Amino-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromenone derivatives as potential inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase for Alzheimer's disease management; in vitro and in silico study

In this article, we present the design and synthesis of amino-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromenone derivatives as possible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) for the management of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The target compounds were evaluated against AChE and BChE in vitro, and 4k exhibited good potency against BChE (IC50 = 0.65 ± 0.13 µM) compared with donepezil used as a positive control. Kinetic studies revealed that compound 4k exhibited a competitive-type inhibition with a Ki value of 0.55 µM. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further supported the rationality of our design strategy, as 4k showed promising binding interactions with the active sites of BChE. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of amino-7,8-dihydro-4H-chromenone derivatives as promising candidates for developing novel therapeutics targeting cholinesterase in managing AD.

Platform-agnostic electrochemical sensing app and companion potentiostat

Electrochemical sensing is ubiquitous in a number of fields ranging from biosensing, to environmental monitoring through to food safety and battery or corrosion characterisation. Whereas conventional potentiostats are ideal to develop assays in laboratory settings, they are in general, not well-suited for field work due to their size and power requirements. To address this need, a number of portable battery-operated potentiostats have been proposed over the years. However, most open source solutions do not take full advantage of integrated circuit (IC) potentiostats, a rapidly evolving field. This is partly due to the constraining requirements inherent to the development of dedicated interfaces, such as apps, to address and control a set of common electrochemical sensing parameters. Here we propose the PocketEC, a universal app that has all the functionalities to interface with potentiostat ICs through a user defined property file. The versatility of PocketEC, developed with an assay developer mindset, was demonstrated by interfacing it, via Bluetooth, to the ADuCM355 evaluation board, the open-source DStat potentiostat and the Voyager board, a custom-built, small footprint potentiostat based around the LMP91000 chip. The Voyager board is presented here for the first time. Data obtained using a standard redox probe, Ferrocene Carboxylic Acid (FCA) and a silver ion assay using anodic stripping multi-step amperometry were in good agreement with analogous measurements using a bench top potentiostat. Combined with its Voyager board companion, the PocketEC app can be used directly for a number of wearable or portable electrochemical sensing applications. Importantly, the versatility of the app makes it a candidate of choice for the development of future portable potentiostats. Finally, the app is available to download on the Google Play store and the source codes and design files for the PocketEC app and the Voyager board are shared via Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 3.0) to promote the development of novel portable or wearable applications based on electrochemical sensing.

Exploring the potential of a novel phenoxyethyl piperidine derivative with cholinesterase inhibitory properties as a treatment for dementia: Insights from STZ animal model of dementia

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease, often characterized by progressive deficits in memory and cognitive functions. Cholinesterase inhibitors have been introduced as promising agents to enhance cognition and memory in both human patients and animal models of AD. In the current study, we assessed the effects of a synthetic phenoxyethyl piperidine derivative, compound 7c, as a novel dual inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), on learning and memory, as well as serum and hippocampal AChE levels in an animal model of AD. The model of dementia was induced by intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 2 mg/kg) to male Wistar rats. STZ-treated rats received compound 7c (3, 30, and 300 µg/kg) for five consecutive days. ​Passive avoidance (PA) learning and memory, as well as spatial learning and memory using Morris water maze, were evaluated. The level of AChE was measured in the serum and the left and right hippocampus. Findings demonstrated that compound 7c (300 µg/kg) was able to reverse STZ-induced impairments in PA memory, while also reduced the increased AChE level in the left hippocampus. Taken together, compound 7c appeared to act as a central AChE inhibitor, and its role in alleviating cognitive deficits in the AD animal model suggests that it may have therapeutic potential in AD dementia. Further research is required to assess the effectiveness of compound 7c in more reliable models of AD in light of these preliminary findings.

