Synthesis, in-vitro cholinesterase inhibition, in-vivo anticonvulsant activity and in-silico exploration of N-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide analogs

Synthesis, In vivo, and In silico Evaluation of New Pyrazoline-Benzothiazole Conjugates as Antiepileptic Agents

New 2-(4-benzothiazol-2-yl-phenoxy)-1-(3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-pyrazol-1-yl)-ethanones (9a-o) have been designed and synthesized. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by thin layer chromatography and spectral analysis. The antiepileptic potential of the synthesized compounds has been tested by following standard animal screening models, including maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) models. The neurotoxic and antidepression effects of the synthesized compounds were checked by utilizing rotarod apparatus, and motor impairment test (by actophotometer) respectively. The study concluded that compounds 9c, 9d, 9f, 9i, 9n, and 9o possessed good antiepileptic potential compared to standard drugs like carbamazepine and phenytoin. The results of the rotarod performance test also established them without any neurotoxicity. The motor impairment test revealed that the synthesized compounds are also good antidepressants. In-silico studies have been performed for calculation of pharmacophore pattern, prediction of pharmacokinetic properties which determine the eligibility of synthesized compounds as orally administered molecules and interactions with the target proteins. The result of in-silico studies reinforced results obtained by in vivo study of the synthesized compounds and their possible mechanism of antiepileptic action i. e. via inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and gamma-aminobutyric acid-A receptor.

Phenolic phytochemistry, in vitro, in silico, in vivo, and mechanistic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant evaluations of Habenaria digitata

Excessive and imbalance of free radicals within the body lead to inflammation. The objective of the current research work was to explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the isolated compounds from Habenaria digitata. In this study, the isolated phenolic compounds were investigated for in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential along with the antioxidant enzyme. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the phenolic compounds was assayed via various enzymes like COX-1/2, 5-LOX and ABTS, DPPH, and H2O2 free radical enzyme inhibitory assay. These compounds were also explored for their in vivo antioxidant activity like examining SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and MDA levels in the brain, heart, and liver. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using the carrageenan-induced pleurisy model in mice. On the basis of initial screening of isolated compounds, the most potent compound was further evaluated for the anti-inflammatory mechanism. Furthermore, the molecular docking study was also performed for the potent compound. The phenolic compounds were isolated and identified by GC-MS/NMR analysis by comparing its spectra to the library spectra. The isolated phenolic compounds from H. digitata were 5-methylpyrimidine-24,4-diol (1), 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one (2), 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol (3), 3-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (4), and 2,6-dimethoxy-4-vinylphenol (5). In in vitro antioxidant assay, the most potent compound was compound 1 having IC50 values of 0.98, 0.90, and 5 μg/mL against ABTS, DPPH, and H2O2, respectively. Similarly, against COX1/2 and 5-LOX ,compound 1 was again the potent compound with IC50 values of 42.76, 10.70, and 7.40 μg/mL. Based on the in vitro results, compound 1 was further evaluated for in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Findings of the study suggest that H. digitata contains active compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. These compounds could be screened as drug candidates for pharmaceutical research, targeting conditions associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions in medicinal chemistry and support their ethnomedicinal use for inflammation and oxidative stress.

Modification of 4-(4-chlorothiophen-2-yl)thiazol-2-amine derivatives for the treatment of analgesia and inflammation: synthesis and in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies

Inflammation is a protective response to a variety of infectious agents. To develop a new anti-inflammatory drug, we explored a pharmacologically important thiazole scaffold in this study. In a multi-step synthetic approach, we synthesized seven new thiazole derivatives (5a-5g). Initially, we examined the in vitro anti-inflammatory potentials of our compounds using COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX enzyme assays. After in vitro confirmation, the potential compounds were subjected to in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies. The hot plate method was used for analgesia, and carrageenan-induced inflammation was also assayed. Overall, all our compounds proved to be potent inhibitors of COX-2 compared to celecoxib (IC50 0.05 μM), exhibiting IC50 values in the range of 0.76-9.01 μM .Compounds 5b, 5d, and 5e were dominant and selective COX-2 inhibitors with the lowest IC50 values and selectivity index (SI) values of 42, 112, and 124, respectively. Similarly, in the COX-1 assay, our compounds were relatively less potent but still encouraging. Standard aspirin exhibited an IC50 value of 15.32 μM. In the 5-LOX results, once again, compounds 5d and 5e were dominant with IC50 values of 23.08 and 38.46 μM, respectively. Standard zileuton exhibited an IC50 value of 11.00 μM. Based on the COX/LOX and SI potencies, the compounds 5d and 5e were subjected to in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies. Compounds 5d and 5e at concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight were significant in animal models. Furthermore, we explored the potential role of compounds 5d and 5e in various phlogistic agents. Similarly, both compounds 5d and 5e were also significantly potent in the anti-nociceptive assay. The molecular docking interactions of these two compounds with the target proteins of COX and LOX further strengthened their potential for use in COX/LOX pathway inhibitions.

Antibacterial Efficacy of N-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl) Thiophene-2-Carboxamide Analogues against Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase Producing Clinical Strain of Escherichia coli ST 131

Development in the fields of natural-product-derived and synthetic small molecules is in stark contrast to the ongoing demand for novel antimicrobials to treat life-threatening infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL E. coli). Therefore, there is an interest in the antibacterial activities of synthesized N-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl) thiophene-2-carboxamides (4a–h) against ESBL-producing E. coli ST131 strains. A blood sample was obtained from a suspected septicemia patient and processed in the Bactec Alert system. The isolate’s identification and antibacterial profile were determined using the VITEK 2® compact system. Multi-locus sequence typing of E. coli was conducted by identifying housekeeping genes, while ESBL phenotype detection was performed according to CLSI guidelines. Additionally, PCR was carried out to detect the blaCTX-M gene molecularly. Moreover, molecular docking studies of synthesized compounds (4a–h) demonstrated the binding pocket residues involved in the active site of the β-lactamase receptor of E. coli. The result confirmed the detection of E. coli ST131 from septicemia patients. The isolates were identified as ESBL producers carrying the blaCTX-M gene, which provided resistance against cephalosporins and beta-lactam inhibitors but sensitivity to carbapenems. Among the compounds tested, 4a and 4c exhibited high activity and demonstrated the best fit and interactions with the binding pocket of the β-lactamase enzyme. Interestingly, the maximum of the docking confirmations binds at a similar pocket region, further strengthening the importance of binding residues. Hence, the in vitro and molecular docking studies reflect the promising antibacterial effects of 4a and 4c compounds.

