Isoprenyl-thiourea and urea derivatives as new farnesyl diphosphate analogues: synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

Design, Synthesis, Computational Studies, and Anti-Proliferative Evaluation of Novel Ethacrynic Acid Derivatives Containing Nitrogen Heterocycle, Urea, and Thiourea Moieties as Anticancer Agents

In the present work, the synthesis of new ethacrynic acid (EA) derivatives containing nitrogen heterocyclic, urea, or thiourea moieties via efficient and practical synthetic procedures was reported. The synthesised compounds were screened for their anti-proliferative activity against two different cancer cell lines, namely, HL60 (promyelocytic leukaemia) and HCT116 (human colon carcinoma). The results of the in vitro tests reveal that compounds 1-3, 10, 16(a-c), and 17 exhibit potent anti-proliferative activity against the HL60 cell line, with values of the percentage of cell viability ranging from 20 to 35% at 1 μM of the drug and IC50 values between 2.37 μM and 0.86 μM. Compounds 2 and 10 showed a very interesting anti-proliferative activity of 28 and 48% at 1 μM, respectively, against HCT116. Two PyTAP-based fluorescent EA analogues were also synthesised and tested, showing good anti-proliferative activity. A test on the drug-likeness properties in silico of all the synthetised compounds was performed in order to understand the mechanism of action of the most active compounds. A molecular docking study was conducted on two human proteins, namely, glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (pdb:2GSS) and caspase-3 (pdb:4AU8) as target enzymes. The docking results show that compounds 2 and 3 exhibit significant binding modes with these enzymes. This finding provides a potential strategy towards developing anticancer agents, and most of the synthesised and newly designed compounds show good drug-like properties.

hERG stereoselective modulation by mexiletine-derived ureas: Molecular docking study, synthesis, and biological evaluation

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of cardiac electrophysiology resulting in life-threatening arrhythmias; nowadays, only a few drugs are available for the management of LQTS. Focusing our attention on LQT2, one of the most common subtypes of LQTS caused by mutations in the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG), in the present work, the stereoselectivity of the recently discovered mexiletine-derived urea 8 was investigated on the hERG potassium channel. According to preliminary in silico predictions, in vitro studies revealed a stereoselective behavior, with the meso form showing the greatest hERG opening activity. In addition, functional studies on guinea pig isolated left atria, aorta, and ileum demonstrated that 8 does not present any cardiac or intestinal liability in our ex vivo studies. Due to its overall profile, (R,S)-8 paves the way for the design and development of a new series of compounds potentially useful in the treatment of both congenital and drug-induced forms of LQTS.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Activities of (Thio)Urea Benzothiazole Derivatives

(Thio)ureas ((T)Us) and benzothiazoles (BTs) each have demonstrated to have a great variety of biological activities. When these groups come together, the 2-(thio)ureabenzothizoles [(T)UBTs] are formed, improving the physicochemical as well as the biological properties, making these compounds very interesting in medicinal chemistry. Frentizole, bentaluron and methabenzthiazuron are examples of UBTs used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and as wood preservatives and herbicides in winter corn crops, respectively. With this antecedent, we recently reported a bibliographic review about the synthesis of this class of compounds, from the reaction of substituted 2-aminobenzothiazoles (ABTs) with iso(thio)cyanates, (thio)phosgenes, (thio)carbamoyl chlorides, 1,1'-(thio)carbonyldiimidazoles, and carbon disulfide. Herein, we prepared a bibliographic review about those features of design, chemical synthesis, and biological activities relating to (T)UBTs as potential therapeutic agents. This review is about synthetic methodologies generated from 1968 to the present day, highlighting the focus to transform (T)UBTs to compounds containing a range substituents, as illustrated with 37 schemes and 11 figures and concluded with 148 references. In this topic, the scientists dedicated to medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical industry will find useful information for the design and synthesis of this interesting group of compounds with the aim of repurposing these compounds.