Indole-carbohydrazide linked phenoxy-1,2,3-triazole-N-phenylacetamide derivatives as potent α-glucosidase inhibitors: design, synthesis, in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition, and computational studies

BACKGROUND

A new series of indole-carbohydrazide-phenoxy-1,2,3-triazole-N-phenylacetamide hybrids 11a-o was designed based on molecular hybridization of the active pharmacophores of the potent α-glucosidase inhibitors. These compounds were synthesized and evaluated against α-glucosidase.

METHODS

The 15 various derivatives of indole-carbohydrazide-phenoxy-1,2,3-triazole-N-phenylacetamide scaffold were synthesized, purified, and fully characterized. These derivatives were evaluated against yeast α-glucosidase in vitro and in silico. ADMET properties of the most potent compounds were also predicted.

RESULTS

All new derivatives 11a-o (IC₅₀ values = 6.31 ± 0.03-49.89 ± 0.09 µM) are excellent α-glucosidase inhibitors in comparison to acarbose (IC₅₀ value = 750.0 ± 10.0 µM) that was used as a positive control. Representatively, (E)-2-(4-((4-((2-(1H-indole-2-carbonyl)hydrazono)methyl) phenoxy)methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetamide 11d with IC₅₀ = 6.31 µM against MCF-7 cells, was 118.8-times more potent than acarbose. This compound is an uncompetitive inhibitor against α-glucosidase and showed the lowest binding energy at the active site of this enzyme in comparison to other potent compounds. Furthermore, computational calculations predicted that compound 11d can be an orally active compound.

CONCLUSION

According to obtained data, compound 11d can be a valuable lead compound for further structural development and assessments to obtain effective and potent new α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Virtual Flavor: High-fidelity simulation of real flavor experiences

Food and drink are a key part of our lives. While Virtual Reality has the potential to provide high-fidelity simulation of real experiences in virtual worlds, the incorporation of flavor appreciation within these virtual experiences has largely been ignored. This paper introduces a virtual flavor device to simulate real flavor experiences. The goal is to provide virtual flavor experiences, using food safe chemicals for the three components of a flavor (taste, aroma, mouthfeel), which are perceived as "indistinguishable" from the equivalent real experience. Furthermore, because we are delivering a simulation, the same device can be used to take a user on a "flavor discovery journey" from a start flavor to a new, preferred flavor by adding or removing any amount of the components. In the first experiment, participants (N = 28) were exposed to real and virtual samples of orange juice, and the health product, rooibos tea, and asked to rate their similarity. The second experiment investigated how participants (N = 6) could move within "flavor space" from one flavor to another. The results show that it is possible to simulate, with a high degree of precision, a real flavor experience, and precisely controlled "flavor discovery journeys" can be undertaken using virtual flavors.

Anti-rheumatic drugs as potential anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory agents against COVID-19: A systematic review

Background: The effective responses of both innate and adaptive immunity are crucial in combating Novel-Coronavirus-2 infection. An excessive response may lead to cytokine storm, which is a challenging problem in therapeutic strategies. Methods: A systematic review was carried out by searching OVID MEDLINE, PUBMED, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library databases from inception until August 2, 2020, for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Results: The results of the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine are just like a sinusoidal diagram and in a state of ambiguity. Thalidomide was effective in some cases but has not yet been proven. Low-dose Corticosteroids may be effective in the early stages of the illness as a bridge. There is no evidence of benefits or adverse outcomes for the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Cyclosporine-A. In some critically ill patients, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1 blockers and to some extent Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-α and Janus-Kinase inhibitors are useful. Finally, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin reversed the deterioration of patients in most trials. Conclusion: One strategy behind the treatments for COVID-19 is based on breaking the cytokine storm. Although avoiding the suppression of anti-viral immunity is crucial by choosing the weaker and more selective anti-inflammatories, some strategies are kept for hyper-inflammatory situations. Scheduling of treatment is also important. Although low-dose steroids may be effective in the early stages of the illness, "Tocilizumab" is more effective in severe situations, when the IL-6 level is high and other drugs are ineffective. Therefore, consideration should be given to each patient separately.