Synthesis, DFT investigations, antioxidant, antibacterial activity and SAR-study of novel thiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives

Synthetic strategy for the synthesis of thiophene 2-carboxamide derivatives substituted with hydroxyl, methyl and amino groups at position-3 was proposed. The strategy includes the cyclization of the precursor ethyl 2-arylazo-3-mercapto-3-(phenylamino)acrylate derivatives, 2-acetyl-2-arylazo-thioacetanilide derivatives and N-aryl-2-cyano-3-mercapto-3-(phenylamino)acrylamide derivatives with N-(4-acetylphenyl)-2-chloroacetamide in alcoholic sodium ethoxide. IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectroscopic analyses were used to characterize the synthesized derivatives. In addition, molecular, electronic properties of the synthesized products were studied by the density functional theory (DFT) where they exhibited close HOMO-LUMO energy gap (ΔE_H-L) in which the amino derivatives 7a-c have the highest while the methyl derivatives 5a-c were the lowest. Using the ABTS method, the antioxidant properties of the produced compounds were evaluated, where amino thiophene-2-carboxamide 7a exhibit significant inhibition activity 62.0% compared to ascorbic acid The antibacterial activity against two pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) revealed that 7b records the highest activity index compared to ampicillin 83.3, 82.6, 64.0, 86.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the thiophene-2-carboxamide derivatives were docked with five different proteins with the use molecular docking tools and the results explained interactions between amino acid residue of enzyme and compounds. Compounds 3b and 3c showed the highest binding score with 2AS1 protein.

New Succinimide-Thiazolidinedione Hybrids as Multitarget Antidiabetic Agents: Design, Synthesis, Bioevaluation, and Molecular Modelling Studies

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder majorly arising from the pathophysiology of the pancreas manifested as a decline in the insulin production or the tissue's resistance to the insulin. In this research, we have rationally designed and synthesized new succinimide-thiazolidinedione hybrids for the management of DM. In a multistep reaction, we were able to synthesize five new derivatives (10a-e). All the compounds were new containing a different substitution pattern on the N-atom of the succinimide ring. Initially, all the compounds were tested against the in vitro α-glucosidase, α-amylase, PTP1B, and DPP4 targets. In all of these targets, the compound 10d was observed to be the most potential antidiabetic agent. Based on this, the antidiabetic activity of the compound 10d was further investigated in experimental animals, which overall gave us encouraging results. The molecular docking studies of the compound 10d was also performed against the target enzymes α-glucosidase, α-amylase, PTP1B, and DPP4 using MOE. Overall, we observed that we have explored a new class of compounds as potential antidiabetic agents.

Phytochemistry, anti-diabetic and antioxidant potentials of Allium consanguineum Kunth

Aim

The study was planned to investigate the phytochemicals, antidiabetic and antioxidant studies of A. consanguineum.

Methods

The preliminary studies were performed on crude extract and different solvent fractions. Based on the potency, the chloroform fraction was semi-purified to phyto-fractions CHF-1 – 5. Furthermore, CHF-3 was subjected to isolation of pure compounds using column chromatography. The α-glucosidase, α-amylase and antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂) were performed on all samples. The in-vivo experiments on compounds 1 and 2 were also performed using oral glucose tolerance test. Docking studies were performed on α-glucosidase and α-amylase targets.

Results

Among all fractions, the chloroform fraction exhibited excellent activities profile giving IC₅₀ values of 824, 55, 117, 58 and 85 μg/ml against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, DPPH, ABTS and H₂O₂ targets respectively. Among the five semi-purified chloroform phyto-fractions (CHF-1-5), CHF-3 was the leading fraction in activities giving IC₅₀ values of 85.54, 61.19 and 26.58 μg/ml against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and DPPH respectively. Based on the overall potency and physical amount of CHF-3, it was subjected to purification to get compounds 1 and 2. The two compounds were also found potent in in-vitro activities. The observed IC₅₀ values for compound 1 were 7.93, 28.01 and 6.19 μg/ml against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and DPPH respectively. Similarly, the compound 2 exhibited IC₅₀ of 14.63, 24.82 and 7.654 μg/ml against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and DPPH respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were potent in decreasing the blood glucose levels in experimental animals. Compounds 1 and 2 also showed interactions with the respective enzymes with molecular docking.

Conclusions

We can conclude that A. Consanguineum is a rich source of natural antidiabetic agents. Bioguided isolation of compound 1 and 2 showed potential inhibitions in all tested in-vitro antidiabetic targets. Further, both the compounds were also able to decrease the blood glucose levels in experimental animals.