Synthesis and Biological Importance of 2-(thio)ureabenzothiazoles

The (thio)urea and benzothiazole (BT) derivatives have been shown to have a broad spectrum of biological activities. These groups, when bonded, result in the 2-(thio)ureabenzothizoles (TBT and UBT), which could favor the physicochemical and biological properties. UBTs and TBTs are compounds of great importance in medicinal chemistry. For instance, Frentizole is a UBT derivative used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The UBTs Bentaluron and Bethabenthiazuron are commercial fungicides used as wood preservatives and herbicides in winter corn crops. On these bases, we prepared this bibliography review, which covers chemical aspects of UBTs and TBTs as potential therapeutic agents as well as their studies on the mechanisms of a variety of pharmacological activities. This work covers synthetic methodologies from 1935 to nowadays, highlighting the most recent approaches to afford UBTs and TBTs with a variety of substituents as illustrated in 42 schemes and 13 figures and concluded with 187 references. In addition, this interesting review is designed on chemical reactions of 2-aminobenzothiazoles (2ABTs) with (thio)phosgenes, iso(thio)cyanates, 1,1′-(thio)carbonyldiimidazoles [(T)CDI]s, (thio)carbamoyl chlorides, and carbon disulfide. This topic will provide information of utility for medicinal chemists dedicated to the design and synthesis of this class of compounds to be tested with respect to their biological activities and be proposed as new pharmacophores.

Design, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics of thiourea-iron (III) metal complexes as NUDT5 inhibitors for breast cancer treatment

In research, anticancer agents, such as thiourea derivative compounds, and metal complexes, such as those complexed with iron (III) metal, are often studied. The metal complexes are presumably more active than thiourea derivatives as free ligands; some negative effects may be reduced. The computational studies used in this study involved molecular docking with AutoDock and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using Desmond to evaluate the stability of the interactions. The docking and MD analysis results showed that compounds 2 and 6 had stable interactions with NUDIX hydrolase type 5 (NUDT5)—one of the therapeutic targets for breast cancer—where they had the lowest root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) values compared to the other compounds. Together, these compounds are anti-breast cancer drug candidates.

Synthesis of novel thiourea-/urea-benzimidazole derivatives as anticancer agents

A new series of urea and thiourea derivatives containing benzimidazole group as potential anticancer agents have been designed and synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized and confirmed by spectroscopic techniques such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. In vitro anticancer assay against two breast cancer (BC) cell lines, MDA-MB-231ER(−)/PR(−) and MCF-7ER(+)/PR(+), revealed that the cytotoxicity of 1-(2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-ylamino)ethyl)-3-p-tolylthiourea (7b) and 4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-N-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine-1-carboxamide (5d) were higher in MCF-7 with IC50 values of 25.8 and 48.3 µM, respectively, as compared with MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, 7b and 5d were assessed for their apoptotic potential using 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and Caspase-3/7. After incubation with MCF-7, the compounds 7b and 5d induced apoptosis through caspase-3/7 activation. In conclusion, the compounds 7b and 5d are potential candidates for inducing apoptosis in different genotypic BC cell lines.

Investigation of the reactivity properties of a thiourea derivative with anticancer activity by DFT and MD simulations

Spectroscopic analysis of 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]thiourea (FPTT) is reported. Experimental and theoretical analyses of FPTT, with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, are reported for finding different parameters like identification of suitable excipients, interactions with water, and sensitivity towards autoxidation. Molecular dynamics and docking show that FPTT can act as a potential inhibitor for new drug. Additionally, local reactivity, interactivity with water, and compatibility of FPTT molecule with frequently used excipients have been studied by combined application of density functional theory (DFT) and MD simulations. Analysis of local reactivity has been performed based on selected fundamental quantum-molecular descriptors, while interactivity with water was studied by calculations of radial distribution functions (RDFs). Compatibility with excipients has been assessed through calculations of solubility parameters, applying MD simulations. Graphical abstract Reactive sites identified.

Serinol-Based Benzoic Acid Esters as New Scaffolds for the Development of Adenovirus Infection Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Biological Evaluation

Over the years, human adenovirus (HAdV) has progressively been recognized as a significant viral pathogen. Traditionally associated with self-limited respiratory, gastrointestinal, and conjunctival infections, mainly in immunocompromised patients, HAdV is currently considered to be a pathogen presenting significant morbidity and mortality in both immunosuppressed and otherwise healthy individuals. Currently available therapeutic options are limited because of their lack of effectivity and related side effects. In this context, there is an urgent need to develop effective anti-HAdV drugs with suitable therapeutic indexes. In this work, we identified new serinol-derived benzoic acid esters as novel scaffolds for the inhibition of HAdV infections. A set of 38 compounds were designed and synthesized, and their antiviral activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Four compounds (13, 14, 27, and 32) inhibited HAdV infection at low micromolar concentrations (2.82-5.35 μM). Their half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values were lower compared to that of cidofovir, the current drug of choice. All compounds significantly reduced the HAdV DNA replication process, while they did not block any step of the viral entry. Our results showed that compounds 13, 14, and 32 seem to be targeting the expression of the E1A early gene. Moreover, all four derivatives demonstrated a significant inhibition of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA replication. This new scaffold may represent a potential tool useful for the development of effective anti-HAdV drugs.

