Multitarget Effect of 2-(4-(Methylthio)phenyl)-3-(3-(piperidin-1-yl)propyl)thiazolidin-4-one in a Scopolamine-Induced Amnesic Rat Model

Cholinergic system dysfunction, oxidative damage, and alterations in ion pump activity have been associated with memory loss and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease. 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones have emerged as a class of compounds with potential therapeutic effects due to their potent anticholinesterase activity. Accordingly, this study investigated the effect of the 2-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-3-(3-(piperidin-1-yl)propyl)thiazolidin-4-one (DS12) compound on memory, cholinergic and oxidative stress parameters, ion pump activity, and serum biochemical markers in a scopolamine-induced memory deficit model. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: I-Control; II-Scopolamine; III-DS12 (5 mg/kg) + scopolamine; and IV-DS12 (10 mg/kg) + scopolamine. The animals from groups III and IV received DS12 diluted in canola oil and administered for 7 days by gavage. On the last day of treatment, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 min after training in an inhibitory avoidance apparatus. Twenty-four hours after scopolamine administration, the animals were subjected to an inhibitory avoidance test and were thereafter euthanized. Scopolamine induced memory deficits, increased acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative damage, and decreased Na+/K+-ATPase activity in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Pretreatment with DS12 prevented these brain alterations. Scopolamine also induced an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in lymphocytes and whereas butyrylcholinesterase in serum and treatment with DS12 prevented these changes. In animals treated with DS12, no changes were observed in renal and hepatic parameters when compared to the control group. In conclusion, DS12 emerged as an important multitarget compound capable of preventing neurochemical changes associated with memory deficits.

In Vitro Effects of 2-{4-[Methylthio(methylsulfonyl)]phenyl}-3-substitutedthiazolidin-4-ones on the Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Rat Brain and Lymphocytes: Isoform Selectivity, Kinetic Analysis, and Molecular Docking

This work evaluated the in vitro effect of thiazolidin-4-ones on the activity of AChE (total and isoforms) isolated from the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and lymphocytes. Kinetic parameters were evaluated and molecular docking was performed. Our results showed that thiazolidinones derived from 4-(methylthio)benzaldehyde (1) and from 4-(methylsulfonyl)benzaldehyde (2) were capable of inhibiting the AChE activity in vitro. Three compounds, two with a propylpiperidine (1b and 2b) moiety and one with a 3-(diethylamino)propyl (1c) moiety showed IC₅₀ values of 13.81 μM, and 3.13 μM (1b), 55.36 μM and 44.33 μM (1c) for cerebral cortex and hippocampus, respectively, and 3.11 μM for both (2b). Enzyme kinetics revealed that the type of AChE inhibition was mixed. Compound 1b inhibited the G1 and G4 AChE isoforms, while compounds 1c and 2b selectively inhibited the G4 isoform. Molecular docking showed a possible three-dimensional fit into the enzyme. Our findings showed that these thiazolidin-4-ones, especially those containing the propylpiperidine core, have a potential cholinesterase inhibitory activity and can be considered good candidates for future Alzheimer's therapy.

Anticancer potential of new steroidal thiazolidin-4-one derivatives. Mechanisms of cytotoxic action and effects on angiogenesis in vitro

The synthesis and cytotoxic activities determination of new steroidal mono- and bis(thiazolidin-4-ones) 4a-f and 5a-f have been performed. Their anticancer action was also evaluated in comparison to previously synthesized and reported corresponding steroidal thiosemicarbazones. All compounds were obtained as stereoisomeric mixtures with different configuration (E or Z) in the hydrazone moiety at the C-3 position. After several consecutive crystallizations diastereomerically pure major (E)-isomers of mono-thiazolidin-4-ones were isolated. The structure and stereochemistry of 2,4-thiazolidinedione,2-[(17-oxoandrost-4-en-3-ylidene)hydrazone] were confirmed by X-ray analysis. A pathway for the formation of thiazolidin-4-one ring was proposed. The steroid thiazolidinone derivatives examined in this study exerted selective concentration-dependent cytotoxic activities on six tested malignant cell lines. Ten out of twelve examined compounds exhibited strong cytotoxic effects on K562 cells (IC₅₀ values from 8.5μM to 14.9μM), eight on HeLa cells (IC₅₀ values ranging from 8.9μM to 15.1μM) while against MDA-MB-361 cells six compouds exerted similar or even higher cytotoxic action (IC₅₀ values from 12.7μM to 25.6μM) than cisplatin (21.5μM) which served as a positive control. Eight of these ten compounds showed high selectivity in the cytotoxic action against HeLa and K562 cancer cell lines when compared with normal human fibroblasts MRC-5 and normal human PBMC. The study of mechanisms of the anticancer activity of the two selected compounds, mono- and bis(thiazolidin-4-one) derivatives of 19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione 4a and 5a, revealed that both of these compounds induced apoptosis in HeLa cells through extrinsic and intrinsic signalling pathways. Treatment of EA.hy926 cells with sub-toxic concentrations of these compounds led to the inhibition of cell connecting and sprouting, and tube formation. The synthesized compounds exhibited poor antioxidant activity.

One-pot sonochemical synthesis of 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones using nano-CdZr4(PO4)6 as a robust heterogeneous catalyst

An efficient three-component synthesis of 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones is described by one-pot condensation of aldehydes, aniline and thioglycolic acid with nano-CdZr4(PO4)6 as a robust heterogeneous catalyst under ultrasonic irradiation. Use of simple and readily available starting materials, experimental simplicity, applying the sonochemical methodology as an efficient method and innocuous means of activation in synthetic chemistry are some advantages of this protocol.