Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new steroidal β-triazoly enones as potent antiproliferative agents

Design, synthesis and molecular modeling of novel D-ring substituted steroidal 4,5-dihydropyrazole thiazolinone derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents by inhibition of COX-2/iNOS production and down-regulation of NF-κB/MAPKs in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells

It has been reported that 4,5-dihydropyrazole and thiazole derivatives have many biological functions, especially in the aspect of anti-inflammation. According to the strategy of pharmacophore combination, we introduced thiazolinone and dihydropyrazole moiety into steroid skeleton to design and synthesize a novel series of D-ring substituted steroidal 4,5-dihydropyrazole thiazolinone derivatives, and assessed their in vitro anti-inflammatory profiles against Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory activities assay demonstrated that compound 12e was considered as the most effective anti-inflammatory drug, which suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), it also dose-dependently inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Furthermore, the results of the Western blot analysis showed a correlation between the inhibition of the Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways and the suppressive effects of compound 12e on pro-inflammatory cytokines. Molecular docking studies of compound 12e into the COX-2 protein receptor (PDB ID: 5IKQ) active site was performed to rationalize their COX-2 inhibitory potency. The results were found to be in line with the biological findings as they exerted more favorable interactions compared to that of dexamethasone (DXM), explaining their remarkable COX-2 inhibitory activity. The findings revealed that these candidates could be identified as potent anti-inflammatory agents, compound 12e could be a promising drug for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Design, synthesis fusidic acid derivatives alleviate acute lung injury via inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) refers to a series of lung lesions resulting from multiple lung injuries, even leading to morbidity and death, abundant previous reports have showed that anti-inflammatory as a key to treatment of ALI. Fusidic acid (FA) as an antibiotic has significant anti-bacterial activity and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we designed and synthesized 34 FA derivatives to identify new anti-inflammatory drugs. The anti-inflammatory activities of the derivatives were screened using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds, we measured nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Most of compounds showed inhibitory effects on inflammatory NO and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Based on the screening results, compound a1 showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity. Compared with FA, the inhibition rate NO and IL-6 of compound a1 increased 3.08 and 2.09 times at 10 μM, respectively. We further measured a1 inhibited inflammatory factor NO (IC50 = 3.26 ± 0.42 μM), IL-6 (IC50 = 1.85 ± 0.21 μM) and TNF-α (IC50 = 3.88 ± 0.55 μM). We also demonstrated that a1 markedly inhibits the expression of certain immune-related cytotoxic factors, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS). In vivo results indicate that a1 can reduce lung inflammation and NO, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2 and iNOS in LPS-induced ALI mice. On the one hand, we demonstrated a1 inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway by down-regulating the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (c-JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Moreover, a1 also suppressing the phosphorylation of inhibitory NF-κB inhibitor α (IκBα) inhibits the activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. On the other hand, we demonstrated a1 also role in anti-inflammatory by inhibits nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and further inhibits Caspase-1 and inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that a1 has an anti-inflammatory effect and alleviates ALI by regulating inflammatory mediators and suppressing the MAPK, NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways.

Steroid-triazole conjugates: A brief overview of synthesis and their application as anticancer agents

Steroids are biomolecules that play pivotal roles in various physiological and drug discovery processes. Abundant research has been fuelled towards steroid-heterocycles conjugates over the last few decades as potential therapeutic agents against various diseases especially as anticancer agents. In this context various steroid-triazole conjugates have been synthesized and studied for their anticancer potential against various cancer cell lines. A thorough search of the literatures revealed that a concise review pertaining the present topic is not compiled. Therefore, in thus review we summarize the synthesis, anticancer activity against various cancer cell lines and structure activity relationship (SAR) of various steroid-triazole conjugates. This review can lay down the path towards the development of various steroid-heterocycles conjugates with lesser side effects and profound efficacy.

Heteroleptic Copper Complexes as Catalysts for the CuAAC Reaction: Counter-Ion Influence in Catalyst Efficiency

A series of nine cationic heteroleptic aryl-BIAN-copper(I) (BIAN = bis-iminoacenaphthene) complexes with the general formula [Cu((E-C6H4)2BIAN)(PPh3)2][X] (E = p-Me, p-iPr, o-iPr; X = BF4, OTf, NO3) 1X–3X were synthesized and fully characterized using several analytical techniques, including NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Except for complexes 2BF4 and 3BF4, which were already reported in our previous works, all remaining complexes are herein described for the first time. Two different strategies were used for the preparation of the complexes: complexes bearing BF4− or OTf− counter-ions (1BF4, 1OTf, 2OTf, and 3OTf) were obtained using the appropriate copper(I) precursors [Cu(NCMe)4][BF4] or [Cu(NCMe)4][OTf], whereas for derivatives 1NO3–3NO3, [Cu(PPh3)2NO3] was used. Their activity as catalysts for the copper azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) was assessed alongside other high activity, previously reported Cu(I) complexes. Comparative studies to determine the influence of the counter-ion and of the aryl substituents were performed. All complexes behaved as active catalysts under neat reaction conditions, at 25 °C and in short reaction times without requiring the use of any additive, with complex 2NO3 being the most efficient derivative, along with other NO3−-bearing complexes.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Isoxazolyl Steroids as Anti-Prostate Cancer Agents