Nickel Ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) Nanoparticles as Magnetically Recyclable Nanocatalyst for Highly Efficient Synthesis of 4H-Chromene Derivatives

An adapted one-pot route to nanocatalyst-assisted synthesis of 4H-chromenes via three component condensation reaction between dimedone, malononitrile, and a broad range of aryl aldehydes by the use of magnetic nickel ferrite nanoparticles is described. By this achievement, not only a novel route to highly efficient synthesis of these series of heterocycles was introduced but also the scope of these medicinally important products was developed via preparation of some novel products. Above all, a new application of nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NiFe₂O₄ NPs) as highly efficient, green and magnetically recyclable catalyst has been introduced. Overall, obtaining good to excellent yields of products, environmentally and economic benign procedure, easy handling, availability of starting materials, use of non-toxic solvents, and high recyclability of nano-catalyst could be countered as most important advantages of this methodology.

The efficacy of a traditional medicine preparation on second-degree burn wounds in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lime Salve (L.S) has been well documented from the 9th to the 19th century AD by traditional Iranian medicine (TIM) as an effective remedy for burn healing.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the healing effect and related underlying mechanisms of Lime Salve in a model of deep second-degree thermal burn in male Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

L.S was made up of a combination of refined calcium hydroxide powder, beeswax and sesame oil and its quality control was assessed. A deep second-degree burn was created by a hot plate in 48 male Wistar rats. Afterwards, they were randomly divided into four groups including normal saline (C group), L.S (T group), basement of formulation composed of beeswax and sesame oil (B group) and silver sulfadiazine (S group). On days 5, 10, 17 and 24, the wounds were digitally photographed by a camera and after sacrifice of the rats, skin samples were obtained for performing qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining and histological examination.

RESULTS

L.S prominently augmented the wound closure rate, neovascularization on day 10 and collagen formation on days 17 and 24 in comparison with the C group. Furthermore, the Salve-exposed specimens showed a significant higher epithelialization during the experiment with a peak on day 24. qRT-PCR also showed that on day 10, VEGF and TGF-β1 genes were significantly higher in the T group as compared with the C group. Also, MMP-9 and MMP-2 genes had a significant peak of expression on day 17 and rapid reduction of expression on day 24. Expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α genes peaked on day 10 in the T group, followed by a progressive reduction until the end of the examination.

CONCLUSION

L.S could effectively accelerate the healing process of deep second-degree burn wounds and therefore, it may be recommended as a promising topical medication for treating burn wounds in the future clinical trials.

Phenoxyethyl Piperidine/Morpholine Derivatives as PAS and CAS Inhibitors of Cholinesterases: Insights for Future Drug Design

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalyzes the conversion of Aβ peptide to its aggregated form and the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE is mainly involved in this phenomenon. Also catalytic active site (CAS) of donepezil stimulates the break-down of acetylcholine (ACh) and depletion of ACh in cholinergic synapses are well established in brains of patients with AD. In this study, a set of compounds bearing phenoxyethyl amines were synthesized and their inhibitory activity toward electric eel AChE (eeAChE) and equine butyrylcholinesterase (eqBuChE) were evaluated. Molecular dynamics (MD) was employed to record the binding interactions of best compounds against human cholinesterases (hAChE and hBuChE) as well as donepezil as reference drug. In vitro results revealed that compound 5c is capable of inhibiting eeAChE activity at IC₅₀ of 0.50 µM while no inhibitory activity was found for eqBuChE for up to 100 µM concentrations. Compound 5c, also due to its facile synthesis, small structure and high selectivity for eeAChE would be very interesting candidate in forthcoming studies. The main interacting parts of compound 5c and compound 7c (most potent eeAChE and eqBuChE inhibitors respectively) with receptors which confer selectivity for AChE and BuChE inhibition were identified, discussed, and compared with donepezil’s interactions. Also during MD simulation it was discovered for the first time that binding of substrates like donepezil to dual CAS and PAS or solely CAS region might have a suppressive impact on 4-α-helical bundles near the tryptophan amphiphilic tetramerization (WAT) domain of AChE and residues which are far away from AChE active site. The results proposed that residues involved in donepezil interactions (Trp86 and Phe295) which are located in CAS and mid-gorge are the mediator of conformational changes in whole protein structure.

