ADME properties, bioactivity and molecular docking studies of 4-amino-chalcone derivatives: new analogues for the treatment of Alzheimer, glaucoma and epileptic diseases

Aminochalcones Attenuate Neuronal Cell Death under Oxidative Damage via Sirtuin 1 Activity

Encouraged by the lack of effective treatments and the dramatic growth in the global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases along with various pharmacological properties of chalcone pharmacophores, this study focused on the development of aminochalcone-based compounds, organic molecules characterized by a chalcone backbone (consisting of two aromatic rings connected by a three-carbon α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system) with an amino group attached to one of the aromatic rings, as potential neuroprotective agents. Thus, the aminochalcone-based compounds in this study were designed by bearing a -OCH3 moiety at different positions on the ring and synthesized by the Claisen-Schmidt condensation. The compounds exhibited strong neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal death in the human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line (i.e., by improving cell survival, reducing reactive oxygen species production, maintaining mitochondrial function, and preventing cell membrane damage). The aminochalcone-based compounds showed mild toxicity toward a normal embryonic lung cell line (MRC-5) and a human neuroblastoma cell line, and were predicted to have preferable pharmacokinetic profiles with potential for oral administration. Molecular docking simulation indicated that the studied aminochalcones may act as competitive activators of the well-known protective protein, SIRT1, and provided beneficial knowledge regarding the essential key chemical moieties and interacting amino acid residues. Collectively, this work provides a series of four promising candidate agents that could be developed for neuroprotection.

Selection of potential natural compounds for poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibition in glioblastoma therapy by in silico screening methods

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most prevalent brain tumor, is one of the least treatable malignancies due to its propensity for intracranial spread, high proliferative potential, and innate resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. Current GBM therapy is limited due to unfavorable, non-specific therapeutic effects in healthy cells and the difficulty of small molecules to penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) and reach the tumor microenvironment. Adding PARP-1 inhibitors inhibit DNA repair enzymes thereby increasing the cytotoxicity of anticancer agents. Hence, we aimed to discover potential naturally occurring PARP-1 inhibitors that can be utilized in the treatment of glioma by using multiple in silico tools like molecular docking, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profile, pharmacophore modeling, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. Among 43 phytocompounds we screened, two of them (Ellagic acid and Naringin) were discovered to be bound to the catalytic site of PARP-1 with an affinity more remarkable than commercially available PARP-1 inhibitors (Talazoparib, Niraparib, and Rucaparib) except Olaparib. The molecular interactions were analyzed, and data shows that bound entity attained a conserved domain via hydrogen bond interactions, polar interactions, and π-π stacking. Pharmacophore modeling studies showed electronic and steric features of ligands responsible for supramolecular interaction with PARP-1. ADME properties were studied, to assess drug-likeness, hydrophilic nature, hydrophobicity, brain permeability, and oral bioavailability of the natural PARP-1 inhibitors. The simulation study demonstrated the development of a stable complex between Naringin, Ellagic acid, and PARP-1 protein. Moreover, cell culture studies and animal investigations are essential to determine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Structural Modifications on Chalcone Framework for Developing New Class of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Due to the multifaceted pharmacological activities of chalcones, these scaffolds have been considered one of the most privileged frameworks in the drug discovery process. Structurally, chalcones are α, β-unsaturated carbonyl functionalities with two aryl or heteroaryl units. Amongst the numerous pharmacological activities explored for chalcone derivatives, the development of novel chalcone analogs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is among the research topics of most interest. Chalcones possess numerous advantages, such as smaller molecular size, opportunities for further structural modification thereby altering the physicochemical properties, cost-effectiveness, and convenient synthetic methodology. The present review highlights the recent evidence of chalcones as a privileged structure in AD drug development processes. Different classes of chalcone-derived analogs are summarized for the easy understanding of the previously reported analogs as well as the importance of certain functionalities in exhibiting cholinesterase inhibition. In this way, this review will shed light on the medicinal chemistry fraternity for the design and development of novel promising chalcone candidates for the treatment of AD.