Coumarin, chromone, and 4(3H)-pyrimidinone novel bicyclic and tricyclic derivatives as antiplatelet agents: synthesis, biological evaluation, and comparative molecular field analysis

Effect of the Chromone Core Substitution of Dirchromone on the Resultant Biological Activities

Dirchromone is a bioactive vinyl sulfoxide-bearing chromone first isolated from the shrub Dirca palustris. Altogether, 32 of its derivatives were prepared to assess the effect of substitution of its chromone core upon activities against cancer cell lines, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi (such as Candida albicans). All compounds were synthesized following a synthetic strategy involving Pummerer and soft-enolization Baker-Venkataraman rearrangements. Substituent position changes induced little variability on the activities tested. There was no correlation between cytotoxic and antibacterial effects, suggesting different underlying mechanisms of action. In particular, hydroxy group and cyanide substituents diminished cytotoxicity, with the latter featuring enhanced antibacterial activity. Higher homologues of 6-alkoxydirchromones also exhibited progressively emerging antifungal activity. Other modifications had moderate effects on cytotoxicity with some derivatives leading to increased potency. This behavior highlights the robustness of the natural dirchromone pharmacophore toward decoration, thus paving the way for more elaborate future drug design.

Chromone a Privileged Scaffold in Drug Discovery: Developments on the Synthesis and Bioactivity

Chromones are the class of secondary metabolites broadly occurred in the plant kingdom in a noticeable quantity. This rigid bicyclic system has been categorized "as privileged scaffolds in compounds" in medicinal chemistry. The wide biological responses made them an important moiety in a drug discovery program. This review provides updates on the various methods of synthesis of chromones and biological applications in medicinal chemistry. Various synthetic strategies for the construction of chromones include readily available phenols, salicylic acid and its derivatives, ynones, chalcones, enaminones, chalcones and 2-hydroxyarylalkylketones as starting materials. Synthesis of chromones by using metal, metal free, nanomaterials and different catalysts are included. Details of diverse biological activities such as anti-cancer agents, antimicrobial agents, anti-viral property, anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants, Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) Inhibitors, anti-Alzheimer's agents, anti-diabetic agent, antihistaminic potential, antiplatelet agents of chromone derivatives are diecussed.

The antithrombotic activity of natural and synthetic coumarins

Thrombosis, which seriously endangers human health and life, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Antithrombotic drugs can interfere with the occurrence and development of thrombotic diseases and play an important role in the treatment of thrombotic diseases. However, unsatisfactory efficacy and serious adverse effects of existing antithrombotic drugs increase the research for new, efficient and safer drugs. Natural and synthetic coumarins have been shown to possess antithrombotic activity, namely, anticoagulation and antiplatelet aggregation. Especially, coumarin-based warfarin, phenprocoumon and cloricromen have long been used in clinical treatment of thrombosis. Coumarin with low toxicity is the privileged structure for developing novel antithrombotic drugs with multiple mechanisms of action. The present review aims to compile current research on the development of coumarins against thrombosis, emphasizing the relationship between their chemical structures and therapeutic effectiveness. It is intended to provide promising ideas for the discovery of novel coumarin derivatives with high antithrombotic activity.

4-Aminocoumarin derivatives: synthesis and applications

4-Aminocoumarins represent an important class of a versatile scaffold in organic synthesis and have been consistently used as a building block in organic chemistry for the synthesis of different heterocyclic compounds.

Antioxidant Properties and Oxidative Transformation of Different Chromone Derivatives

Nowadays, there is an increase in the application of natural products for the prevention of different disorders or adjuvant substances next to pharmacological treatment. Phytochemicals include different chromone derivatives, which possess a wide spectrum of biological activity. The aim of the present study was the investigation of the antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and oxidative transformation of nine chromone derivatives. First, we investigated the radical scavenging activity (ABTS), the oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the investigated molecules. The cytotoxic effects of the compounds were tested on H9c2 cell cultures by the MTT assay. Each compound showed a significant ORAC value compared to the reference. However, the compound 865 possess significantly higher FRAP and ABTS activity in comparison with the reference and other tested molecules, respectively. Based on these assays, the compound 865 was selected for further analysis. In these experiments, we investigated the oxidative metabolism of the compound in vitro. The molecule was oxidized by the Fenton reaction, artificial porphyrin and electrochemistry; then, the formed products were identified by mass spectrometry. Four possible metabolites were detected. The results revealed the compound 865 to possess good antioxidant properties and to be stable metabolically; hence, it is worth investigating its effects in vivo.

