Discovery of noscapine derivatives as potential β-tubulin inhibitors

Synthesis and modification of noscapine derivatives as promising future anticancer agents

Noscapine, a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, was first isolated from Papaver somniferum and identified by Rabiquet in 1817. It has been used as an anti-tussive agent since the mid-1950 s. After the discovery of its anti-mitotic potential, it was into the limelight once again. Due to its low toxicity, high bioactivity and oral administration, It was regarded as a formidable framework for subsequent modification and advancement in the pursuit of innovative chemotherapeutic agents. Up to now, the rational derivatives of the noscapine have been designed and the biological activities of these analogues have been extensively investigated. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the chemical characteristics of noscapine and its semi-synthetic derivatives up to the present, encompassing a concise investigation into the biological properties of these compounds and additionally a discussion about biosynthesis and total synthesis of noscapine is also provided. In summary, our aim is to contribute to a more thorough comprehension of this structure. It can be asserted that a promising future lies ahead for noscapine and its engineered derivatives as noteworthy candidates for pharmaceutical drugs.

Comprehensive review of Bcl-2 family proteins in cancer apoptosis: Therapeutic strategies and promising updates of natural bioactive compounds and small molecules

Cancer has a considerably higher fatality rate than other diseases globally and is one of the most lethal and profoundly disruptive ailments. The increasing incidence of cancer among humans is one of the greatest challenges in the field of healthcare. A significant factor in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis is the dysregulation of physiological processes governing cell death, which results in the survival of cancerous cells. B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members play important roles in several cancer-related processes. Drug research and development have identified various promising natural compounds that demonstrate potent anticancer effects by specifically targeting Bcl-2 family proteins and their associated signaling pathways. This comprehensive review highlights the substantial roles of Bcl-2 family proteins in regulating apoptosis, including the intricate signaling pathways governing the activity of these proteins, the impact of reactive oxygen species, and the crucial involvement of proteasome degradation and the stress response. Furthermore, this review discusses advances in the exploration and potential therapeutic applications of natural compounds and small molecules targeting Bcl-2 family proteins and thus provides substantial scientific information and therapeutic strategies for cancer management.

An Overview of the Biological Evaluation of Selected Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycle Medicinal Chemistry Compounds

Heterocyclic compounds are a class of compounds of natural origin with favorable properties and hence have major pharmaceutical significance. They have an exceptional adroitness favoring their use as diverse smart biomimetics, in addition to possessing an active pharmacophore in a complex structure. This has made them an indispensable motif in the drug discovery field. Heterocyclic compounds are usually classified according to the ring size, type, and the number of heteroatoms present in the ring. Among different heterocyclic ring systems, nitrogen heterocyclic compounds are more abundant in nature. They also have considerable pharmacological significance. This review highlights recent pioneering studies in the biological assessment of nitrogen-containing compounds, namely: triazoles, tetrazoles, imidazole/benzimidazoles, pyrimidines, and quinolines. It explores publications between April 2020 and February 2022 and will benefit researchers in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology. The present work is organized based on the size of the heterocyclic ring.

Semi-synthesis of novel buprenorphine derivatives and their anti-nociceptive properties and dependency potential

Novel 1,2,3-triazole-tethered N-norbuprenorphine derivatives with an OMe or OH group at the C3 position were synthesized alongside with evaluation of their analgesic properties. The analgesic activities of the resulting library were investigated via tail flick test in mice. Our results indicated that 10b and 10e were as effective as the starting compounds 8 and 9 with ED50 equal to 16.59 and 19.44 mg/kg, respectively. To investigate the effect of a methyl group at C3 on biological properties, the most active compounds were O-demethylated and their anti-nociceptive effects were assessed. The new O-demethylated derivatives (11b and 11e) showed better analgesic properties than the parent compounds with ED50 of 14.73 and 15.80 mg/kg, respectively. Naloxone prevented the analgesic effect of the synthesized compounds, indicating that the opioid receptors are highly involved in the anti-nociceptive effects. The potential dependency effects of the most potent derivatives were studied by condition place preference test in mice and compared with morphine and buprenorphine. Interestingly, 10b, 10e, 11b, and 11e did not show any dependency effect, similar to buprenorphine.

1,2,3-Triazole hybrids as anticancer agents: A review

Despite the advancements in the development of anticancer agents, more effective and safer anticancer drugs still need to be developed as the current agents cause unwanted side effects and many patients have become drug resistant. 1,2,3-Triazoles, due to their remarkable biological potential, have received considerable attention in drug discovery for the development of anticancer agents. The present review article presents an overview of the recent advances in 1,2,3-triazole hybrids with anticancer potential over the last 2 years, their chemical structures, structure-activity relationships, and mechanisms of action, as well as insights into the docking studies.