Pyrimidines: Molecular docking and inhibition studies on carbonic anhydrase and cholinesterases

Naphthoquinones and anthraquinones: Exploring their impact on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity

The identification of novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors holds significant relevance in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the prevailing form of dementia. The exploration of alternative inhibitors to the conventional acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is steadily gaining prominence. Quinones, categorized as plant metabolites, represent a specific class of compounds. In this study, the inhibitory effects of various naphthoquinone derivatives, along with anthraquinone and its derivatives, on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme were investigated for this purpose. An in vitro investigation was conducted to examine the effects of these compounds in order to clarify the possible mechanism of inhibition in the interaction between the enzyme and chemicals. In addition, an in silico investigation was carried out to understand the conceivable inhibitor binding process to the enzyme's active site. The acquired outcomes corroborated the in vitro results. The AChE enzyme was found to be effectively inhibited by both naphthoquinones and anthraquinones, with inhibition constant (KI) values ranging from 0.014 to 0.123 μM (micormolar). The AChE enzyme was inhibited differently by this quinone and its derivatives. Although derivatives of naphthoquinone and anthraquinone exhibited a competitive inhibitory effect, derivatives of anthraquinone exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition effect. Furthermore, because it had the lowest KI value of any of these substances, 1,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1c) was shown to be the most potent inhibitor. The findings will add to the body of knowledge on the creation of fresh, potent, and successful treatment approaches.

A Review on Recent Approaches on Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Compounds Targeting Acetylcholinesterase in Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, is characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. Low levels of acetylcholine and abnormal levels of beta-amyloid, T protein aggregation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, have been associated with AD, and therefore, research has been oriented towards the cholinergic system and primarily on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. In this review, we are focusing on the discovery of AChE inhibitors using computer-based modeling and simulation techniques, covering the recent literature from 2018-2022. More specifically, the review discusses the structures of novel, potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and their binding mode to AChE, as well as the physicochemical requirements for the design of potential AChE inhibitors.