Discovery of Novel Tricyclic Thiazepine Derivatives as Anti-Drug-Resistant Cancer Agents by Combining Diversity-Oriented Synthesis and Converging Screening Approach

An efficient discovery strategy by combining diversity-oriented synthesis and converging cellular screening is described. By a three-round screening process, we identified novel tricyclic pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzothiazepines showing potent inhibitory activity against paclitaxel-resistant cell line H460TaxR (EC50 < 1.0 μM), which exhibits much less toxicity toward normal cells (EC50 > 100 μM against normal human fibroblasts). The most active hits also exhibited drug-like properties suitable for further preclinical research. This redeployment of antidepressing compounds for anticancer applications provides promising future prospects for treating drug-resistant tumors with fewer side effects.

Amine-Controlled Reduction of 2-Aminochromone-3-Carbaldehyde with Zn and Acetic Acid

On heating with zinc in acetic acid 2-(N-arylamino)chromone-3-carbaldehydes produce 2-(N-arylamino)-3-methylchromones, whereas 2-(N-alkylamino)chromone-3-carbaldehydes produce 4-hydroxy-3-methylcoumarin in moderate yields. Reduction of an aldehyde function to a methyl group has been achieved under very mild reaction conditions.

Design, synthesis of novel tryptophan derivatives for antiplatelet aggregation activity based on tripeptide pENW (pGlu-Asn-Trp)

pENW, a three mer peptide derived from Agkistrodon acutus Guenther venom, has been found to be an antagonist of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor and shows antiplatelet aggregation activity. Based on pENW and a GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor Tirofiban, a series of tryptophan derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiplatelet aggregation activity induced by ADP. The most potent compound 87 was also tested for the bleeding time and antithrombotic activity in vivo in comparison with Tirofiban. The results indicated that 87 shows similar antiplatelet aggregation activity as Tirofiban to the aggregation of platelet induced by all of the four agonists, but has lower bleeding risk than Tirofiban, representing a promising lead compound for further study.

Synthesis, in vitro antiplatelet activity and molecular modelling studies of 10-substituted 2-(1-piperazinyl)pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazol-4(10H)-ones

The multistep preparation of the new 10-substituted 2-(1-piperazinyl)pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazol-4(10H)-ones 6a-o, and of the two isomers 10-ethyl-2-(diethylamino)pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazol-4(10H)-one 6p and 10-ethyl-4-(diethylamino)pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazol-2(10H)-one 13, as well as the in vitro evaluation of their inhibitory activity on human platelet aggregation induced in platelet-rich plasma by ADP, collagen or the Ca(2+) ionophore A23187 were here described. Nine out of fifteen 2-(1-piperazinyl)derivatives (6g-o) showed good inhibitory properties towards all the platelet aggregation agonists used. Moreover, a molecular modelling study has been performed on two of the best compounds of this series (6i and 6o) to confirm in silico their interactions with the catalytic site of human platelet PDE3, using the X-ray data of the PDE3B isoform in complex with an inhibitor.

In vitro platelet antiaggregatory properties of 4-methylcoumarins

Platelets play a crucial role in physiological haemostasis. However, in coronary arteries damaged by atherosclerosis, enhanced platelet aggregation, with subsequent thrombus formation, is a precipitating factor in acute myocardial infarction. Current therapeutic approaches are able to reduce approximately one quarter of cardiovascular events, but they are associated with an increased risk of bleeding and in some resistant patients are not efficient. Some coumarins possess antiplatelet activity and, due to their additional antioxidant effects, may be promising drugs for use in combination with the present therapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to analyse a series of simple 4-methylcoumarins for their antiplatelet activity. Human plasma platelet suspensions were treated with different aggregation inducers [arachidonic acid (AA), collagen and ADP] in the presence of the 4-methylcoumarins. Complementary experiments were performed to explain the mechanism of action. 5,7-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarins, in particular those containing a lipophilic side chain at C-3, reached the activity of acetylsalicylic acid on AA-induced aggregation. Other tested coumarins were less active. Some of the tested compounds mildly inhibited either collagen- or ADP-induced aggregation. 5,7-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarins did not interfere with the function of thromboxane synthase, but were competitive antagonists of thromboxane A(2) receptors and inhibited cyclooxygenase-1 as well. 5,7-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarins appear to be promising candidates for the extension of the current spectrum of antiplatelet drugs.