Steroids with a nitrogen-containing heterocycle in the side chain are known as effective inhibitors of androgen signaling and/or testosterone biosynthesis, thus showing beneficial effects for the treatment of prostate cancer. In this work, a series of 3β-hydroxy-5-ene steroids, containing an isoxazole fragment in their side chain, was synthesized. The key steps included the preparation of Weinreb amide, its conversion to acetylenic ketones, and the 1,2- or 1,4-addition of hydroxylamine, depending on the solvent used. The biological activity of the obtained compounds was studied in a number of tests, including their effects on 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activity of human CYP17A1 and the ability of selected compounds to affect the downstream androgen receptor signaling. Three derivatives diminished the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor and displayed reasonable antiproliferative activity. The candidate compound, 24j (17R)-17-((3-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)isoxazol-5-yl)methyl)-androst-5-en-3β-ol, suppressed the androgen receptor signaling and decreased its protein level in two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and LAPC-4. Interaction of compounds with CYP17A1 and the androgen receptor was confirmed and described by molecular docking.

Synthesis and evaluation of anticancer activity of quillaic acid derivatives: A cell cycle arrest and apoptosis inducer through NF-κB and MAPK pathways

A series of quillaic acid derivatives with different substituents on the 28-carboxyl group were designed and synthesized. Five human cancer cell lines (HCT116, BEL7402, HepG2, SW620, and MCF-7) were evaluated for their antitumor activity in vitro. Some of the tested derivatives showed improved antiproliferative activity compared to the lead compound, quillaic acid. Among them, compound E (IC₅₀ = 2.46 ± 0.44 μM) showed the strongest antiproliferative activity against HCT116 cells; compared with quillaic acid (IC₅₀ > 10 μM), its efficacy against HCT116 cancer cells was approximately 4-fold higher than that of quillaic acid. Compound E also induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by modulating NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Therefore, the development of compound E is certainly valuable for anti-tumor applications.

1-(4-Nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-Triazole-4-carbaldehyde: Scalable Synthesis and Its Use in the Preparation of 1-Alkyl-4-Formyl-1,2,3-triazoles

1,2,3-Triazole-4-carbaldehydes are useful synthetic intermediates which may play an important role in the discovery of novel applications of the 1,2,3-triazole moiety. In this work, a one-step multigram scale synthesis of 4-formyl-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole (FNPT) as a preferred reagent for the synthesis of 1-alkyl-4-formyltriazoles is described, making use of the commercially available 3-dimethylaminoacrolein and 4-nitrophenyl azide. Next, the earlier reported reaction of FNPT with alkylamines is further explored, and for hexylamine, the one-pot sequential cycloaddition and Cornforth rearrangement is demonstrated. In addition, a useful protocol for the in situ diazotization of 4-nitroaniline is provided. This facilitated the complete hydrolysis of rearranged 4-iminomethyl-1,2,3-triazoles and allowed for the recycling of 4-nitrophenyl azide.

Anticancer potential of cardiac glycosides and steroid-azole hybrids

Steriods are well-known scaffolds that have a widespread occurrence in different compounds characterized by extensive biological properties including anticancer activity. Structural modifications on steroids always generate potential lead compounds with superior bioactivity, and creation of steroid hybrids by combining steroid with other anticancer pharmacophores in one molecule, which can exert the anticancer activity through different mechanisms, is one of the most promising strategies to enhance efficiency, overcome drug resistance and reduce side effects. Sugars and azoles, can act on diverse receptors, proteins and enzymes in cancer cells, are pharmacologically significant scaffolds in the development of novel anticancer agents. Therefore, steroid-sugar hybrids cardiac glycosides and steroid-azole hybrids are privileged scaffolds for the discovery of novel anticancer candidates. This review emphasized on the development, the structure-activity relationship and the mechanism of action of cardiac glycosides and steroid-azole hybrids with potential application for fighting against various cancers including drug-resistant forms to facilitate further rational design of novel drug candidates covering articles published between 2015 and 2020.