Synthesis and antiproliferative screening of novel doubly modified colchicines containing urea, thiourea and guanidine moieties

A new series of 10-demethoxy-10-methylaminocolchicines bearing urea, thiourea or aguanidine moieties at position C7 has been designed, synthesized and evaluated for in vitro anticancer activity against different cancer cell lines (A549, MCF-7, LoVo, LoVo/DX). The majority of the new derivatives were active in the nanomolar range and were characterized by lower IC₅₀ values than cisplatin or doxorubicin. Two ureas (4 and 8) and thioureas (19 and 25) were found to be good antiproliferative agents (low IC₅₀ values and high SI) and could prove to be promising candidates for further research in the field of anticancer drugs based on the colchicine skeleton.

Synthetic Transition from Thiourea-Based Compounds to Tetrazole Derivatives: Structure and Biological Evaluation of Synthesized New N-(Furan-2-ylmethyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-amine Derivatives

Twelve novel derivatives of N-(furan-2-ylmethyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-amine were synthesized. For obtained compound 8, its corresponding substrate single crystals were isolated and X-ray diffraction experiments were completed. In the initial stage of research, in silico structure-based pharmacological prediction was conducted. All compounds were screened for their antibacterial and antimycobacterial activities using standard and clinical strains. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines, in contrast to normal (HaCaT) cell lines, by using the MTT method. All examined derivatives were found to be noncytotoxic against normal cell lines. Within the studied group, compound 6 showed the most promising results in antimicrobial studies. It inhibited four hospital S. epidermidis rods' growth, when applied at the amount of 4 µg/mL. However, the most susceptible to the presence of compound 6 was S. epidermidis T 5501 851/19 clinical strain, for which the MIC value was only 2 µg/mL. Finally, a pharmacophore model was established based on lead compounds from this and our previous work.

Synthesis of New Thioureas Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Efficacy as Proliferation Inhibitors in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells by Using 99mTc-MIBI Radiotracer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Anti-tumor activity of some thioureas derivatives is well documented in literature and received considerable attention. The present study aims to synthesize and characterize some novel thioureas and carbonylthioureas as anti-tumor agents for MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Several 1-allyl-3-(substituted phenyl), N,N'-(phenylene) bis(3- allyldithithiourea) and 1-cyclopropanecarbonyl-3-(substituted phenyl)-thioureas derivatives were synthesized and confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, NMR and 13C-NMR. Anti-tumor activity of these compounds was determined by various in vitro and in vivo assays including; MTT, tumor volume measurement as well as,99mTc-MIBI tumor uptake in MCF-7 tumor bearing nude mice.

RESULTS

Among all of the synthesized compounds, some thioureas derivatives [3i] and [4b] at 100 nM concentration exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MCF-7 cell in vitro. However, this inhibition was not observed in HUVEC human endothelial normal cells. In vivo anti-tumor effects of the synthesized compounds on MCF-7 xenograft mouse models demonstrated a reduction in the tumor volume for various concentrations between 2 to 10 mg/kg after 21 days. These effects were comparable with Tamoxifen as standard anti-estrogen drug. According to the 99mTc-MIBI biodistribution result, treatment of MCF-7 bearing nude mice with both [3i] and [4b] compounds at the maximum concentration (10 mg/kg) can lead to a significant decrease of 99mTc- MIBI tumor uptake.

CONCLUSION

Compounds [3i] and [4b] suppressed the growth of MCF-7 cells in the xenograft nude mice at the doses that were well-tolerated. Our study suggests that these new compounds with their significant anti-tumor effects, may serve as useful candidates for breast cancer therapy.