In-Vitro, In-Vivo, Molecular Docking and ADMET Studies of 2-Substituted 3,7-Dihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one for Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Alzheimer's Disease

Plants' bioactives are well-known safe drugs for vital diseases. Flavones and Flavonoid-rich dietary supplements are known to exhibit neuroprotective potential. In this study, we isolated a flavone 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one from Notholirion thomsonianum and it was evaluated against various targets of the oxidative stress-related neurological disorders. The compound showed excellent acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitions in its profile, giving IC50 values of 1.37 and 0.95 μM, respectively. Similarly, in in-vitro MAO-B assay, our flavone exhibited an IC50 value of 0.14 μM in comparison to the standard safinamide (IC50 0.025 μM). In in-vitro anti-inflammatory assay, our isolated compound exhibited IC50 values of 7.09, 0.38 and 0.84 μM against COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX, respectively. The COX-2 selectivity (SI) of the compound was 18.70. The compound was found safe in animals and was very effective in carrageenan-induced inflammation. Due to the polar groups in the structure, a very excellent antioxidant profile was observed in both in-vitro and in-vivo models. The compound was docked into the target proteins of the respective activities and the binding energies confirmed the potency of our compound. Furthermore, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) results showed that the isolated flavone has a good GIT absorption ability and comes with no hepatic and cardiotoxicity. In addition, the skin sensitization test, in-vitro human cell line activation test (h-CLAT) and KeratinoSens have revealed that isolated flavone is not skin sensitive with a confidence score of 59.6% and 91.6%. Herein, we have isolated a natural flavone with an effective profile against Alzheimer's, inflammation and oxidative stress. The exploration of this natural flavone will provide a baseline for future research in the field of drug development.

Overview of Chemistry and Therapeutic Potential of Non-Nitrogen Heterocyclics as Anticonvulsant Agents

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, characterized by the predisposition of unprovoked seizures affecting the neurobiological, psychological, cognitive, economic, and social wellbeing of the patient. As per the 2019 report by World Health Organization, it affects nearly 80% of the population, which comes from middle to low-income countries. It has been suggested that 70% of such cases can be treated effectively if properly diagnosed. It is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting 50 million people globally. Most of the antiepileptic drugs used in clinical practice are only 60-80% effective in controlling the disease. These drugs suffer from serious drawbacks of non-selectivity and toxicity that limit their clinical usefulness. Hence, there is a need to search for safe, potent, and effective anti-epileptic drugs. One of the emerging strategies to discover and develop selective and non-toxic anticonvulsant molecules focuses on the design of non-nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (NNHC). Drugs such as valproic acid, gabapentin, viagabatrin, fluorofelbamate, tiagabine, progabide, pregabalin, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), etc. do not contain a nitrogen heterocyclic ring but are as effective anticonvulsants as conventional heterocyclic nitrogen compounds. This review covers the various classes of NNHC which have been developed in the recent past as anticonvulsants along with their chemistry, percentage yield, structure-activity relationship and biological activity. The most potent compound in each series has been identified for comparative studies, for further structural modification and to improve the pharmacokinetic profile. Various optimized synthetic pathways and diverse functionalities other than nitrogen-containing rings discussed in the article may help medicinal chemists to design safe and effective anticonvulsant drugs in near future.

Chemical and Pharmacological Profiling of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. Ex Hornem.) Sims Focusing Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Antidiarrheal, Hypoglycemic, and Analgesic Properties

The aim of the study was to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Wrightia coccinea (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Sims via several in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models. A total of four compounds were identified and isolated from the methanol extract of the bark and the methanol extract of the seed pulp of W. coccinea through successive chromatographic techniques and were characterized as 3β-acetyloxy-olean-12-en-28-ol (1), wrightiadione (2), 22β-hydroxylupeol (3), and β-sitosterol (4) by spectroscopic analysis. The aqueous fraction of the bark and chloroform fraction of the fruits provided the most potent antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 7.22 and 4.5 µg/mL, respectively) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay compared with the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 17.45 µg/mL). The methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract exerted anti-diarrheal activity by inhibiting 74.55 ± 0.67% and 77.78 ± 1.5% (mean ± SEM) of the diarrheal episode in mice, respectively, after four hours of loading the samples. In the hypoglycemic test, the methanol bark extract and the methanol fruit coat extract (400 mg/kg) produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the blood glucose level in mice. Both doses of the plant extracts (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) used in the study induced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in pain reaction time. The in vitro and in vivo findings were supported by the computational studies. The isolated compounds exhibited higher binding affinity compared with the standard drugs towards the active binding sites of glutathione reductase, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), kappa opioid receptor, glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3), Mu opioid receptor, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) proteins due to their potent antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diarrheal, hypoglycemic, and central and peripheral analgesic properties, respectively. The current findings concluded that W. coccinea might be a potential natural source for managing oxidative stress, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, and pain. Further studies are warranted for extensively phytochemical screening and establishing exact mechanisms of action.

α-Glucosidase, α-Amylase and Antioxidant Evaluations of Isolated Bioactives from Wild Strawberry

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and is a global challenge to the current medicinal chemists and pharmacologists. This research has been designed to isolate and evaluate antidiabetic bioactives from Fragaria indica. The crude extracts, semi-purified and pure bioactives have been used in all in vitro assays. The in vitro α-glucosidase, α-amylase and DPPH free radical activities have been performed on all plant samples. The initial activities showed that ethyl acetate (Fi.EtAc) was the potent fraction in all the assays. This fraction was initially semi-purified to obtain Fi.EtAc 1–3. Among the semi-purified fractions, Fi.EtAc 2 was dominant, exhibiting potent IC₅₀ values in all the in vitro assays. Based on the potency and availability of materials, Fi.EtAc 2 was subjected to further purification to obtain compounds 1 (2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxytoluene) and 2 (2-methyl-6-(4-methylphenyl)-2-hepten-4-one). The two isolated compounds were characterized by mass and NMR analyses. The compounds 1 and 2 showed excellent inhibitions against α-glucosidase (21.45 for 1 and 15.03 for 2 μg/mL), α-amylase (17.65 and 16.56 μg/mL) and DPPH free radicals (7.62 and 14.30 μg/mL). Our study provides baseline research for the antidiabetic bioactives exploration from Fragaria indica. The bioactive compounds can be evaluated in animals-based antidiabetic activity in future.

