Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Anticancer Amidinourea Analogues via Unexpected 1,3,5-Triazin-2-one Ring Opening

Amidinoureas are an understudied class of molecules with unique structural properties and biological activities. A simple methodology has been developed for the synthesis of aliphatic substituted amidinoureas via unexpected cycle opening of benzothiazolo-1,3,5-triazine-2-ones and transamination reaction of N-(N-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)carbamimidoyl)aniline-1-carboxamide in good yields. A novel series of amidinoureas derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for its antiproliferative activity on an aggressive metastatic melanoma A375 cell line model. This evaluation reveals antiproliferative activities in the low micromolar range and establishes a first structure-activity relationship. In addition, analogues selected for their structural diversity were assayed on a panel of cancer cell lines through the DTP-NCI60, on which they showed effectiveness on various cancer types, with promising activities on melanoma cells for two hit compounds. This work paves the way for further optimization of this family of compounds towards the development of potent antimelanoma agents.

Functionalized Triazines and Tetrazines: Synthesis and Applications

The molecules possessing triazine and tetrazine moieties belong to a special class of heterocyclic compounds. Both triazines and tetrazines are building blocks and have provided a new dimension to the design of biologically important organic molecules. Several of their derivatives with fine-tuned electronic properties have been identified as multifunctional, adaptable, switchable, remarkably antifungal, anticancer, antiviral, antitumor, cardiotonic, anti-HIV, analgesic, anti-protozoal, etc. The objective of this review is to comprehensively describe the recent developments in synthesis, coordination properties, and various applications of triazine and tetrazine molecules. The rich literature demonstrates various synthetic routes for a variety of triazines and tetrazines through microwave-assisted, solid-phase, metal-based, [4+2] cycloaddition, and multicomponent one-pot reactions. Synthetic approaches contain linear, angular, and fused triazine and tetrazine heterocycles through a combinatorial method. Notably, the triazines and tetrazines undergo a variety of organic transformations, including electrophilic addition, coupling, nucleophilic displacement, and intramolecular cyclization. The mechanistic aspects of these heterocycles are discussed in a detailed way. The bioorthogonal application of these polyazines with various strained alkenes and alkynes provides a new prospect for investigations in chemical biology. This review systematically encapsulates the recent developments and challenges in the synthesis and possible potential applications of various triazine and tetrazine systems.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Amidinourea Derivatives against Herpes Simplex Viruses

Current therapy against herpes simplex viruses (HSV) relies on the use of a few nucleoside antivirals such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. However, the current drugs are ineffective against latent and drug-resistant HSV infections. A series of amidinourea compounds, designed as analogues of the antiviral drug moroxydine, has been synthesized and evaluated as potential non-nucleoside anti-HSV agents. Three compounds showed micromolar activity against HSV-1 and low cytotoxicity, turning to be promising candidates for future optimization. Preliminary mode of action studies revealed that the new compounds act in an early stage of the HSV replication cycle, just after the viral attachment and the entry phase of the infection.

Synthesis and anti-breast cancer activity of novel indibulin related diarylpyrrole derivatives

BACKGROUND

During recent years, a number of anti-tubulin agents were introduced for treatment of diverse types of cancer. Despite their potential in the treatment of cancer, drug resistance and adverse toxicity, such as peripheral neuropathy, are some of the negative effects of anti-tubulin agents. Among anti-tubulin agents, indibulin was found to cause minimal peripheral neuropathy. Thus far, however, indibulin has not entered clinical usage, caused in part by its poor aqueous solubility and other developmental problems in preclinical evaluation.

OBJECTIVES

With respect to need for finding potent and safe anticancer agents, in our current research work, we synthesized several indibulin-related diarylpyrrole derivatives and investigated their anti-cancer activity.

METHODS

Cell cultur studies were perfomred using the MTT cell viability assay on the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T47-D, and MDA-MB231 and also NIH-3 T3 cells as representative of a normal cell line. The activity of some of the synthesized compounds for tubulin interaction was studied using colchicine binding and tubulin polymerization assays. The annexin V-FITC/PI method and flow cytometric analysis were used for studying apoptosis induction and cell cycle distribution.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Two of the synthesized compounds, 4f and 4 g, showed high activity on the MDA-MB231 cell line (IC₅₀ = 11.82 and 13.33 μM, (respectively) and low toxicity on the normal fibroblast cells (IC₅₀ > 100 μM). All of the tested compounds were more potent on T47-D cancer cells and less toxic on NIH-3 T3 normal cells in comparison to reference compound, indibulin. The tubulin polymerization inhibition assay and [³H]colchicine binding assay showed that the main mechanism of cell death by the potent synthesized compounds was not related to an interaction with tubulin. In the annexin V/PI staining assay, the induction of apoptosis in the MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cell lines was observed. Cell cycle analysis illustrated an increased percentage of sub-G-1 cells in the MDA-MB231 cell line as a further indication of cell death through induction of apoptosis. Graphical abstract Novel Indibulin analogous as anti-breast cancer agents.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and mode of action studies of novel amidinourea inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Novel amidinourea derivatives have been synthesised and evaluated for their antiviral activity against Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). A compound with an amidinourea-spermine chemical structure, different from that of standard anti-HCV drugs, showed micromolar activity against HCV and excellent viability. Studies on the mode of action revealed that the new compound may act against HCV through the inhibition of IRES-mediated translation.