Exploration of piperazine-derived thioureas as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. In vitro evaluation against clinical isolates of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

A. baumannii is one of the most important multidrug-resistant microorganisms in hospital units. It is resistant to many classes of antibiotics and the development of new therapeutic strategies is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of a set of piperazine-derived thioureas against 13 clinical strains of colistin-resistant A. baumannii. Six derivatives were identified to inhibit bacterial growth of 46% of the A. baumannii strains at low micromolar concentrations (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration from 1.56 to 6.25 μM). A common structural feature in most active compounds was the presence of a 3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl phenyl ring at the thiourea function. In addition, the ability of the compounds to inhibit production of nitric oxide (NO) was examined in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, highlighting the potential of piperazine-derived thioureas as promising scaffolds for the design of new combined anti-bacterial/anti-inflammatory agents.

G protein-coupled receptor binding and pharmacological evaluation of indole-derived thiourea compounds

Four 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylthiourea derivatives were prepared by condensation of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanamine with the corresponding aryl/alkylisothiocyanates in a medium-polarity solvent. Their structures were confirmed by spectral techniques, and the molecular structure of 3 was determined by X-ray crystal analysis. For all derivatives, the binding affinities at the 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_2C receptors, as well as their functional activities at the 5-HT_1A and D₂ receptors, were determined. The arylthioureas 1 and 4 were the most active at the 5-HT_1A receptor, showing, at the same time, significant selectivity over the studied 5-HT₂ and D₂ receptor subtypes. The compounds were tested for their pharmacological activities within the central nervous system in relevant mouse models. The involvement of the serotonergic system in the activity of 1 and 4 was indicated. The antinociceptive action of 4 was linked to its anti-inflammatory activity.

Optimization of piperazine-derived ureas privileged structures for effective antiadenovirus agents

In recent years, human adenovirus (HAdV) infections have shown a high clinical impact in both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients. The research into specific antiviral drugs for the treatment of HAdV infections in immunocompromised patients constitutes a principal objective for medicinal chemistry due to the lack of any specific secure drug to treat these infections. In this study, we report a small-molecule library (67 compounds) designed from an optimization process of piperazine-derived urea privileged structures and their biological evaluation: antiviral activity and cytotoxicity. The active compounds selected were further evaluated to gain mechanistic understanding for their inhibition. Twelve derivatives were identified that inhibited HAdV infections at nanomolar and low micromolar concentrations (IC₅₀ from 0.6 to 5.1 μM) with low cytotoxicity. In addition, our mechanistic assays suggested differences in the way the derivatives exert their anti-HAdV activity targeting transcription, DNA replication and later steps in the HAdV replication cycle. Furthermore, eight of the 12 studied derivatives blocked human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA replication at low micromolar concentrations. The data provided herein indicates that the 12 thiourea/urea piperazine derivatives studied may represent potential lead compounds for clinical evaluation and development of new anti-HAdV drugs.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Indole-Derived Thioureas

A series of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylthiourea derivatives were prepared by condensation of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethanamine with appropriate aryl/alkylisothiocyanates in anhydrous media. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and the molecular structures of 8 and 28 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. All obtained compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative rods and for antifungal activity. Microbiological evaluation was carried out over 20 standard strains and 30 hospital strains. Compound 6 showed significant inhibition against Gram-positive cocci and had inhibitory effect on the S. aureus topoisomerase IV decatenation activity and S. aureus DNA gyrase supercoiling activity. Compounds were tested for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against a large panel of DNA and RNA viruses, including HIV-1 and other several important human pathogens. Interestingly, derivative 8 showed potent activity against HIV-1 wild type and variants bearing clinically relevant mutations. Newly synthesized tryptamine derivatives showed also a wide spectrum activity, proving to be active against positive- and negative-sense RNA viruses.

Tumour-Derived Glutamate: Linking Aberrant Cancer Cell Metabolism to Peripheral Sensory Pain Pathways

Background

Chronic pain is a major symptom that develops in cancer patients, most commonly emerging during advanced stages of the disease. The nature of cancer-induced pain is complex, and the efficacy of current therapeutic interventions is restricted by the dose-limiting side-effects that accompany common centrally targeted analgesics.

Methods

This review focuses on how up-regulated glutamate production and export by the tumour converge at peripheral afferent nerve terminals to transmit nociceptive signals through the transient receptor cation channel, TRPV1, thereby initiating central sensitization in response to peripheral disease-mediated stimuli.