Insecticidal Activity of Organic Extracts of Solidago graminifolia and Its Main Metabolites (Quercetin and Chlorogenic Acid) against Spodoptera frugiperda: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach

Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda) remains a global primary pest of maize. Therefore, new options to combat this pest are necessary. In this study, the insecticidal activity of three crude foliar extracts (ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane) and their main secondary metabolites (quercetin and chlorogenic acid) of the species Solidago graminifolia (S. graminifolia) by ingestion bioassays against S. frugiperda larvae was analyzed. Additionally, the extracts were phytochemically elucidated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis. Finally, an in silico study of the potential interaction of quercetin on S. frugiperda acetylcholinesterase was performed. Organic extracts were obtained in the range from 5 to 33%. The ethanolic extract caused higher mortality (81%) with a half-maximal lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 0.496 mg/mL. Flavonoid secondary metabolites such as hyperoside, quercetin, isoquercetin, kaempferol, and avicularin and some phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid, solidagoic acid, gallic acid, hexoside, and rosmarinic acid were identified. In particular, quercetin had an LC₅₀ of 0.157 mg/mL, and chlorogenic acid did not have insecticidal activity but showed an antagonistic effect on quercetin. The molecular docking analysis of quercetin on the active site of S. frugiperda acetylcholinesterase showed a −5.4 kcal/mol binding energy value, lower than acetylcholine and chlorpyrifos (−4.45 and −4.46 kcal/mol, respectively). Additionally, the interactions profile showed that quercetin had π–π interactions with amino acids W198, Y235, and H553 on the active site.

3-(((1S,3S)-3-((R)-Hydroxy(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methyl)-4-oxocyclohexyl)methyl)pentane-2,4-dione: Design and Synthesis of New Stereopure Multi-Target Antidiabetic Agent

The chiral drug candidates have more effective binding affinities for their specific protein or receptor site for the onset of pharmacological action. Achieving all carbon stereopure compounds is not trivial in chemical synthesis. However, with the development of asymmetric organocatalysis, the synthesis of certain vital chiral drug candidates is now possible. In this research, we have synthesized 3-(((1S,3S)-3-((R)-hydroxy(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)methyl)-4-oxocyclohexyl)methyl)pentane-2,4-dione (S,S,R-5) and have evaluated it potential as multi-target antidiabetic agent. The stereopure compound S,S,R-5 was synthesized with a 99:1 enantiomeric ratio. The synthesized compound gave encouraging results against all in vitro antidiabetic targets, exhibiting IC₅₀ values of 6.28, 4.58, 0.91, and 2.36 in α-glucosidase, α-amylase, PTP1B, and DPPH targets, respectively. The molecular docking shows the binding of the compound in homology models of the respective enzymes. In conclusion, we have synthesized a new chiral molecule (S,S,R-5). The compound proved to be a potential inhibitor of the tested antidiabetic targets. With the observed results and molecular docking, it is evident that S,S,R-5 is a potential multitarget antidiabetic agent. Our study laid the baseline for the animal-based studies of this compound in antidiabetic confirmation.

Antioxidant Molecules Isolated from Edible Prostrate Knotweed: Rational Derivatization to Produce More Potent Molecules

Prostrate knotweed also called Polygonum aviculare is an important edible plant. The polygonum is majorly known for the phenolics and antioxidants. The antioxidants combat the excessive free radicals within the body. The excessive free radicals are implicated in various other diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's, and inflammation. This study was aimed at exploring the antioxidant bioactives and their derivatizations to produce new molecules with advanced pharmacological features. We have isolated six compounds (1–6) from Polygonum aviculare. Furthermore, rational-based chemical derivatives for compound 5 have been formed for the management of diabetes, Alzheimer's, and inflammation. In preliminary antioxidant studies, all the isolated compounds (1–6) showed potential results against DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Based on the IC₅₀ and chemical nature of the compounds, compound 5 was subjected to derivatization. Keeping the phenolic part of compound 5 unaffected, hydroxy succinimide (5A) and thiazolidinedione (5B) were synthesized. The compound 5A was found to be a potent inhibitor of AChE, BChE, COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX, and DPPH giving IC₅₀ values of 10.60, 15.10, 13.91, 1.08, 0.71, and 1.05 μM, respectively. The COX-2 selectivity of compound 5A was found at 12.9. The compound 5B was found to be a potent multitarget antidiabetic agent giving IC₅₀ values of 15.34, 21.83, 53.28, and 1.94 μM against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, and DPPH. Docking studies were performed to manipulate the binding interactions. The docking pose of all the tested compounds was found to have increased binding affinity against all tested targets that supported the in vitro results. Our results showed that Polygonum aviculare is a rich source of antioxidant compounds. The two new derivatives have enhanced pharmacological features to treat diabetes, inflammation, and Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis of Functionalized Thiophene Based Pyrazole Amides via Various Catalytic Approaches: Structural Features through Computational Applications and Nonlinear Optical Properties

In the present study, pyrazole-thiophene-based amide derivatives were synthesized by different methodologies. Here, 5-Bromothiophene carboxylic acid (2) was reacted with substituted, unsubstituted, and protected pyrazole to synthesize the amide. It was observed that unsubstituted amide (5-bromo-N-(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide (7) was obtained at a good yield of about 68 percent. The unsubstituted amide (7) was arylated through Pd (0)-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, in the presence of tripotassium phosphate (K₃PO₄) as a base, and with 1,4-dioxane as a solvent. Moderate to good yields (66–81%) of newly synthesized derivatives were obtained. The geometry of the synthesized compounds (9a–9h) and other physical properties, like non-linear optical (NLO) properties, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and other chemical reactivity descriptors, including the chemical hardness, electronic chemical potential, ionization potential, electron affinity, and electrophilicity index have also been calculated for the synthesized compounds. In this study, DFT calculations have been used to investigate the electronic structure of the synthesized compounds and to compute their NMR data. It was also observed that the computed NMR data manifested significant agreement with the experimental NMR results. Furthermore, compound (9f) exhibits a better non-linear optical response compared to all other compounds in the series. Based on frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis and the reactivity descriptors, compounds (9c) and (9h) were predicted to be the most chemically reactive, while (9d) was estimated to be the most stable among the examined series of compounds.