Structure-anti-leukemic activity relationship study of ortho-dihydroxycoumarins in U-937 cells: key role of the δ-lactone ring in determining differentiation-inducing potency and selective pro-apoptotic action

Previous studies indicated the need of at least one phenolic hydroxyl group in the coumarin core for induction of cytotoxicity in different cell lines. Herein, we present an exhaustive structure-activity relationship study including ortho-dihydroxycoumarins (o-DHC) derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives (as open-chain coumarin analogues) and 1,2-pyrones (representative of the δ-lactone ring of the coumarin core), carried out to further identify the structural features of o-DHC required to induce leukemic cell differentiation and apoptosis in U-937 cells. Our results show for the first time that the δ-lactone ring positively influences the aforementioned biological effects, by conferring greater potency to compounds with an intact coumarin nucleus. Most tellingly, we reveal herein the crucial role of this molecular portion in determining the selective toxicity that o-DHC show for leukemic cells over normal blood cells. From a pharmacological perspective, our findings point out that o-DHC may be useful prototypes for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents.

Toddaculin, a natural coumarin from Toddalia asiatica, induces differentiation and apoptosis in U-937 leukemic cells

Chemotherapeutics represent the main approach for the treatment of leukemia. However, the occurrence of adverse side effects and the complete lack of effectiveness in some cases make it necessary to develop new drugs. As part of our screening program to evaluate the potential chemotherapeutic effect of natural coumarins, we investigated the anti-leukemic activities of a series of six prenylated coumarins isolated from the stem bark of Toddalia asiatica (Rutaceae). Among these, 6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (toddaculin) displayed the most potent cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects in U-937 cells. To determine whether these effects resulted from induction of cell death or differentiation, we further evaluated the expression of several apoptosis and maturation markers. Interestingly, while toddaculin at 250 μM was able to induce apoptosis in U-937 cells, involving decreased phosphorylation levels of ERK and Akt, 50 μM toddaculin exerted differentiating effects, inducing both the capacity of U-937 cells to reduce NBT and the expression of differentiation markers CD88 and CD11b, but no change in p-Akt or p-ERK levels. Taken together, these findings indicate that toddaculin displays a dual effect as a cell differentiating agent and apoptosis inducer in U-937 cells, suggesting it may serve as a pharmacological prototype for the development of novel anti-leukemic agents.

The antioxidative effect of icariin in human erythrocytes against free-radical-induced haemolysis

Icariin (2-(4′-methoxyl phenyl)-3-rhamnosido-5-hydroxyl-7-glucosido-8-(3′-methyl-2-butylenyl)-4-chromanone) is the major component in Herba Epimedii used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of atherosclerosis. This work focuses on the antioxidative effect of icariin on free-radical-induced haemolysis of human erythrocytes, in which the initial free radical derives from the decomposition of 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH) at physiological temperature. To reveal the structure-activity relationship of icariin, the antioxidant effects of two structural analogues of icariin, acacetin (2-(4′-methoxylphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxylchromone) and norwogonin (2-phenyl-5,7,8-trihydroxylchromone), on the same experimental system were examined as well. It was found that all these chromone derivatives (Chm-OHs) dose-dependently protected human erythrocytes against free-radical-induced haemolysis. The order of antioxidative activity was norwogonin&gt;acacetin&gt;icariin by the analysis of the relationship between the concentration of Chm-OHs and the prolongation percentage of the lag time of haemolysis (PP%). It was also proved that the phenyl hydroxyl group attached to the chromone ring at 7-position cannot trap the free radical. On the contrary, phenyl hydroxyl groups at the 5- and 8-position in norwogonin made it a significant antioxidant in AAPH-induced haemolysis. The more hydroxyl groups attached to the chromone ring, the higher the antioxidative activity in protecting erythrocytes against free-radical-induced peroxidation.