Highly Significant Scaffolds to Design and Synthesis Cholinesterase Inhibitors as Anti-Alzheimer Agents

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Alzheimer, a progressive disease, is a common term for memory loss which interferes with daily life through severe influence on cognitive abilities. Based on the cholinergic hypothesis, and Xray crystallographic determination of the structure of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, the level of acetylcholine (ACh, an important neurotransmitter associated with memory) in the hippocampus and cortex area of the brain has a direct effect on Alzheimer. This fact encourages scientists to design and synthesize a wide range of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) to control the level of ACh in the brain, keeping in view the crystallographic structure of AChE enzyme and drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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AChEIs have slightly diverse pharmacological properties, but all of them work by inhibiting the segregation of ACh by blocking AChE. We reviewed significant scaffolds introduced as AChEIs. In some studies, the activity against butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) has been evaluated as well because BuChE is a similar enzyme to neuronal acetylcholinesterase and is capable of hydrolyzing ACh. In order to study AChEIs effectively, we divided them structurally into 12 classes and briefly explained effective AChEIs and compared their activities against AChE enzyme.

Synthesis, and molecular modeling of bis(3-(piperazine-1-yl)propyl)tungstate (BPPT) nanoparticles, and its first catalytic application for one-pot synthesis of 4H-chromene derivatives

A novel, nano-sized, bis(3-(piperazine-1-yl)propyl)tungstate (BPPT) is introduced as an efficient and reusable organometallic catalyst which is considered as a heterogeneous Bronsted-Lowry base and applied successfully for one-pot synthesis of methyl 2-amino-4-aryl substituted-4H-chromene derivatives with good to excellent yields. BPPT has been prepared via a two-step route from natrium tungstate salt. At first, the oxygens of Na₂WO₄ react with 1-bromo-3-chloropropane via nucleophilic substitution to produce bis(3-choloro propyl)tungstate. Then nucleophilic substitution of piperazine with chlorines produced bis(3-(piperazine-1-yl)propyl) tungstate. Bis(3-(piperazine-1-yl)propyl) tungstate, which was called BPPT, characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The catalyst is heterogeneous, green and recyclable. It is a thermally stable and its handling is easy. Its catalytic activity is very high and leads to the production of 4H-pyran derivatives with good to excellent yields in short reaction times. Furthermore, molecular modeling studies and ADMETox prediction revealed that not only it can inhibit acetylcholinesterase enzyme and act as an anti-Alzheimer agent but also has no variation from Lipinski's rule of five and can be a good candidate as anti-Alzheimer agents. These above-mentioned facts can be countered as advantages of the current protocol.

Molybdenum Oxide Nanoparticles as Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst for Synthesis of Arylidene Ethyl Cyanoacetates

This work reports an adapted route to the highly efficient synthesis of arylidene ethyl cyanoacetate derivatives in the presence of catalytic amounts of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoO₃ NPs) under green conditions at ambient temperature. From the reaction, a wide range of novel arylidene ethyl cyanoacetates was successfully synthesized with high yields from the Knoevenagel condensation reaction between various aryl aldehydes and ethyl cyanoacetate in the presence of MoO₃ nanoparticles. The capability of catalyst to separate from the reaction mixture and then reuse is another advantage of this reaction. Furthermore, obtained products belong to analogous of organic compounds that have shown biological activity, and can be used pharmaceutics.