Facile Synthesis of 5-Aryl-N-(pyrazin-2-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamides via Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions, Their Electronic and Nonlinear Optical Properties through DFT Calculations

Synthesis of 5-aryl-N-(pyrazin-2-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamides (4a–4n) by a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of 5-bromo-N-(pyrazin-2-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide (3) with various aryl/heteroaryl boronic acids/pinacol esters was observed in this article. The intermediate compound 3 was prepared by condensation of pyrazin-2-amine (1) with 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylic acid (2) mediated by TiCl₄. The target pyrazine analogs (4a–4n) were confirmed by NMR and mass spectrometry. In DFT calculation of target molecules, several reactivity parameters like FMOs (E_HOMO, E_LUMO), HOMO–LUMO energy gap, electron affinity (A), ionization energy (I), electrophilicity index (ω), chemical softness (σ) and chemical hardness (η) were considered and discussed. Effect of various substituents was observed on values of the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and hyperpolarizability. The p-electronic delocalization extended over pyrazine, benzene and thiophene was examined in studying the NLO behavior. The chemical shifts of ¹H NMR of all the synthesized compounds 4a–4n were calculated and compared with the experimental values.

N-([1,1'-biaryl]-4-yl)-1-naphthamide-based scaffolds synthesis, their cheminformatics analyses, and screening as bacterial biofilm inhibitor

Naphthamides have pharmacological potential as they express strong activities against microorganisms. The commercially available naphthoyl chloride and 4-bromoaniline were condensed in dry dichloromethane (DCM) in the presence of Et₃ N to form N-(4-bromophenyl)-1-naphthamide (86%) (3). Using a Pd(0) catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling reaction of (3) and various boronic acids, a series of N-([1,1'-biaryl]-4-yl)-1-naphthamide derivatives (4a-h) were synthesized in moderate to good yields. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxicity haemolytic assay and biofilm inhibition activity through in silico and in vitro studies. Molecular docking, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), toxicity risk, and other cheminformatics predict synthesized molecules as biologically active moieties, further validated through in vitro studies in which compounds (4c) and (4f) showed significant haemolytic activity whereas (4e) exhibited an efficient biofilm inhibition activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis. When forming biofilms, bacteria become resistant to various antimicrobial treatments. Currently, research is focused on the development of agents that inhibit biofilm formation, thus the present work is valuable for preventing future drug resistance.

Bioactive stigmastadienone from Isodon rugosus as potential anticholinesterase, α-glucosidase and COX/LOX inhibitor: In-vitro and molecular docking studies

Natural product is a well-known source of bioactive compounds. Herein, a steroidal compound stigmasta-7,22-diene-3-one (stigmastadienone) has been isolated from Isodon rugosus. The potency of isolated compound has been tested for several in-vitro targets. The acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase assays were performed using Ellman's procedure. For the in-vitro antidiabetic potential, α-glucosidase inhibitory assay was performed. Similarly, the cyclo and lipoxygenase pathways were studied to find its potential role in the management of inflammation and analgesia. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) assays were performed for the antioxidant potentials. Docking studies were performed against acetylcholinesterase, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase targets. In anticholinesterase assays, stigmastadienone exhibited half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 13.52 and 11.53 μg/ml for acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase respectively. The observed IC₅₀ values for that of galantamine were 6.07 and 4.42 μg/ml for acety and butyrylcholinesterase respectively. In inhibiting α-glucosidase enzyme, the compound showed mediocre IC₅₀ of 109.40 μg/ml compared to the standard acarbose (7.60 μg/ml). The stigmastadienone proved to be an excellent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) attaining IC₅₀ values of 4.72 and 3.36 μg/ml respectively. The standard drugs IC₅₀ values for COX-2 (celecoxib) and 5-LOX (montelukast) were 3.81 and 2.74 μg/ml respectively. The enzymatic activities of stigmastadienone were also supplemented with antioxidant results, specifically it was more dominant against DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Docking studies showed that only the carbonyl oxygen is able to form hydrogen bond interaction with the residues. In conclusions, the stigmastadienone has been isolated from Isodon rugosus for the first time. Moreover, the compound has been evaluated for several biochemical pathways which suggest its pharmacological role on the explored targets.

Prospective Application of Two New Pyridine-Based Zinc (II) Amide Carboxylate in Management of Alzheimer's Disease: Synthesis, Characterization, Computational and in vitro Approaches

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative illness described predominantly by dementia. Even though Alzheimer’s disease has been known for over a century, its origin remains a mystery, and researchers are exploring many therapy options, including the cholinesterase technique. A decreased acetylcholine ACh neurotransmitter level is believed to be among the important factors in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods

In continuation of synthesizing potential anti-Alzheimer agents and known appreciative pharmacological potential of amide-containing compounds, this study presents the synthesis of two novel amide-based transition metal zinc (II) complexes, AAZ7 and AAZ8, attached with a heterocyclic pyridine ring, which was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, ¹H_NMR, and ¹³C_NMR. FT-IR spectroscopic records showed the development of bidentate ligand as Δν value was decreased in both complexes when compared with the free ligand. Both of the synthesized complexes were analyzed for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory potential along with the antioxidizing activity.

Results

Importantly, the complex of AAZ8 exhibited more potent activity giving IC₅₀ values of 14 µg/mL and 18µg/mL as AChE and BChE cholinesterase inhibitors, respectively, when compared with standard positive control galantamine. Interestingly, AAZ8 also displayed promising antioxidant potential by showing IC₅₀ values of 35 µg/mL for DPPH and 29 µg/mL for ABTS in comparison with positive control ascorbic acid.