Results

Cancer cells undergo numerous metabolic changes that include increased glutamine catabolism and over-expression of enzymes involved in glutaminolysis, including glutaminase. This mitochondrial enzyme mediates glutaminolysis, producing large pools of intracellular glutamate. Up-regulation of the plasma membrane cystine/glutamate antiporter, system xc-, promotes aberrant glutamate release from cancer cells. Increased levels of extracellular glutamate have been associated with the progression of cancer-induced pain and we discuss how this can be mediated by activation of TRPV1.

Conclusion

With a growing population of patients receiving inadequate treatment for intractable pain, new targets need to be considered to better address this largely unmet clinical need for improving their quality of life. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the unique qualities of cancer pain will help to identify novel targets that are able to limit the initiation of pain from a peripheral source–the tumour.

Crystal structure of 1-(adamantan-1-yl)-3-(3-chlorophenyl)thiourea, C17H21ClN2S

C17H21ClN2S, orthorhombic, Pca21 (no. 29), a = 25.4796(11) Å, b = 6.7503(3) Å, c = 18.9971(9) Å, V = 3267.4(3) Å3, Z = 8, R gt(F) = 0.045, wR ref(F 2) = 0.106, T = 293(2).

Antistaphylococcal Activity of Selected Thiourea Derivatives

Five of thiourea derivatives were prepared using as a starting compound 3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline, 4-chloro-3-nitroaniline, 1,3-thiazol-2-amine, 2H-1,2,3-triazol-4-amine and commercial isothiocyanates. All compounds were evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial activity. Derivatives 2 and 3 showed the highest inhibition against Gram-positive cocci (standard and hospital strains). The observed MIC values were in the range of 0.5–8 μg/ml. The products effectively inhibited the formation of biofilms of methicillin-resistant and standard strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Inhibitory activity of thioureas 2 and 3 against Staphylococcus aureus topoisomerase IV was studied. The examined compounds were nongenotoxic.

Crystal structure of 1-(adamantan-1-yl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)thiourea, C17H21BrN2S

C17H21BrN2S, orthorhombic, Pbca (No. 61), a = 17.0675(7) Å, b = 8.3422(3) Å, c = 22.5970(8) Å, V = 3217.4(2) Å3, Z = 8, R gt (F) = 0.0329, wR ref (F 2) = 0.0724, T = 100 K.

Convenient Synthesis of Unsymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted Thioureas in Water

A simple and convenient two-step method has been developed and used to synthesise 25 (4 of which are novel) unsymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted thioureas in water. Alkylamines or variously substituted arylamines reacted smoothly with phenyl chlorothionoformate at room temperature to form thiocarbamates, which were then reacted with another alkyl- or arylamine in water at reflux to afford the unsymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted thioureas in good to excellent yields. Mild conditions, simple work-up, high yields as well as using water as solvent are the major advantages of the method.

Crystal structure of 1-(adamantan-1-yl)-3-phenylthiourea, C17H22N2S

C17H22N2S, orthorhombic, Pbca (no. 61), a = 12.0579(7) Å, b = 11.12133(5) Å, c = 21.9741(13) Å, V = 2946.7(3) Å3, Z = 8, R gt (F) = 0.0470, wR ref (F 2 ) = 0.1125, T = 100 K.

New 4-Acyl-1-phenylaminocarbonyl-2-phenylpiperazine Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors of Adenovirus Infection. Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Structure-activity Relationships

The search for human adenovirus (HAdV)-specific antiviral drugs for the treatment of HAdV infections in immunocompromised patients continues to be a challenging goal for medicinal chemistry. Here, we report the synthesis, biological evaluation, and structure-activity relationships of a small molecules library. We have identified six phenylpiperazine derivatives that significantly inhibited HAdV infection. These six compounds showed the capacity to block HAdV and, in addition, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replications at low micromolar concentration, with little or no cytotoxicity. On the basis of our biological studies, these molecules block HAdV and HCMV infections in different phases of their life cycle, providing potential candidates for the development of a new family of antiviral drugs for the treatment of infections by DNA viruses.

Design, synthesis and anticancer activity of some novel thioureido-benzenesulfonamides incorporated biologically active moieties

Background

Many thiourea derivatives have exhibited biological activities including anticancer activity through several mechanisms. On the other hand, benzenesulfonamide derivatives have proven to be good anticancer agents. Hybrids of both moieties could be further developed to explore their biological activity as anticancer.

