Cytostatic activity of novel 4′-aminochalcone-based imides

Synthesis of chalcone-imide derivatives and investigation of their anticancer and antimicrobial activities, carbonic anhydrase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes inhibition profiles

The new 1-(4-(3-(aryl)acryloyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-diones (5a-g) were prepared from 4'-aminchalcones (3a-g) and screened for biological activities. All compounds (3a-g and 5a-g), except 3d and 3e displayed good cytotoxic activities with IC₅₀ values in the range of 7.06-67.46 μM. IC₅₀ value of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was 90.36 μM. Moreover, most of compounds 5a-g showed high antibacterial activity with 8-20 mm of inhibition zone (19-25 mm of Sulbactam-Cefoperazone (SCF)). In addition, they showed good inhibitory action against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and human carbonic anhydrase I, and II (hCA I and hCA II) isoforms. Also, these compounds demonstrated effective inhibition profiles with Ki values of 426.47-699.58 nM against hCA I, 214.92-532.21 nM against hCA II, and 70.470-229.42 nM against AChE. On the other hand, acetazolamide, clinically used drug, showed a Ki value of 977.77 ± 227.4 nM against CA I, and 904.47 ± 106.3 nM against CA II, respectively. Also, tacrine inhibited AChE showed a Ki value of 446.56 ± 58.33 nM.

An approach to “escape from flatland”: chemo-enzymatic synthesis and biological profiling of a library of bridged bicyclic compounds

A small library of 78 bridged bicyclic compounds were synthesized via a chemo-enzymatic pathway. Biological evaluation suggested that rigid spherical scaffolds are useful to enhance the success rate of compound libraries for drug development.

Curcumin-inspired cytotoxic 3,5-bis(arylmethylene)-1-(N-(ortho-substituted aryl)maleamoyl)-4-piperidones: A novel group of topoisomerase II alpha inhibitors

Three series of novel 3,5-bis(arylmethylene)-1-(N-(ortho-substituted aryl)maleamoyl)-4-piperidones, designed as simplified analogs of curcumin with maleic diamide tether, were synthesized and bioevaluated. These compounds displayed potent cytotoxicity towards human Molt 4/C8 and CEM T-lymphocytes as well as murine L1210 leukemic cells. In contrast, the related N-arylmaleamic acids possessed little or no cytotoxicity in these three screens. Design of these compounds was based on molecular modeling studies performed on a related series of molecule in a previous study. Representative title compounds were found to be significantly potent in inhibiting the activity of topoisomerase II alpha indicating the possible mode of action of these compounds. These compounds were also potent antioxidants in vitro and attenuated the AAPH triggered peroxyl radical production in human fibroblasts. Various members of these series were also well tolerated in both in vitro and in vivo toxicity analysis.

All trans 1-(3-arylacryloyl)-3,5-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)piperidin-4-ones as curcumin-inspired antineoplastics

A series of eleven N-acryloyl/N-cinnamoyl 3,5-bis(pyridin-4-yl)methylene-4-piperidones were synthesized as curcumin-based candidate antineoplastic agents. The cytostatic potency of these compounds was evaluated against three representative cell lines and all compounds were found to exhibit significant anti-cancer cell activity in vitro. QSAR studies using several physicochemical parameters and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values resulted in certain important correlations which will aid design of more potent analogs. Representative test compounds were investigated in the NCI 60-cell line panel where they were found to display a profound cytotoxicity. These compounds were also potent anti-oxidants and inhibitors of human topoisomerase IIα. Representative compounds were well-tolerated by human fibroblasts and by mice during the survival/toxicity studies.

(E)-4-aryl-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid amides, chalcone-aroylacrylic acid chimeras: design, antiproliferative activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization

Antiproliferative activity of twenty-nine (E)-4-aryl-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid amides against three human tumor cell lines (HeLa, FemX, and K562) is reported. Compounds showed antiproliferative activity in one-digit micromolar to submicromolar concentrations. The most active derivatives toward all the cell lines tested bear alkyl substituents on the aroyl moiety of the molecules. Fourteen compounds showed tubulin assembly inhibition at concentrations <20 μM. The most potent inhibitor of tubulin assembly was unsubstituted compound 1, with IC50 = 2.9 μM. Compound 23 had an oral LD50in vivo of 45 mg/kg in mice. Cell cycle analysis on K562 cells showed that compounds 1, 2 and 23 caused accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase, but inhibition of microtubule polymerization is not the principal mode of action of the compounds. Nevertheless, they may be useful leads for the design of a new class of antitubulin agents.

Derivatives of aryl amines containing the cytotoxic 1,4-dioxo-2-butenyl pharmacophore

Several series of compounds containing the 1,4-dioxo-2-butenyl moiety have been prepared as candidate cytotoxins, including the methyl N-arylmaleamates, methyl N-arylfumaramates, and N-arylmaleimides. In addition, the N-arylisomaleimides were synthesized which are the structural isomers of N-arylmaleimides. These compounds were evaluated against human Molt 4/C8 and CEM T-lymphocytes as well as murine L1210 cells. Methyl N-arylfumaramates showed the highest cytotoxic potencies and, in particular, methyl N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)fumaramate is six times more potent than melphalan towards L1210 cells and is equipotent with this drug in the Molt 4/C8 assay. Electrophilicity of compounds under investigation was demonstrated by carrying out thiolation using model benzyl mercaptan on representative compounds. Methyl N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)fumaramate and methyl N-(4-chlorophenyl)maleamate inhibited human N-myristoyltransferase, a possible molecular target, in high micromolar range. QSAR and molecular modeling revealed some correlations between different structural features of a number of the molecules and cytotoxic potencies. Methyl N-arylfumaramates were well tolerated in mice in comparison to the analogs in other series of compounds tested. The data obtained in this investigation affords guidelines for preparing new series of molecules with greater potencies.