Conclusion

Herein, we report two new amide carboxylate zinc (II) complexes which were potentially analyzed for various biological applications like acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory potentials, and antioxidant assays. Computational docking studies also simulated results to understand the interactions. Additionally, thermodynamic parameters utilizing molecular dynamic simulation were performed to determine the ligand protein stability and flexibility that supported the results. Studies have shown that these compounds have the potential to be good anti-Alzheimer candidates for future studies due to inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes and display of free radical scavenging potential against DPPH as well as ABTS free radicals.

Phytochemical profiling of bioactive compounds, anti-inflammatory and analgesic potentials of Habenaria digitata Lindl.: Molecular docking based synergistic effect of the identified compounds

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Members of Orchidaceae family has a long history in herbal and Chinese medicines. Members of this family are most commonly famous in the management of inflammation and analgesia in folk medicine. Habenaria digitata, an unexplored specie of Orchidaceae is found in North areas of Pakistan and is used by the local population for the management of analgesia and inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Based on the effective outcomes of the natural products as alternative therapies, we have evaluated Habenaria digitata for the management of analgesia and inflammation. The aim of the designed project is to provide a scientific basis of using this plant for the management of analgesia and inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The H. digitata crude extract (Hd.Cr) and subfractions, i.e. n-hexane (Hd.Hex), chloroform (Hd.Chf), ethyl acetate (Hd.EtAc), n-butanol (Hd.Bt) and aqueous (Hd.Aq) were used. The GC-MS analysis was used for the identification of phytochemicals. The plants samples were subjected to cyclooxygenase (COX 2) and lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymes assays. The hot plate model, acetic acid induced writhing and formalin induced paw licking models were used for in-vivo analgesic studies. The in-vivo anti-inflammatory potential was determined with carrageenan induced paw edema test. Molecular docking studies of the identified compounds were carried out by using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE, 2016.08).

RESULTS

The GC-MS analysis confirmed sixty-five compounds in Hd.Cr. Among the fractions, Hd.Chf and Hd.EtAc displayed highest activities. The observed IC₅₀ values were 21.30 and 32.39 μg/ml against COX 2 while 14.42and 16.40 μg/ml for 5-LOX respectively. The in-vivo inflammatory and analgesic studies were pre-requisited with acute toxicity tests. In carrageenan induced inflammation, Hd.Chf excelled the standard drug aspirin by giving 62.92% inhibition of paw edema at 4^th h. Similarly, at highest concentration (75 mg/kg) of acetic acid induced analgesia, Hd.Chf was more potent than the standard drug. In formalin method, Hd.Chf exhibited 85.81% inhibition at phase-I and 74.15% at Phase-II. In hot plate model, Hd.Chf exhibited average reaction time of 10.90 at 15, 30, 45 and 60 min intervals. Docking studies supported our results and confirm the synergistic effects of phytochemicals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experimental results concluded that H. digitata contains several bioactive compounds. These bioactive compounds synergistically have therapeutic efficacy for the management of inflammation and analgesia. We have confirmed both of these potentials from the in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. Moreover, it is also obvious that the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions are rich in these bioactive compounds. Specifically, the Hd.Chf is observed to be more practical in all the tested models of analgesia and inflammation. Computed binding energies of the compounds revealed that all the compounds have synergistic effect to prevent analgesia and inflammation.

Recent Developments in New Therapeutic Agents against Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases: In-Silico Approaches

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND), including Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), are becoming increasingly more common and are recognized as a social problem in modern societies. These disorders are characterized by a progressive neurodegeneration and are considered one of the main causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, there is no existing cure for AD nor PD and the clinically used drugs aim only at symptomatic relief, and are not capable of stopping neurodegeneration. Over the last years, several drug candidates reached clinical trials phases, but they were suspended, mainly because of the unsatisfactory pharmacological benefits. Recently, the number of compounds developed using in silico approaches has been increasing at a promising rate, mainly evaluating the affinity for several macromolecular targets and applying filters to exclude compounds with potentially unfavorable pharmacokinetics. Thus, in this review, an overview of the current therapeutics in use for these two ND, the main targets in drug development, and the primary studies published in the last five years that used in silico approaches to design novel drug candidates for AD and PD treatment will be presented. In addition, future perspectives for the treatment of these ND will also be briefly discussed.

Synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and Molecular modelling studies of pregnenolone derivatives as inhibitors of human dihydrofolate reductase

In current study, we synthesized chalcone derivatives (13a-c) via base-catalyzed Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction. We further treated diamino compounds with synthesized chalcones to produce 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one (18a-c), 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thione (19a-c) and 2-aminopyrimidine (20a-c) derivatives of pregnenolone by cyclization reaction. Cell viability test of synthesized steroidal chalcones and their pyrimidine and thiopyrimidine derivatives against human breast (MCF-7), human lung (A549) and human prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines was performed using (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), assay. Compounds were further evaluated for their inhibition potential against recombinant human DHFR (rhDHFR). All compounds showed activity from low micromolar to submicromolar range. Compound 20b with IC50 value of 180 nM emerged as most potent compound against rhDHFR. Interaction of the newly synthesized pregnenolone derivatives with hDHFR and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) were also explored via docking simulations. The overall results of hDHFR inhibition have shown that these analogues can be further optimized and developed as potent anticancer agents.

Synthesis of Michael Adducts as Key Building Blocks for Potential Analgesic Drugs: In vitro, in vivo and in silico Explorations

Background

Organocatalytic asymmetric Michael addition is a strong approach for C-C bond formation. The objective of the study is to design molecules by exploiting the efficiency of Michael Adducts. We proceeded with the synthesis of Michael adducts by tailoring the substitution pattern on maleimide and trans-β-nitro styrene as Michael acceptors. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for dual cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition.

