Design, Synthesis, Spectral Analysis, In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Some Fluorescent 4-Amino-2, 3-Dimethyl-1-Phenyl-3-Pyrazolin-5-One, Ampyrone Derivatives

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Novel Indole Derivatives and Their in silico Screening on Spike Glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2

This work investigated the interaction of indole with SARS-CoV-2. Indole is widely used as a medical material owing to its astounding biological activities. Indole and its derivatives belong to a significant category of heterocyclic compounds that have been used as a crucial component for several syntheses of medicine. A straightforward one-pot three-component synthesis of indole, coupled with Mannich base derivatives 1a-1j, was synthesized without a catalyst. The products were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analysis. The indole derivatives were tested for cytotoxic activity, using three cancer cell lines and normal cell lines of Human embryonic kidney cell (HEK293), liver cell (LO2), and lung cell (MRC5) by MTT assay using doxorubicin as the standard drug. The result of cytotoxicity indole compound 1c (HepG2, LC50-0.9 μm, MCF-7, LC50-0.55 μm, HeLa, LC50-0.50 μm) was found to have high activity compared with other compounds used for the same purpose. The synthesized derivatives have revealed their safety by exhibiting significantly less cytotoxicity against the normal cell line (HEK-293), (LO2), and (MRC5) with IC50 > 100 μg/ml. Besides, we report an in silico study with spike glycoprotein (SARS-CoV-2-S). The selective molecules of compound 1c exhibited the highest docking score -2.808 (kcal/mol) compared to other compounds. This research work was successful in synthesizing a few compounds with potential as anticancer agents. Furthermore, we have tried to emphasize the anticipated role of indole scaffolds in designing and discovering the much-awaited anti-SARS CoV-2 therapy by exploring the research articles depicting indole moieties as targeting SARS CoV-2 coronavirus.

In silico molecular docking and physicochemical property studies on effective phytochemicals targeting GPR116 for breast cancer treatment

G protein-coupled receptor 116 (GPR116), an orphan adhesion receptor, found an important role in cell adhesion and migration in eukaryotes. Abnormal expression of GPCR identified in various cancers turns focus of research community towards GPCR to identify the targeting drug against GPCR. Though GPR116 role was studied in progression of metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), unfortunately, still no drugs targeting GPR116 were identified. TNBC is a hormone-negative aggressive breast cancer found even in young women. Since TNBC has no target receptor for therapy, it would be desirable to target GPR116. Currently, chemotherapy is the only promising option for TNBC; however, these drugs cause chemoresistance. Hence this current study concentrated on finding drugable natural phytochemical ligands targeting GPR116 using in silico approach. Best docked ligand with target and active binding site amino acids were identified in molecular docking study. Pharmacokinetic properties (ADME) were assessed by Qikprop. Result showed that pharmacokinetics properties of natural phytochemicals were as good as existing chemotherapeutic cancer drugs. This study indicates that phytochemicals could be a promising target for GPR116. This in silico analysis facilitates further research to design the drug targeting GPR116 for treatment of TNBC.

Myricetin: versatile plant based flavonoid for cancer treatment by inducing cell cycle arrest and ROS-reliant mitochondria-facilitated apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells and in silico prediction

Myricetin is categorized under the secondary metabolite flavonoid which includes a diverse range of consumable plant parts, and it has a potential against several classes of cancer including cancers and tumors. In the present study, the anticancer potential of the unique flavonoid-myricetin in A549 lung cancer cells was evaluated. Among different doses of myricetin, 73 μg/ml was more effective to prevent the cancer cell growth. It also promoted sub-G1 phase aggregation of cells and a equivalent decrease in the fraction of cells entering the S and subsequent phase which indicates apoptotic cell death. Myricetin generated enormous free radicals and, altered the potential of mitochondrial membrane in A549 cells as paralleled to untreated cells. In addition, myricetin treatment intensified the expression of P53 and relegated the expression of EGFR in A549 cells. These results suggested that myricetin exhibits cytotoxic potential by arresting the progression of cell cycle and ROS-dependent mitochondria-mediated mortality in cancer A549 lung cancer cells and it would be useful to develop as a drug candidate for lung cancer therapeutics. In silico experiments were carried out against human EGFR and P53 tumor suppressor protein to gain more insights into the binding mode of the myricetin may act as significant potential for anticancer therapy.

Computational studies on bacterial secondary metabolites against breast cancer

Microbes exist in the human body provide more benefits by modulating metabolic processes, immunity, and signal transduction. However, microbial dysbiosis with harmful bacterial species can cause chronic inflammation and cancers. Hence human probiotics were recently paid more attention to immune responses, therapy, and diagnosis. Breast cancer is the second leading cancer worldwide and causes more death in women. The role of breast microbiome secondary metabolites in breast cancer is poorly studied. Research shows that breast has a specific microbiome inhabited with particular bacterial species. More significantly probiotics produced from breast microbiomes may act as a potential biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis. Hence this computational research aimed at the effect of chosen metabolites on breast cancer cell receptor G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor, Gpbar1 (TGR5). The current research suggested that cadaverine, succinate, p-cresol, and its derivatives could be used as a molecular marker in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

In silico structure prediction, molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies on G Protein-Coupled Receptor 116: a novel insight into breast cancer therapy

G Protein-Coupled Receptor gains more importance in cancer research; because of their key role in several physiologic functions of cells. However, most of the GPCR's are orphan receptors, this hampers the finding of drugs against GPCR. G Protein-Coupled Receptor 116 is an adhesion orphan receptor that intensifies the invasion of cells in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. In this study, existing FDA approved anticancer drugs were chosen as ligands and molecular docking was performed using in silico protein model of GPR116. Molecular interaction was analyzed carefully to identify the crucial amino acids present in binding pocket. Molecular dynamics simulations study executed to verify the structural and dynamic properties of Doxorubicin-GPR116 protein complex. The results have shown that Doxorubicin, Neratinib maleate, Epirubicin, and Lapatinib Ditosylate have good interaction with GPR116 binding site. Tyrosine 195 (Y195), Cysteine 196 (C196), Argenine 197 (R197), and Tryptophan 100 (W100) are commonly found in the majority of ligand-target interaction, hence based on the computational studies selective amino acids might be crucial for functional properties. Further to confirm crucial amino acids, computational mutation studies were executed. Molecular docking analysis with mutated GPR116 disclosed that significant variation in G score compared withligand-native protein interaction. Hence, the theoretical confirmatory structural properties changes support to prove selective crucial amino acids play the significant role in ligand binding. Molecular dynamic simulation results reveal that the interaction was stable throughout the MD simulation. To the best of our prognosis, GPR116 could be the best molecular target for breast cancer drug discovery.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Domino Multicomponent Approach for the Synthesis of Functionalized Spiro-Indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline Heterocyclic Hybrids and Their Antimicrobial Activity, Synergistic Effect and Molecular Docking Simulation

An expedient synthesis of hitherto unexplored novel hybrid heterocycles comprising dispiropyrrolidine, N-styrylpiperidone and indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline units has been developed via domino multicomponent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition strategy employing a new class of azomethine ylide in ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide. This domino protocol involves, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and concomitant enamine reaction affording the dispiropyrrolidine tethered N-styrylpiperidone hybrid heterocycles in moderate to good yield in a single step. These compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens, therein compounds 8f, 8h, and 8l displayed significant activity against tested microbial pathogens. The synergistic effect revealed that the combination of compound 8h with streptomycin and vancomycin exhibited potent synergistic activity against E. coli ATCC 25922. In addition, molecular docking simulation has also been studied for the most active compound.