Development, synthesis, and biological evaluation of sulfonyl-α-l-amino acids as potential anti-Helicobacter pylori and IMPDH inhibitors

Design and Synthesis of Mycophenolic Acid Analogues for Osteosarcoma Cancer Treatment

Mycophenolic acid (MPA), a natural compound, was modified to new MPA analogues via the classical method of silylation and esterification. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro on four osteosarcoma cancer cell lines (MNNG/HOS, U2OS, 143B, and SaOS-2) and human normal cells (hFOB 1.19). The most potent silicon-containing compound 2d (R1 = TPS, R2 = H) exhibited good cytotoxic activity against all osteosarcoma cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.64 to 2.27 μM and showing low cytotoxicity against normal cells. Further investigations revealed that compound 2d (R1 = TPS, R2 = H) displayed significant inhibition of IMPDH2 with K i app 1.8 μM. Furthermore, molecular modeling studies were performed to investigate the binding affinity of 2d (R1 = TPS, R2 = H) which can effectively bind to critical amino acids of three proteins (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2; VEGFR-2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2; CDK2, inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase; IMPDH) involved in cancer therapy. This finding suggests that triphenylsilyl-MPA (TPS-MPA) analogue could serve as a promising starting point for developing new anticancer drugs for osteosarcoma.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori, anti-biofilm activity, and molecular docking study of citropten, bergapten, and its positional isomer isolated from Citrus sinensis L. leaves

Introduction

Citrus sinensis L. is a candidate plant with promising antimicrobial potential. In the current study, the phytochemical investigation of C. sinensis leaf extract led to the isolation of three coumarins, namely bergapten, xanthotoxin, and citropten.

Methods

The chemical structures of the isolated coumarins were elucidated using NMR and ESI-MS techniques. The total aqueous ethanol leaf extract and the isolated coumarins were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against Helicobacter pylori using the MTT-micro-well dilution method and its anti-biofilm activity using MBEC assay, as compared to clarithromycin.

Results

The results showed that citropten scored the lowest MIC value at 3.9 μg/mL and completely inhibited the planktonic growth of H. pylori. In addition, it completely suppressed H. pylori biofilm at 31.25 μg/mL. These findings have been supported by molecular docking studies on the active sites of the H. pylori inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (HpIMPDH) model and the urease enzyme, showing a strong binding affinity of citropten to HpIMPDH with seven hydrogen bonds and a binding energy of -6.9 kcal/mol. Xanthotoxin and bergapten showed good docking scores, both at -6.5 kcal/mol for HpIMPDH, with each having four hydrogen bondings. Furthermore, xanthotoxin showed many hydrophobic interactions, while bergapten formed one Pi-anion interaction. Concerning docking in the urease enzyme, the compounds showed mild to moderate binding affinities as compared to the ligand. Thus, based on docking results and good binding scores observed with the HpIMPDH active site, an in-vitro HpIMPDH inhibition assay was done for the compounds. Citropten showed the most promising inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 2.4 μM. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that C. sinensis L. leaves are a good source for supplying coumarins that can act as naturally effective anti-H. pylori agents.

Evaluation of the in vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of chitosan-based biomaterials modified with copper oxide nanoparticles

For chemical modification, p-aminobenzoic acid was incorporated into chitosan Schiff base (ACsSB) and chitosan (ACs). Two ACs-based CuO nanoparticles composites; ACs/CuONPs-1 % and ACs/CuONPs-5 %, were also synthesized. Their structures were emphasized utilizing several analytical techniques; elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR, XRD, SEM, EDX and TEM. Compared with standard cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, Celecoxib, the prepared biomaterials showed in vitro selective inhibitory effectiveness against COX-2 enzyme that could be sorted, according to their MIC values that produce 50 % inhibition of COX-2 enzyme activity, as follows: Celecoxib (0.28 μg/mL) > ACs/CuONPs-5 % (4.1 μg/mL) > ACs/CuONPs-1 % (14.8 μg/mL) > ACs (38.5 μg/mL) > ACsSB (58.9 μg/mL) > chitosan (>125 μg/mL). Further, ACs/CuONPs-5 % has more in vitro inhibition efficiency towards Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) than the other prepared biomaterials. Interestingly, the MIC value of 100 % growth inhibition of H. pylori for ACs/CuONP-5 % is equal to that of drug Clarithromycin (1.95 μg/mL). Thus, ACs/CuONPs-5 % has a promising potential as anti-H. pylori and selective anti-inflammatory agent. ACs/CuONPs-5 % is safe on the human gastric normal cells (GES-1). Therefore, amalgamation of both p-aminobenzoic acid and CuONPs into chitosan extremely promoted its anti-inflammatory and anti-H. pylori activity. This is a promising approach to achieve methods successful to compete the conventional antibiotics.