Methods

The compounds (4, 9–11) were synthesized through Michael additions. The cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and 2) and lipoxygenase (5-LOX) assays were used for in vitro evaluations of compounds. After the acute toxicity studies, the in vivo analgesic potential was determined with acetic acid induced writhing, tail immersion, and formalin tests. Furthermore, the possible roles of adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors were also studied. Extensive computational studies were performed to get a better understanding regarding the binding of this compound with protein target.

Results

Four Michael adducts (4, 9–11) were synthesized. Compound 4 was obtained in enantio- and diastereopure form. The stereopure compound 4 showed encouraging COX-1 and-2 inhibitions with IC₅₀ values of 128 and 65 μM with SI of 1.94. Benzyl derivative 11 showed excellent COX-2 inhibition with the IC₅₀ value of 5.79 μM and SI value 7.96. Compounds 4 and 11 showed good results in in vivo models of analgesia like acetic acid test, tail immersion, and formalin tests. Our compounds were not active in dopaminergic and adrenergic pathways and so were acting centrally. Through extensive computational studies, we computed binding energies, and pharmacokinetic predictions.

Conclusion

Our findings conclude that our synthesized Michael products (pyrrolidinedione 4 and nitroalkane 11) can be potent centrally acting analgesics. Our in silico predictions suggested that the compounds have excellent pharmacokinetic properties. It is concluded here that dual inhibition of COX/LOX pathways provides a convincing step towards the discovery of safe lead analgesic molecules.

The synthesis and cholinesterase inhibitory activities of solasodine analogues with seven-membered F ring

Solasodine analogues containing a seven-membered F ring with a nitrogen atom placed at position 22a were prepared from diosgenin or tigogenin in a four-step synthesis comprising of the simultaneous opening of the F-ring and introduction of cyanide in position 22α, activation of the 26-hydroxyl group as mesylate, nitrile reduction, and N-cyclization. Solasodine, six obtained 22a(N)-homo analogues, as well as four 26a-homosolasodine derivatives and their open-chain precursors (13 in total) were tested as potential inhibitors of acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterases and showed activity at micromolar concentrations. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that activities against studied esterases are affected by the structure of E/F rings and the substitution pattern of ring A. The most potent compound 8 acted as non-competitive inhibitors and exerted IC₅₀ = 8.51 μM and 7.05 μM for eeAChE and eqBChE, respectively. Molecular docking studies revealed the hydrogen bond interaction of 8 with S293 of AChE; further rings are stabilized via hydrophobic interaction (ring A) or interaction with Y341 and W286 (rings B and C). Biological experiments showed no neurotoxicity of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. More importantly, results from neuroprotective assay based on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity revealed that most derivatives had the ability to increase the viability of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells in comparison to galantamine and lipoic acid assayed as standards. The newly synthesized solasodine analogues are able to inhibit and to bind cholinesterases in noncompetitive mode of inhibition and exhibited neuroprotection potential of differentiated neuroblastoma cells after Glu-induced toxicity.

Experimental Models for the Discovery of Novel Anticonvulsant Drugs: Focus on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures and Associated Memory Deficits

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by irregular, excessive neuronal excitability, and recurrent seizures that affect millions of patients worldwide. Currently, accessible antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) do not adequately support all epilepsy patients, with around 30% patients not responding to the existing therapies. As lifelong epilepsy treatment is essential, the search for new and more effective AEDs with an enhanced safety profile is a significant therapeutic goal. Seizures are a combination of electrical and behavioral events that can induce biochemical, molecular, and anatomic changes. Therefore, appropriate animal models are required to evaluate novel potential AEDs. Among the large number of available animal models of seizures, the acute pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced myoclonic seizure model is the most widely used model assessing the anticonvulsant effect of prospective AEDs, whereas chronic PTZ-kindled seizure models represent chronic models in which the repeated administration of PTZ at subconvulsive doses leads to the intensification of seizure activity or enhanced seizure susceptibility similar to that in human epilepsy. In this review, we summarized the memory deficits accompanying acute or chronic PTZ seizure models and how these deficits were evaluated applying several behavioral animal models. Furthermore, major advantages and limitations of the PTZ seizure models in the discovery of new AEDs were highlighted. With a focus on PTZ seizures, the major biochemicals, as well as morphological alterations and the modulated brain neurotransmitter levels associated with memory deficits have been illustrated. Moreover, numerous medicinal compounds with concurrent anticonvulsant, procognitive, antioxidant effects, modulating effects on several brain neurotransmitters in rodents, and several newly developed classes of compounds applying computer-aided drug design (CADD) have been under development as potential AEDs. The article details the in-silico approach following CADD, which can be utilized for generating libraries of novel compounds for AED discovery. Additionally, in vivo studies could be useful in demonstrating efficacy, safety, and novel mode of action of AEDs for further clinical development.

Synthesis, Anticonvulsant and Antinociceptive Activity of New Hybrid Compounds: Derivatives of 3-(3-Methylthiophen-2-yl)-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione

The present study aimed to design and synthesize a new series of hybrid compounds with pyrrolidine-2,5-dione and thiophene rings in the structure as potential anticonvulsant and antinociceptive agents. For this purpose, we obtained a series of new compounds and evaluated their anticonvulsant activity in animal models of epilepsy (maximal electroshock (MES), psychomotor (6 Hz), and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) seizure tests). To determine the mechanism of action of the most active anticonvulsant compounds (3, 4, 6, 9), their influence on the voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels as well as GABA transporter (GAT) was assessed. The most promising compound 3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)-1-(3-morpholinopropyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione hydrochloride (4) showed higher ED₅₀ value than those of the reference drugs: valproic acid (VPA) and ethosuximide (ETX) (62.14 mg/kg vs. 252.7 mg/kg (VPA) in the MES test, and 75.59 mg/kg vs. 130.6 mg/kg (VPA) and 221.7 mg/kg (ETX) in the 6 Hz test, respectively). Moreover, in vitro studies of compound 4 showed moderate but balanced inhibition of the neuronal voltage-sensitive sodium (site 2) and L-type calcium channels. Additionally, the antinociceptive activity of the most active compounds (3, 4, 6, 9) was also evaluated in the hot plate test and writhing tests, and their hepatotoxic properties in HepG2 cells were also investigated. To determine the possible mechanism of the analgesic effect of compounds 3, 6, and 9, the affinity for the TRPV1 receptor was investigated.

