Design, synthesis and biological activity evaluation of arylpiperazine derivatives for the treatment of neuropathic pain

Ferroptosis: a new regulatory mechanism in neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain (NP) is pain caused by damage to the somatosensory system. It is a common progressive neurodegenerative disease that usually presents with clinical features such as spontaneous pain, touch-evoked pain, nociceptive hyperalgesia, and sensory abnormalities. Due to the complexity of the mechanism, NP often persists. In addition to the traditionally recognized mechanisms of peripheral nerve damage and central sensitization, excessive iron accumulation, oxidative stress, neuronal inflammation, and lipid peroxidation damage are distinctive features of NP in pathophysiology. However, the mechanisms linking these pathological features to NP are not fully understood. The complexity of the pathogenesis of NP greatly limits the development of therapeutic approaches for NP. Ferroptosis is a novel form of cell death discovered in recent years, in which cell death is usually accompanied by massive iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis-inducing factors can affect glutathione peroxidase directly or indirectly through different pathways, leading to decreased antioxidant capacity and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, ultimately leading to oxidative cell death. It has been shown that ferroptosis is closely related to the pathophysiological process of many neurological disorders such as NP. Possible mechanisms involved are changes in intracellular iron ion levels, alteration of glutamate excitability, and the onset of oxidative stress. However, the functional changes and specific molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis during this process still need to be further explored. How to intervene in the development of NP by regulating cellular ferroptosis has become a hot issue in etiological research and treatment. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent progress of ferroptosis research in NP, to provide a reference for further understanding of its pathogenesis and propose new targets for treatment.

Pharmacological evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of LQFM202: a new piperazine derivative

Advances have been made in the search for new multi-target modulators to control pain and inflammation. Therefore, compound 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methanone (LQFM202) was synthesised and evaluated. First, in vitro assays were performed for COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX enzymes. Subsequently, adult female Swiss albino mice treated orally with LQFM202 at doses of 25-200 mg/kg were subjected to acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain, carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, carrageenan- or zymosan-induced paw oedema, or pleurisy. LQFM202 inhibited COX-1, COX-2, and LOX-5 (IC₅₀ = 3499 µM, 1565 µM, and 1343 µM, respectively). In acute animal models, LQFM202 (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) decreased the amount of abdominal writhing (29%, 52% and 48%, respectively). Pain in the second phase of the formalin test was reduced by 46% with intermediate dose. LQFM202 (100 mg/kg) reduced the difference in nociceptive threshold in all 4 h evaluated (46%, 37%, 30%, and 26%, respectively). LQFM202 (50 mg/kg) decreased the carrageenan-oedema from the second hour (27%, 31% and 25%, respectively); however, LQFM202 (100 mg/kg) decreased the carrageenan-oedema in all hours evaluated (35%, 42%, 48% and 50%, respectively). When using zymosan, LQFM202 (50 mg/kg) decreased the oedema in all hours evaluated (33%, 32%, 31% and 20%, respectively). In the carrageenan-pleurisy test, LQFM202 (50 mg/kg) reduced significantly the number of polymorphonuclear cells (34%), the myeloperoxidase activity (53%), TNF-α levels (47%), and IL-1β levels (58.8%). When using zymosan, LQFM202 (50 mg/kg) reduced the number of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells (54% and 79%, respectively); and the myeloperoxidase activity (46%). These results suggest antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of LQFM202.

Synthesis and Antinociceptive Effect of Some Thiazole-Piperazine Derivatives: Involvement of Opioidergic System in the Activity

In this study, we aimed to design and synthesize novel molecules carrying both the thiazole and piperazine rings in their structures and to investigate their antinociceptive activity. Targeted compounds were obtained by reacting thiosemicarbazide derivative and appropriate 2-bromoacetophenone in ethanol. The structures of the obtained compounds were determined using data from various spectroscopic methods (IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and LCMSMS). Experimental data from in vivo tests showed that test compounds 3a–3c, 3f, and 3g (50 mg/kg) significantly prolonged reaction times of animals in tail-clip and hot-plate tests compared to the controls, indicating that these compounds possess centrally mediated antinociceptive activities. Furthermore, these compounds reduced the number of writhing behaviors in the acetic acid-induced writhing tests, showing that the compounds also possess peripheral antinociceptive activity. In the mechanistic studies, naloxone pre-treatments abolished the antinociceptive activities of compounds 3a–3c, 3f, and 3g, indicating that opioidergic mechanisms were involved in their antinociceptive effects. Molecular docking studies demonstrating significant interactions between the active compounds and µ- and δ-opioid receptor proteins supported the pharmacological findings. This study is the first showing that molecules designed to bear thiazole and piperazine moieties together on their structure exert centrally and peripherally mediated antinociceptive effects by activating the opioid system.

Antinociceptive effect of ranolazine and trimetazidine

Background:Ranolazine and trimetazidine are piperazine derivatives used in antianginal therapy. There are data on the use of these drugs in the treatment of neuropathic pain. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of ranolazine and trimetazidine.Methods: Sixty patients who were started on trimetazidine or ranolazine treatment were included in the study. The patients were evaluated with Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) on the first day of treatment and at the first month follow-up.Results: The SAQ scores of the patients given ranolazine were statistically significantly higher than the patients given trimetazidine. The most significant increase was observed in terms of treatment satisfaction (53.03 ± 8.11 vs. 72.88 ± 5.29, p < 0.001) and quality of life (49.79 ± 8.62 vs. 68.01 ± 0.65, p = 0.016). The decrease in VAS (p = 0.001) and the decrease in STAI scores (p = 0.002) after treatment in the ranolazine group were significantly higher than in the trimetazidine group.Conclusions: Ranolazine and trimetazidine are two effective drugs in antianginal treatment. While both drugs are effective on general systemic musculoskeletal pain and anxiety, the efficacy of ranolazine is more pronounced.

Anti-inflammatory effect of a new piperazine derivative: (4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methanone

AIMS

This study investigates the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of new piperazine compound (LQFM182) as well as the toxicity acute in vitro.

MAIN METHODS

To evaluate the anti-nociceptive activity, the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test, tail flick test and formalin-induced pain test were used. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the models of paw oedema and pleurisy induced by carrageenan and some inflammatory parameters were evaluated, including cell migration, myeloperoxidase enzyme activity and the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines in pleural exudate. The acute oral systemic toxicity of LQFM182 in mice was evaluated through the neutral red uptake (nru) assay.

KEY FINDINGS

LQFM182 (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased the number of writhings induced by acetic acid in a dose-dependent manner, and an intermediate dose (100 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the paw licking time of animals in the second phase of the formalin test. Furthermore, LQFM182 (100 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced oedema formation at all hours of the paw oedema induced by carrageenan test and in pleurisy test reduced cell migration from the reduction of polymorphonuclear cells, myeloperoxidase enzyme activity and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Therefore, it was classified in GHS category 300 < LD₅₀ < 2000 mg/kg.

SIGNIFICANCE

Reduction of the TNF-α and IL-1β levels.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Methyl Salicylate Derivatives Bearing Piperazine Moiety

In this study, a new series of 16 methyl salicylate derivatives bearing a piperazine moiety were synthesized and characterized. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of target compounds were investigated against xylol-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The results showed that all synthesized compounds exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activities. Especially, the anti-inflammatory activities of compounds M15 and M16 were higher than that of aspirin and even equal to that of indomethacin at the same dose. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity activities and anti-inflammatory activities of four target compounds were performed in RAW264.7 macrophages, and compound M16 was found to significantly inhibit the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, compound M16 was found to attenuate LPS induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 up-regulation. The current preliminary study may provide information for the development of new and safe anti-inflammatory agents.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of 4-[(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyl] 1-piperazine carboxylic acid ethyl ester: A new piperazine derivative

Piperazine compounds possess anti-infective, anti-carcinogenic, anxiolytic, hypotensive, anti-hypertensive and vasorelaxant properties and are attractive candidates for the development of new analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. This study investigates the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of piperazine derivative 4-[(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyl]1-piperazine carboxylic acid ethyl ester (LQFM-008) and the involvement of the serotonergic pathway. In the formalin test, treatments with LQFM-008 (15 and 30mg/kg p.o.) reduced the licking time in both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of this test. In the tail flick and hot plate tests, LQFM008 treatment (15 and 30mg/kg p.o.) increased latency to thermal stimulus, suggesting the involvement of central mechanisms in the anti-nociceptive effect of LQFM-008. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema test, LQFM-008 (p.o.) at the doses of 15 and 30mg/kg reduced the edema at all tested time points, while the dose of 7.5mg/kg reduced the edema only for the first hour. LQFM-008 (30mg/kg p.o.) reduced both cell migration and protein exudation in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy test. Furthermore, pre-treatment with NAN-190 (0.6mg/kgi.p.) and PCPA (100mg/kgi.p.) antagonized the anti-nociceptive effect of LQFM-008 in both phases of the formalin test. Our data suggest that LQFM-008 possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects mediated through the serotonergic pathway.