Structural and therapeutic insights from the species specificity and in vivo antithrombotic activity of a novel alphaIIb-specific alphaIIbbeta3 antagonist

We previously reported on a novel compound (Compound 1; RUC-1) identified by high-throughput screening that inhibits human alphaIIbbeta3. RUC-1 did not inhibit alphaVbeta3, suggesting that it interacts with alphaIIb, and flexible ligand/rigid protein molecular docking studies supported this speculation. We have now studied RUC-1's effects on murine and rat platelets, which are less sensitive than human to inhibition by Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides due to differences in the alphaIIb sequences contributing to the binding pocket. We found that RUC-1 was much less potent in inhibiting aggregation of murine and rat platelets. Moreover, RUC-1 potently inhibited fibrinogen binding to murine platelets expressing a hybrid alphaIIbbeta3 receptor composed of human alphaIIb and murine beta3, but not a hybrid receptor composed of murine alphaIIb and human beta3. Molecular docking studies of RUC-1 were consistent with the functional data. In vivo studies of RUC-1 administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 26.5 mg/kg demonstrated antithrombotic effects in both ferric chloride carotid artery and laser-induced microvascular injury models in mice with hybrid halphaIIb/mbeta3 receptors. Collectively, these data support RUC-1's specificity for alphaIIb, provide new insights into the alphaIIb binding pocket, and establish RUC-1's antithrombotic effects in vivo.

Application of high-throughput screening to identify a novel alphaIIb-specific small- molecule inhibitor of alphaIIbbeta3-mediated platelet interaction with fibrinogen

Small-molecule alphaIIbbeta3 antagonists competitively block ligand binding by spanning between the D224 in alphaIIb and the MIDAS metal ion in beta3. They variably induce conformational changes in the receptor, which may have undesirable consequences. To identify alphaIIbbeta3 antagonists with novel structures, we tested 33 264 small molecules for their ability to inhibit the adhesion of washed platelets to immobilized fibrinogen at 16 muM. A total of 102 compounds demonstrated 50% or more inhibition, and one of these (compound 1, 265 g/mol) inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation (IC(50): 13+/- 5 muM), the binding of soluble fibrinogen to platelets induced by mAb AP5, and the binding of soluble fibrinogen and a cyclic RGD peptide to purified alphaIIbbeta3. Compound 1 did not affect the function of GPIb, alpha2beta1, or the other beta3 family receptor alphaVbeta3. Molecular docking simulations suggest that compound 1 interacts with alphaIIb but not beta3. Compound 1 induced partial exposure of an alphaIIb ligand-induced binding site (LIBS), but did not induce exposure of 2 beta3 LIBS. Transient exposure of purified alphaIIbbeta3 to eptifibatide, but not compound 1, enhanced fibrinogen binding ("priming"). Compound 1 provides a prototype for small molecule selective inhibition of alphaIIbbeta3, without receptor priming, via targeting alphaIIb.

Synthesis and in vitro antiplatelet activity of new 4-(1-piperazinyl)coumarin derivatives. Human platelet phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitory properties of the two most effective compounds described and molecular modeling study on their interactions with phosphodiesterase 3A catalytic site

The synthesis and in vitro antiplatelet activity significant data of coumarin derivatives 5i-x and quinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives 22a,b, as well as the corresponding structure-activity relationships are described. The recently reported 8-methyl-4-(1-piperazinyl)-7-(3-pyridylmethoxy)coumarin 5f and its potent 7-(2-morpholinoethoxy)-substituted new analogue 5u were notably more effective inhibitors of pure human platelet PDE3 than milrinone and cilostazol: these data were related, through a molecular modeling study, with the molecular interactions of the four compounds with the human PDE3A catalytic site.

QSAR Study of Antimicrobial Activity of Some 3-Nitrocoumarins and Related Compounds

A new class of antimicrobial agents, 3-nitrocoumarins and related compounds, has been chosen as a subject of the present study. In order to explore their activity and molecular properties that determine their antimicrobial effects, QSAR models have been proposed. Most of the 64 descriptors used for the development were extracted from semiempirical and density functional theory (DFT) founded calculations. For this study literature data containing results of microbiological activity screening of 33 coumarin derivatives against selected clinical isolates of C. albicans (CA) and S. aureus (SA) have been selected. Multivariate predictive models based on random forests (RF) and two hybrid classification approaches, genetic algorithms (GA) associated with either support vector machines (SVM) or k nearest neighbor (kNN), have been used for establishment of QSARs. An applied feature selection approach enabled two-dimensional linear separation of active and inactive compounds, which was a necessary tool for rational candidate design and descriptor relevance interpretation. Candidate molecules were checked by cross-validated models, and selected derivatives have been synthesized. Their antimicrobial activities were compared to antimicrobial activities of the representative derivatives from the original set in terms of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against chosen SA and CA ATCC strains. High ranking of descriptors consistent with the degree of hydrolytic instability of selected compounds is common to models of antimicrobial activity against both microorganisms. However, descriptor ranking indicates different antimicrobial mechanisms of action of chosen coumarin derivatives against selected microbial species.

