Structure-activity relationship studies on 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzimidazoles targeting Mtb-FtsZ as antitubercular agents

Synthetic approaches to potent heterocyclic inhibitors of tuberculosis: A decade review

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant global health concern with about 1.5 million deaths annually. Despite efforts to develop more efficient vaccines, reliable diagnostics, and chemotherapeutics, tuberculosis has become a concern to world health due to HIV, the rapid growth of bacteria that are resistant to treatment, and the recently introduced COVID-19 pandemic. As is well known, advances in synthetic organic chemistry have historically enabled the production of important life-saving medications that have had a tremendous impact on patients' lives and health all over the world. Small-molecule research as a novel chemical entity for a specific disease target offers in-depth knowledge and potential therapeutic targets. In this viewpoint, we concentrated on the synthesis of a number of heterocycles reported in the previous decade and the screening of their inhibitory action against diverse strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These findings offer specific details on the structure-based activity of several heterocyclic scaffolds backed by their in vitro tests as a promising class of antitubercular medicines, which will be further useful to build effective treatments to prevent this terrible illness.

Bacterial FtsZ inhibition by benzo[d]imidazole-2-carboxamide derivative with anti-TB activity

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the mode of action of previously reported anti- Mycobacterium tuberculosis benzo[ d]imidazole-2-carboxamides against FtsZ along with their antibacterial potential. Materials & methods: The anti-mycobacterial action of benzo[ d]imidazole-2-carboxamides against FtsZ was evaluated using inhibition of Bacillus subtilis 168, light scattering assay, circular dichroism spectroscopy, in silico molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Results & conclusion: Three compounds (1k, 1o and 1e) were active against isoniazid-resistant strains. Four compounds (1h, 1i, 1o and 4h) showed >70% inhibition against B. subtilis 168. Compound 1o was the most potent inhibitor (91 ± 5% inhibition) of  B. subtilis 168 FtsZ and perturbed its secondary structure. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation of complexed 1o suggested M. tuberculosis FtsZ as a possible target for antitubercular activity.