel electrophoresis. Tb-complex was concurrently screened for its antibacterial activities by different methods. Besides, the nanocarriers of Tb-complex (lipid nanoencapsulation (LNEP) and the starch nanoencapsulation (SNEP)), as active anticancer candidates, were prepared. MTT technique was applied to measure the antitumor properties of these compounds on human cancer cell lines.

RESULTS

The experimental and docking results suggest significant binding between DNA as well as BSA with terbium-complex. Besides, groove binding plays the main role in the binding of this compound with DNA and BSA. The competitive experiment with hemin demonstrated that the terbium complex was bound at site III of BSA, which was confirmed by the docking study. Also, Tb-complex was concurrently screened for its DNA cleavage, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The anticancer properties of LNEP and SNEP are more than the terbium compound.

CONCLUSIONS

Tb-complex can bond to DNA/BSA with high binding affinity. Base on biological applications of Tb-complex, it can be concluded that this complex and its nanocarriers can suggest as novel anticancer, antimicrobial candidates.

Synthesis and antioxidant activities of phenol derivatives from 1,6-bis(dimethoxyphenyl)hexane-1,6-dione

Starting from the compound (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)(2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopent-1-en-1-yl)methanone (4), two diols and three tetrol derivatives were synthesised. Morover, from the reactions of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene with adipoyl chloride, fifteen new along with nine known compounds were obtained. For the characterizations of compounds, spectroscopic methods such as NMR including DEPT, COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments and X-ray diffraction were used. The antioxidant activities of novel synthesized seventeen molecules were investigated by analytical methods like ABTS^•+ and DPPH^• scavenging. Also, reducing power these molecules were investigated by Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, and [Fe³⁺-(TPTZ)₂]³⁺. Some of the molecules record powerful antioxidant profile when compared to putative standards. The inhibition effects of the phenols compounds against AChE and BChE activities were analysed. Also, these phenols were found as effective inhibitors for AChE, hCA I, hCA II, and BChE with K_is in the range of 122.95 ± 18.41-351.31 ± 69.12 nM for hCA I, 62.35 ± 9.03-363.17 ± 180.1 nM for hCA II, 134.57 ± 3.99-457.43 ± 220.10 nM for AChE, and 27.06 ± 9.12-72.98 ± 9.53 nM for BChE, respectively.

In vitro anticancer activity of parent and nano-encapsulated samarium(iii) complex towards antimicrobial activity studies and FS-DNA/BSA binding affinity

Based on the potential anticancer properties of lanthanide complexes, the anticancer activity of the Sm(iii) complex containing a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand (bpy) and its interaction with FS-DNA (Fish-Salmon DNA) and BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) were examined experimentally and by molecular docking in this paper. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used to define the thermodynamic parameters, binding constant (K_b), and the probable binding mechanism. It was concluded that the Sm complex interacts with FS-DNA through a minor groove with a K_b of 10⁵ M⁻¹. Also, the K_b for the BSA binding at 298 K was found to be 5.89 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, showing relatively a high tendency of the Sm complex to DNA and BSA. Besides, the Sm complex was docked to BSA and DNA by the autodock program. The results of the docking calculations were in good agreement with the experimental examinations. Additionally, the antifungal and antibacterial properties of this complex were investigated. The anticancer tests on the effect of the Sm complex, starch nano-encapsulation, and lipid nano-encapsulation in MCF-7 and A-549 cell lines were performed by the MTT method. It can be observed that the Sm complex and its nanocarriers presented a selective inhibitory effect on various cancer cell growths.

The biological properties of the Sm-complex, such as its interaction with FS-DNA and BSA, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities were studied.