QSAR study of antiplatelet agents

A QSAR methodology that involves multilinear (Hansch-type) and nonlinear (ANN backpropagation) approaches was developed to correlate the antiplatelet activity of 60 benzoxazinone derivatives against factor Xa. The statistical characteristics provided by multilinear model (R2 = 0.821) indicated satisfactory stability and predictive ability, while the ANN predictive ability is somewhat superior (R2 = 0.909). The multilinear model provided insight into the main factors that modulate the inhibitory activity of the investigated compounds.

QSAR studies of paeonol analogues for inhibition of platelet aggregation

Various paeonol analogues were synthesized and tested in vitro as inhibitors of platelet aggregation. Structural properties (or descriptors) of paeonol analogues were calculated and the structure-activity relationships were determined. Several multiple linear and nonlinear regression models and back-propagation neural network model were tested and the latter using relative positive charge, hydration energy, and hydrophilic factor as inputs gave the best data fitting with R2 = 0.89 and q(pre)2 = 0.66. The correlation coefficient between antiplatelet inhibition activity with an interaction energy between the paeonol compounds with COX-1 enzyme is only 0.39.

Design, synthesis, and biological characterization of potential antiatherogenic nitric oxide releasing tocopherol analogs

Synthesis and biological characterization of a series of alpha-tocopherol analogs with NO-releasing capacity are reported. The selected NO-donor moieties were nitrooxy and furoxan. All products were tested for their in vitro NO-releasing capacities, vasodilating properties, and antiplatelet activity. They were also capable of preventing LDL oxidation.

Synthesis and in vitro inhibitory activity on human platelet aggregation of novel properly substituted 4-(1-piperazinyl)coumarins

Pursuing our chemical and biological studies in this field, we described the multistep preparation of the new 5-, 6-, or 7-alkoxy and 7-alkoxy-8-methyl substituted 4-(1-piperazinyl)coumarins 5d-v, as well as the in vitro evaluation of their inhibitory activity on human platelet aggregation induced in platelet-rich plasma by ADP, collagen or the Ca(2+) ionophore A23187. Compounds 5h-j,p,r-u showed notably high activity towards all the platelet aggregation inducers used, and the most active one, 8-methyl-4-(1-piperazinyl)-7-(3-pyridylmethoxy)coumarin (5t), proved to be a potent in vitro antiplatelet agent.

Induction of cell differentiation in human leukemia U-937 cells by 5-oxygenated-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarins from Pterocaulon polystachyum

The present study focused on the effect of a series of extracts and two 5,6,7-trioxygenated coumarins isolated from Pterocaulon polystachyum on the proliferation and differentiation of human promonocytic U-937 cells. The petroleum ether extract was the only extract that significantly reduced cell proliferation and induced cell differentiation. Treatment with pure 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C1) and 5-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C2), present in the petroleum ether extract, showed a time and concentration-dependent inhibition on cell proliferation. In addition, the coumarin derivatives were also able to induce CD88 functionality and NBT reduction, markers of monocytic cell differentiation. These results suggest that C1 and C2 might have a potential therapeutic role in the management of leukemia.

Mechanisms involved in the antiplatelet activity of 8-methyl-4-(1-piperazinyl)-7-(3-pyridinylmethoxy)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (RC414)

The effect on human platelets of 8-methyl-4-(1-piperazinyl)-7-(3-pyridinylmethoxy)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (RC414) was tested in vitro by measuring aggregation induced by several agonists, cAMP and cGMP levels, cAMP phosphodiesterase and PKC activities and [Ca2+]i. The RC414 effect on nitric oxide production was also evaluated. RC414 in a dose-dependent manner inhibited aggregation both in platelet rich plasma and in washed platelets. It was particularly effective in platelets challenged by collagen, ADP and thrombin: IC50 values are 0.51 +/- 0.12 microM, 0.98 +/- 0.36 microM and 1.00 +/- 0.15 microM, respectively. RC414 increased cAMP levels, through the specific inhibition of the cAMP high affinity phosphodiesterase (IC50 = 1.73 +/- 0.35 microM). RC414 reduced [Ca2+]i transients and PKC activation induced by thrombin. In addition RC414 was able to increase nitric oxide formation involving the stimulation of constitutive nitric oxide synthase enzyme. In conclusion, RC414 exerts its powerful anti-platelet activity by increasing cAMP intracellular levels and nitric oxide formation.