Results

Novel series of thioureidobenzenesulfonamides incorporating miscellaneous biologically active moieties 3–17 were designed and synthesized utilizing 4-isothiocyanatobenzenesulfonamide 2 as strategic starting material. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were established on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and mass spectral data. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against various cancer cell lines. Most of the synthesized compounds showed good activity, especially compounds 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16 which exhibited good activity higher than or comparable to the reference drugs, DCF and Doxorubicin, except breast cancer line. As a trial to suggest the mechanism of action of the active compounds, molecular docking on the active site of mitogen kinase enzyme (MK-2) was performed and good results were obtained especially for compound 3.

Conclusion

Compounds 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16 may represent good candidates for further biological investigations as anticancer agents. Their cytotoxic activity could be due to their action as MK-2 enzyme inhibitors.Graphical abstract

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel polypharmacological antichlamydial agents

Discovery of new polypharmacological antibacterial agents with multiple modes of actions can be an alternative to combination therapy and also a possibility to slow development of antibiotic resistance. In support to this hypothesis, we synthesized 16 compounds by combining the pharmacophores of Chlamydia trachomatis inhibitors and inhibitors of type III secretion (T3S) in gram-negative bacteria. In this study we have developed salicylidene acylhydrazide sulfonamides (11c &11d) as new antichlamydial agents that also inhibit T3S in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of thiourea derivatives incorporating 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl moiety

A total of 31 of thiourea derivatives was prepared reacting 3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline and commercial aliphatic and aromatic isothiocyanates. The yields varied from 35% to 82%. All compounds were evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial activity. Derivatives 3, 5, 6, 9, 15, 24 and 27 showed the highest inhibition against Gram-positive cocci (standard and hospital strains). The observed MIC values were in the range of 0.25-16 μg/ml. Inhibitory activity of thioureas 5 and 15 against topoisomerase IV isolated from Staphylococcus aureus was studied. Products 5 and 15 effectively inhibited the formation of biofilms of methicillin-resistant and standard strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Moreover, all obtained thioureas were evaluated for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against a large panel of DNA and RNA viruses. Compounds 5, 6, 8-12, 15 resulted cytotoxic against MT-4 cells (CC50 ≤ 10 μM).

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of glycinate and carbonate derivatives of cholesterol: Synthesis and characterization

A series of glycinate and carbonate derivatives of cholesterol (4a–t) were synthesized, characterized and assessed for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Our results revealed that the compounds exerted inhibitory activities against gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Crystal structure of N-(propan-2-yl-carbamo-thio-yl)benzamide

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C11H14N2OS, the six atoms of the central C2N2OS residue are coplanar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.002 Å), which facilitates the formation of an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond, which closes an S(6) loop. The terminal phenyl ring is inclined with respect to the central plane [dihedral angle = 42.10 (6)°]. The most prominent feature of the crystal packing is the formation of {⋯HNCS}2 synthons resulting in centrosymmetric dimers.

THDP17 decreases ammonia production through glutaminase inhibition. A new drug for hepatic encephalopathy therapy

Ammonia production is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), being intestinal glutaminase activity the main source for ammonia. Management of ammonia formation can be effective in HE treatment by lowering intestinal ammonia production. The use of glutaminase inhibitors represents one way to achieve this goal. In this work, we have performed a search for specific inhibitors that could decrease glutaminase activity by screening two different groups of compounds: i) a group integrated by a diverse, highly pure small molecule compounds derived from thiourea ranging from 200 to 800 Daltons; and ii) a group integrated by commonly use compounds in the treatment of HE. Results shown that THDP-17 (10 µM), a thiourea derivate product, could inhibit the intestinal glutaminase activity (57.4±6.7%). Inhibitory effect was tissue dependent, ranging from 40±5.5% to 80±7.8% in an uncompetitive manner, showing V_max and K_m values of 384.62 µmol min⁻¹, 13.62 mM with THDP-17 10 µM, respectively. This compound also decreased the glutaminase activity in Caco-2 cell cultures, showing a reduction of ammonia and glutamate production, compared to control cultures. Therefore, the THDP-17 compound could be a good candidate for HE management, by lowering ammonia production.