Comparative Cholinesterase, α-Glucosidase Inhibitory, Antioxidant, Molecular Docking, and Kinetic Studies on Potent Succinimide Derivatives

Introduction

The current study was designed to synthesize derivatives of succinimide and compare their biological potency in anticholinesterase, alpha-glucosidase inhibition, and antioxidant assays.

Methods

In this research, two succinimide derivatives including (S)-1-(2,5-dioxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl) cyclohexanecarbaldehyde (Compound 1) and (R)-2-((S)-2,5-dioxo-1-phenylpyrrolidin-3-yl)-2-phenylpropanal (Compound 2) were synthesized using Michael addition. Both the compounds, ie, 1 and 2 were evaluated for in-vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylctcholinesterase (BChE), antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibitory potentials. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) to explore the binding mode of both the compounds against different enzymes. Lineweaver-Burk plots of enzyme inhibitions representing the reciprocal of initial enzyme velocity versus the reciprocal of substrate concentration in the presence of synthesized compounds and standard drugs were constructed using Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

Results

In AChE inhibitory assay, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited IC₅₀ of 343.45 and 422.98 µM, respectively, against AChE enzyme. Similarly, both the compounds showed IC₅₀ of 276.86 and 357.91 µM, respectively, against BChE enzyme. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed IC₅₀ of 157.71 and 471.79 µM against α-glucosidase enzyme, respectively. In a similar pattern, compound 1 exhibited to be more potent as compared to compound 2 in all the three antioxidant assays. Compound 1 exhibited IC₅₀ values of 297.98, 332.94, and 825.92 µM against DPPH, ABTS, and H₂O₂ free radicals, respectively. Molecular docking showed a triple fold in the AChE and BChE activity for compound 1 compared with compound 2. The compound 1 revealed good interaction against both the AChE and BChE enzymes which revealed the high potency of this compound compared to compound 2.

Conclusion

Both succinimide derivatives exhibited considerable inhibitory activities against cholinesterases and α-glucosidase enzymes. Of these two, compound 1 revealed to be more potent against all the in-vitro targets which was supported by molecular docking with the lowest binding energies. Moreover, compound 1 also proved to have antiradical properties.

SAR based in-vitro anticholinesterase and molecular docking studies of nitrogenous progesterone derivatives

Progesterone is a steroidal hormone that has been described with pathogenic features of brain dysfunction, realized with advanced age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this study, sixteen nitrogenous derivatives of progesterone which we previously synthesized have been used for Alzheimer targets. The progesterone derivatives (1-16) were screened for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory potentials in a dose-dependent manner. All the compounds exhibited overwhelming AChE inhibitions, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 14.40 to 40.37 μM. Similarly, the BChE inhibitory potentials of our compounds were also dominant with IC₅₀values between 20.08 and 46.84 μM. In comparison to our compounds, the standard drug galantamine attain IC₅₀ values of 12.03 and 18.20 μM against AChE and BChE respectively. Molecular docking studies suggested that the compounds exerted their inhibitory activity by binding to the active site of the enzyme. The cholinergic system plays an important role in the regulation of learning and memory processes and has been a major target for the design of anti-Alzheimer's drugs. Therefore, these nitrogen-containing progesterone derivatives will be of potential interest to researchers working in AD for developing new drugs or chemical tools to study the disease.

Pharmacological Evaluation of Aldehydic-Pyrrolidinedione Against HCT-116, MDA-MB231, NIH/3T3, MCF-7 Cancer Cell Lines, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Studies

Purpose

The current work was designed to synthesize a bioactive derivative of succinimide and evaluate it for anti-Alzheimer, anticancer and anti-diabetic potentials.

Methods

The compound was synthesized by Michael addition of butyraldehyde with N-phenylmaleimide. The synthesized compound was screened for biological potentials including anti-cholinesterase, in-vitro anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anthelmintic potentials. The anti-cholinesterase potential was evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), anti-diabetic potential against α-glucosidase, antioxidant potential against ABTS, DPPH and H₂O₂ and anthelmintic potential against Perethima posthuma and Ascaridia galli respectively.

Results

The compound demonstrated significant AChE and BChE inhibition i.e., 71.34±1.92 and 73.42 ±1.92 at the concentration of 1000 µg/mL respectively. Other dilutions exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against both enzymes. In the MTT assay, the newly synthesized compound was found active against all of the cell lines viz, HCT-116, MDA-MB231, NIH/3T3 and MCF-7 and the highest cytotoxicity potential was observed against the colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) with an IC₅₀ value of 78 µg/mL exhibiting its highest potential. Moreover, the compound exhibited prominent α-glucosidase inhibitory potentials (79.86±2.54% at 1000 µg/mL) with IC₅₀ value of 156.23 µg/mL. Further, our test compound exhibited considerable scavenging activity against DPPH, ABTS and H₂O₂ free radicals with percent inhibitions of 75.84±1.58, 72.85±1.17 and 54.82±1.82 and IC₅₀ values of 84.36, 139.74 and 752.21 µg/mL respectively. Our test sample exhibited significant anthelmintic potentials. It demonstrated significant paralysis and death of the test worms in an unbelievably short time in comparison with albendazole.

Conclusion

Going into the detail of all observations, it may be deduced that the newly synthesized succinimide derivative could be an important drug candidate against neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus and worms. Further detailed studies in animal models are required for in-vivo analysis of the compound.