New Schiff bases with a 2,6-bis(2-aminophenylthio)pyridine moiety acting as glutathione reductase activator and inhibitors: Synthesis and molecular docking studies

Cannabidiol-Rich Cannabis sativa L. Extract Alleviates LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation Behavioral Alterations, and Astrocytic Bioenergetic Impairment in Male Mice

Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of various neurodegenerative disorders, yet effective treatments remain limited. This study investigates the neuroprotective potential of a cannabidiol (CBD)-Rich Cannabis sativa L. (CS) extract in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation mouse model. The effects on anxiety-like behavior, cognitive function, and locomotor activity were assessed using behavioral tests (open field, elevated plus maze, novel object recognition, and Morris water maze). Antioxidant activity was measured by assaying glutathione (GSH) levels and lipid peroxidation by-products (TBARs). Anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRt-PCR) for proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) mRNAs in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Astrocytic bioenergetics were analyzed using extracellular flux assays. Additionally, computational inference with a deep learning approach was conducted to evaluate the synergistic interactions among CS phytocompounds on the CB1 receptors. Compared with synthetic CBD, the CS extract (20.0 mg/kg) demonstrated superior efficacy in mitigating LPS-induced anxiety-like behavior, cognitive deficits, and locomotor impairments. It also significantly mitigated oxidative stress (increased GSH, reduced TBARs) and suppressed proinflammatory cytokines and GFAP mRNAs, indicating potent anti-inflammatory properties. The extract modulated CB1 receptor expression and preserved metabolic homeostasis in cortical astrocytes, preventing their shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation under neuroinflammatory conditions. Computational modeling highlighted conformational changes in CB1 receptor residues induced by Delta-9-THC that enhanced CBD binding. These findings underscore the potential of CS extract as a therapeutic candidate for managing neuroinflammation and its associated neurodegenerative consequences, warranting further clinical exploration.

Design, green synthesis, and quorum sensing quenching potential of novel 2-oxo-pyridines containing a thiophene/furan scaffold and targeting a LasR gene on P. aeruginosa

The current trend in fighting bacteria is attacking the virulence and quorum-sensing (QS) signals that control bacterial communication and virulence factors, especially biofilm formation. This study reports new Schiff bases and tetracyclic rings based on a pyridine pharmacophore by two methods: a green approach using CAN and a conventional method. The structure of designed derivatives was confirmed using different spectroscopies (IR and 1H/13C NMR) and elemental analysis. The designed derivatives exhibited good to moderate inhibition zones against bacterial and fungal pathogens. In addition, six compounds 2a,b, 3a,b, and 6a,b displayed potency against tested pathogens with eligible MIC and MBC values compared to standard antimicrobial agents. Compound 2a displayed MIC values of 15.6 μg mL-1 compared to Gentamicin (MIC = 250 μg mL-1 against K. pneumoniae), while compound 6b exhibited super-potent activity against P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae with MIC values of 62.5 and 125 μg mL-1, as well as MBC values of 31.25 and 15.6 μg mL-1 compared to Gentamicin (MIC = 250 and 125 μg mL-1 and MBC = 62.5 μg mL-1), respectively. Surprisingly, these six derivatives revealed bactericidal and fungicidal potency and remarkable anti-biofilm activity that could significantly reduce the biofilm formation against MRSA, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. Furthermore, the most active derivatives reduced the LasR gene's production between 10-40% at 1/8 MICs compared with untreated P. aeruginosa. Besides, they demonstrated promising safety profile on Vero cells (normal cell lines) with IC50 values ranging between (175.17 ± 3.49 to 344.27 ± 3.81 μg mL-1). In addition, the in silico ADMET prediction was carried out and the results revealed that these compounds could be used with oral bioavailability with low toxicity prediction when administered as a candidate drug. Finally, the molecular docking simulation was performed inside LasR and predicted the key binding interactions responsible for the activity that corroborated the biological results.