Bioevaluation of novel anti-biofilm coatings based on PVP/Fe3O4 nanostructures and 2-((4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)-N- (arylcarbamothioyl)benzamides

Novel derivatives were prepared by reaction of aromatic amines with 2-(4-ethylphenoxymethyl)benzoyl isothiocyanate, affording the N-[2-(4-ethylphenoxymethyl) benzoyl]-Nꞌ-(substituted phenyl)thiourea. Structural elucidation of these compounds was performed by IR, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The new compounds were used in combination with Fe3O4 and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for the coating of medical surfaces. In our experiments, catheter pieces were coated by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The microbial adherence ability was investigated in 6 multi-well plates by using culture based methods. The obtained surfaces were also assessed for their cytotoxicity with respect to osteoblast cells, by using fluorescence microscopy and MTT assay. The prepared surfaces by advanced laser processing inhibited the adherence and biofilm development ability of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa tested strains while cytotoxic effects on the 3T3-E1 preosteoblasts embedded in layer shaped alginate hydrogels were not observed. These results suggest that the obtained medical surfaces, based on the novel thiourea derivatives and magnetic nanoparticles with a polymeric shell could represent a promising alternative for the development of new and effective anti-infective strategies.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Screening of Some 1-Aroyl-3-aryl Thiourea Derivatives

A series of 1-aroyl-3-aryl thioureas derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity. The results indicated that the compounds possessed higher activity against gram-negative bacteria than gram-positive bacteria. Amongst all these compounds, C18 (89.4%) exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria while C5 (85.6%) displayed maximum antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria. Preliminary study of the structure-activity relationship revealed that an electronic factor on aryl rings had a great effect on the antibacterial activity of these compounds.

Structural optimization of berberine as a synergist to restore antifungal activity of fluconazole against drug-resistant Candida albicans

We have conducted systematic structural modification, deconstruction, and reconstruction of the berberine core with the aim of lowering its cytotoxicity, investigating its pharmacophore, and ultimately, seeking novel synergistic agents to restore the effectiveness of fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. A structure-activity relationship study of 95 analogues led us to identify the novel scaffold of N-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)ethyl)-2-(substituted phenyl)acetamides 7 a-l, which exhibited remarkable levels of in vitro synergistic antifungal activity. Compound 7 d (N-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)ethyl)-2-(2-fluorophenyl)acetamide) significantly decreased the MIC₈₀ values of fluconazole from 128.0 μg mL⁻¹ to 0.5 μg mL⁻¹ against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans and exhibited much lower levels of cytotoxicity than berberine toward human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Glutaminase regulation in cancer cells: a druggable chain of events

Metabolism is the process by which cells convert relatively simple extracellular nutrients into energy and building blocks necessary for their growth and survival. In cancer cells, metabolism is dramatically altered compared with normal cells. These alterations are known as the Warburg effect. One consequence of these changes is cellular addiction to glutamine. Because of this, in recent years the enzyme glutaminase has become a key target for small molecule therapeutic intervention. Like many oncotargets, however, glutaminase has a number of upstream partners that might offer additional druggable targets. This review summarizes the work from the current decade surrounding glutaminase and its regulation, and suggests strategies for therapeutic intervention in relevant cases.

Synthesis and biological activity of substituted urea and thiourea derivatives containing 1,2,4-triazole moieties

A series of novel thiourea and urea derivatives containing 1,2,4-triazole moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal and larvicidal activity. Triazole derivatives 3a-e and 4a-e were synthesized by reacting thiocarbohydrazide with thiourea and urea compounds 1a-e and 2a-e, respectively, in a 130-140 °C oil bath. The proposed structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed using elemental analysis, UV, IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectroscopy. All compounds were evaluated for antifungal activity against plant pathogens, larvicidal and biting deterrent activity against the mosquito Aedes aegypti L. and in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity against some human cell lines. Phomopis species were the most sensitive fungi to these compounds. Compounds 1b, 1c, 3a and 4e demonstrated selectively good activity against Phomopis obscurans and only 1b and 4e showed a similar level of activity against P. viticola. Compound 3d, with a LD50 value of 67.9 ppm, followed by 1c (LD50 = 118.8 ppm) and 3e (LD50 = 165.6 ppm), showed the highest toxicity against Aedes aegypti larvae. Four of these compounds showed biting deterrent activity greater than solvent control, with the highest activity being seen for 1c, with a proportion not biting (PNB) value of 0.75, followed by 1e, 2b and 1a. No cytotoxicity was observed against the tested human cancer cell lines. No anti-inflammatory activity was observed against NF-kB dependent transcription induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in human chondrosarcoma cells.