Promising anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-inflammatory metabolites from unused parts of Phoenix dactylifera CV 'Zaghloul': in vitro and in silico study

CONTEXT

Date palm waste is an agricultural waste that accumulates in massive amounts causing serious pollution and environmental problems.

OBJECTIVES

Date palm trees, Phoenix dactylifera Linn CV 'Zaghloul' (Arecaceae) grown in Egypt, leave behind waste products that were investigated to produce compounds with anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-inflammatory activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chromatographic workup of P. dactylifera aqueous methanol extract derived from fibrous mesh and fruit bunch (without fruit) afforded a new sesquiterpene lactone derivative, phodactolide A (1), along with ten known compounds (2-11), primarily identified as polyphenols. Chemical structures were unambiguously elucidated based on mass and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. All isolated compounds were assessed for their activities against H. pylori using broth micro-well dilution method and clarithromycin as a positive control. The anti-inflammatory response of isolated compounds was evaluated by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme using TMPD Assay followed by an in silico study to validate their mechanism of action using celecoxib as a standard drug.

RESULTS

Compounds 4, 6 and 8-10 exhibited potent anti-H. pylori activity with MIC values ranging from 0.48 to 1.95 µg/mL that were comparable to or more potent than clarithromycin. For COX-2 inhibitory assay, 4, 7 and 8 revealed promising activities with IC₅₀ values of 1.04, 0.65 and 0.45 μg/mL, respectively. These results were verified by molecular docking studies, where 4, 7 and 8 showed the best interactions with key amino acid residues of COX-2 active site.

CONCLUSION

The present study characterizes a new sesquiterpene lactone and recommends 4 and 8 for future in vivo studies as plausible anti-ulcer remedies.

Compartmentalization and regulation of GTP in control of cellular phenotypes

Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of enzymes involved in GTP biosynthesis has substantial biological effects, underlining the need to better understand the function of GTP levels in regulation of cellular processes and the significance of targeting GTP biosynthesis enzymes for therapeutic intervention. Our current understanding of spatiotemporal regulation of GTP metabolism and its role in physiological and pathological cellular processes is far from complete. Novel methodologies such as genetically encoded sensors of free GTP offered insights into intracellular distribution and function of GTP molecules. In the current Review, we provide analysis of recent discoveries in the field of GTP metabolism and evaluate the key enzymes as molecular targets.

Irigenin, a novel lead from Iris confusa for management of Helicobacter pylori infection with selective COX-2 and HpIMPDH inhibitory potential

The development of new natural drugs for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) management has recently received significant attention. Iris confusa (I. confusa) was long used for the treatment of bacterial infections and gastritis. This study aimed at evaluating its effect on management of H. pylori infection and exploring its bioactive metabolites. The inhibitory potential of the polar (PF), non-polar (NPF) fractions and the isolated compounds against H. pylori using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in addition to their cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities were assessed. The most biologically active compound was tested for its selective H. pylori inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (HpIMPDH) inhibitory potential. Chromatographic purification of PF and NPF allowed isolation of tectoridin, orientin, irigenin, tectorigenin, isoarborinol and stigmasterol. The PF exhibited significant anti-H. pylori (MIC 62.50 µg/mL), COX-1, COX-2 (IC50 of 112.08 ± 0.60 and 47.90 ± 1.50 µg/mL respectively, selectivity index SI of 2.34), and NO (IC50 47.80 ± 0.89 µg/mL) inhibitory activities, while irigenin was the most potent isolated compound. Irigenin was found to have a promising activity against HpIMPDH enzyme (IC50 of 2.07 ± 1.90 μM) with low activity against human hIMPDH2 (IC50 > 10 μM) than clarithromycin, assuring its selectivity. Overall, I. confusa and its isolated compounds may serve as a potential source of plant-based drugs for H. pylori control. This study scientifically validated the claimed anti-bacterial activity of I. confusa and revealed irigenin potential as a novel lead exhibiting anti H. pylori activity in a first record.