A facile and green method for synthesis of ZnFe2O4@CMC as a new magnetic nanophotocatalyst for ciprofloxacin removal from aqueous media

This study aimed to synthesize a ZnFe₂O₄@carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) nanophotocatalyst using a simple, facile, and green hydrothermal method for ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal from aqueous solutions. At first, ZnFe₂O₄@CMC was synthesized using the hydrothermal method, and then it was characterized. To assay the photocatalytic activity of ZnFe₂O₄@CMC, its ability was investigated in CIP and total organic carbon (TOC) removal by considering the effect of some variables such as initial CIP concentrations (5–30 mg/L), pH (3–11), nanophotocatalyst loading (0.1–0.5 g), and reaction time (20–120 min). The kinetic performance of the process was assessed by the pseudo-first order and Langmuir-Hinshelwood models. The concentration of CIP and TOC in the samples was determined using high performance liquid chromatography and a TOC analyzer, respectively. The influence of competitive compounds was examined on the efficiency of the nanophotocatalyst through its application for a real wastewater sample. Moreover, the reusability and chemical stability of ZnFe₂O₄@CMC were studied.

Advantages of this technique are as follows:

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ZnFe₂O₄@CMC as a high potent magnetically separable photocatalyst is designed by a green, simple, and fast hydrothermal method.

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ZnFe₂O₄@CMC displays significant photocatalytic activity in photocatalytic degradation processes for ciprofloxacin removal.

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ZnFe₂O₄@CMC exhibits good chemical stability and reusability.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular dynamics of novel cholinesterase inhibitors as anti-Alzheimer's agents

A series of novel chroman-4-one derivatives were designed and synthesized successfully with good to excellent yield (3a-l). In addition, the obtained products were evaluated for their cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitory activities. The results show that among the various synthesized compounds, analogs bearing the piperidinyl ethoxy side chain with 4-hydroxybenzylidene on the 3-positions of chroman-4-one (3l) showed the most potent activity with respect to acetylcholinesterase (anti-AChE activity; IC₅₀  = 1.18 μM). In addition, the structure-activity relationship was studied and the results revealed that the electron-donating groups on the aryl ring of the 3-benzylidene fragment (3k, 3l) resulted in the designed compounds to be more potent ChE inhibitors in comparison with those having electron-withdrawing groups (3h). In this category, the strongest ChE inhibition was found for the compound containing piperidine as cyclic amine, and a hydroxyl group (for AChE, compound 3l) and fluoro group (for butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE, compound 3i) on the para-position of the aryl ring of the benzylidene group. The molecular docking and dynamics studies of the most potent compounds (3i and 3l against BuChE and AChE, respectively) demonstrated remarkable interactions with the binding pockets of the ChE enzymes and confirmed the results obtained through in vitro experiments.

Audio-Visual-Olfactory Resource Allocation for Tri-modal Virtual Environments

Virtual Environments (VEs) provide the opportunity to simulate a wide range of applications, from training to entertainment, in a safe and controlled manner. For applications which require realistic representations of real world environments, the VEs need to provide multiple, physically accurate sensory stimuli. However, simulating all the senses that comprise the human sensory system (HSS) is a task that requires significant computational resources. Since it is intractable to deliver all senses at the highest quality, we propose a resource distribution scheme in order to achieve an optimal perceptual experience within the given computational budgets. This paper investigates resource balancing for multi-modal scenarios composed of aural, visual and olfactory stimuli. Three experimental studies were conducted. The first experiment identified perceptual boundaries for olfactory computation. In the second experiment, participants ( N=25) were asked, across a fixed number of budgets ( M=5), to identify what they perceived to be the best visual, acoustic and olfactory stimulus quality for a given computational budget. Results demonstrate that participants tend to prioritize visual quality compared to other sensory stimuli. However, as the budget size is increased, users prefer a balanced distribution of resources with an increased preference for having smell impulses in the VE. