Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and antituberculosis activity of some novel polysubstituted aminocarbothiol/thiohydantoin-pyrrolidine derivatives

Lepidium peruvianum as a Source of Compounds with Anticancer and Cosmetic Applications

Lepidium peruvianum-an edible herbaceous biennial plant distributed in the Andes-has been used for centuries as food and as a natural medicine in treating hormonal disorders, as an antidepressant, and as an anti-osteoporotic agent. The presented study aims to prove its beneficial cosmetic and chemopreventive properties by testing the antiradical, whitening, cytotoxic, and anticancer properties of differently colored phenotypes that were extracted using three solvents: methanol, water, and chloroform, with the help of the chemometric approach to provide evidence on the impact of single glucosinolanes (seven identified compounds in the HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis) on the biological activity of the total extracts. The tested extracts exhibited moderate antiradical activity, with the methanolic extract from yellow and grey maca phenotypes scavenging 49.9 ± 8.96% and 48.8% ± 0.44% of DPPH radical solution at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, respectively. Grey maca was the most active tyrosinase inhibitor, with 72.86 ± 3.42% of the enzyme activity calculated for the water extract and 75.66 ± 6.21% for the chloroform extract. The studies in cells showed no cytotoxicity towards the human keratinocyte line HaCaT in all studied extracts and a marked inhibition of cell viability towards the G361 melanoma cell line, which the presence of pent-4-enylglucosinolate, glucotropaeolin, and glucoalyssin in the samples could have caused. Given all biological activity tests combined, the three mentioned compounds were shown to be the most significant positive contributors to the results obtained, and the grey maca water extract was found to be the best source of the former compound among the tested samples.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and docking analysis of pyrrolidine-benzenesulfonamides as carbonic anhydrase or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and antimicrobial agents

The synthesis and biological assessment of novel multi-functionalized pyrrolidine-containing benzenesulfonamides were reported along with their antimicrobial, antifungal, CAs inhibition, and AChE inhibition as well as DNA-binding effects. The chemical structure of the compounds was elucidated by using FTIR, NMR, and HRMS. Compound 3b, which had Ki values of 17.61 ± 3.58 nM (hCA I) and 5.14 ± 0.61 nM (hCA II), was found the be the most potent CAs inhibitor. Compounds 6a and 6b showed remarkable AChE inhibition effects with Ki values 22.34 ± 4.53 nM and 27.21 ± 3.96 nM in comparison to tacrine. Compounds 6a-6c had moderate antituberculosis effect on M. tuberculosis with a MIC value of 15.62 μg/ml. Compounds had weaker antifungal and antibacterial activity in the range of MIC 500-62.5 μg/ml against standard bacterial and fungal strains. Besides these above, molecular docking studies were performed to examine and evaluate the interaction of the remarkable compounds (3b, 6a and 6b) against the current enzymes (CAs and AChE). Novel compounds gained interest in terms of enzyme inhibitory potencies. Therefore, the most potent enzyme inhibitors may be considered lead compounds to be modified for further research.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Recent insights about pyrrolidine core skeletons in pharmacology

To overcome numerous health disorders, heterocyclic structures of synthetic or natural origin are utilized, and notably, the emergence of various side effects of existing drugs used for treatment or the resistance of disease-causing microorganisms renders drugs ineffective. Therefore, the discovery of potential therapeutic agents that utilize different modes of action is of utmost significance to circumvent these constraints. Pyrrolidines, pyrrolidine-alkaloids, and pyrrolidine-based hybrid molecules are present in many natural products and pharmacologically important agents. Their key roles in pharmacotherapy make them a versatile scaffold for designing and developing novel biologically active compounds and drug candidates. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advancements (especially during 2015-2023) in the exploration of pyrrolidine derivatives, emphasizing their significance as fundamental components of the skeletal structure. In contrast to previous reviews that have predominantly focused on a singular biological activity associated with these molecules, this review consolidates findings from various investigations encompassing a wide range of important activities (antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, cholinesterase inhibition, and carbonic anhydrase inhibition) exhibited by pyrrolidine derivatives. This study is also anticipated to serve as a valuable resource for drug research and development endeavors, offering significant insights and guidance.

Patterns of Cell Death Induced by Thiohydantoins in Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Conventional therapies for breast cancer is still a challenge due to use of cytotoxic drugs not highly effective with major adverse effects. Thiohydantoins, are biologically active heterocyclic compounds reported by several biological activities, including anticarcinogenic properties, i.e., this work aimed to assess the use of thiohydantoin as a potential antitumor agent against MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

METHODS

MTT and neutral red assays were used to assess the possible cytotoxic activity of compounds against MCF-7 cells. Cell volume measurement and analysis were performed by flow cytometry, fluorescence analysis was carried out to determine patterns of cell death induced by thiohydantoins.

RESULTS

The treatment with micromolar doses of thiohydantoins promoted a decrease in the viability of MCF-7 breast tumor cells. Also were observed the increase in ROS and NO production, reduction in cell volume, loss of membrane integrity, mitochondrial depolarization, and increased fluorescence for annexin V and caspase-3. These findings indicate cell death by apoptosis and increased formation of autophagic vacuoles and stopping the cell cycle in the G1/ G0 phase.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that thiohydantoins are cytotoxic to breast tumor cells, and this effect is linked to the increase in ROS production. This phenomenon changes tumorigenic pathways, that lead to a halt of the cell cycle in G1/G0, an important checkpoint for DNA errors, which may have altered the process by which cells produce energy, causing a decrease in mitochondrial viability and thus leading to the apoptotic process. Furthermore, the results indicate increased autophagy, a vital process linked to a decrease in lysosomal viability and considered as a cell death and tumor suppression mechanism.

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Thiohydantoins Obtained from L-Amino Acids

Background:

Thiohydantoins are an important class of heterocyclic compounds in drug discovery since they are related to a wide range of biological properties including antimicrobial activity.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to synthesize a series of thiohydantoins derived from Laminoacids and to evaluated their inhibitory effect on the growth of Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria.

Methods:

All title compounds were synthetized by reaction of L-amino acids with thiourea or ammonium thiocyanate. Their antimicrobial activities were evaluated against bacterial strains by broth microdilution assays. The time-kill kinetics, the antibiofilm activity and the cytotoxicity to mammalian cells were determined for the compound that exhibited the best antimicrobial profile (1b).

Results:

Eleven thiohydantoins were readily obtained in good yields (52-95%). In general, thiohydantoins were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Compound 1b (derived from Lalanine) showed the best antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermis ATCC 12228 and S. aureus BEC 9393 with MIC values of 940 and 1921 µM, respectively. The time-kill kinetics demonstrated time-dependent bactericidal effect in both strains for this derivative. Besides, 1b also exhibited antibacterial activity against biofilms of S. epidermidis ATCC 12228, leading to a 40% reduction in their metabolic activity compared to the untreated control. No cytotoxicity of 1b to mammalian cells was observed at MIC values.

Conclusion:

The data reported herein indicate relevant antimicrobial activity of thiohydantoins derived from L-aminoacid, mainly 1b, as potential pharmacophore to guide further chemical modification aiming at the search for new and improved antimicrobial agents.

Progress on the Chemical Constituents Derived from Glucosinolates in Maca (Lepidium meyenii)

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.), a famous food supplement, has drawn an unprecedented international interest over the last two decades. It was assumed that glucosinolates, macamides, macaenes, and alkaloids are the main bioactive components of Maca before. Recently, a series of novel thiohydantoins which generally exhibit a variety of activities have been isolated from Maca. This review focuses on the progress on the main bioactive components of Maca and their biosynthetic pathway, which indicates that macamides, thiohydantoins, and some alkaloids may originate from glucosinolates. Interestingly, thiohydantoins from Maca are the first type of thiohydantoin derivatives to be found from a natural source and may contribute to some significant effects of Maca.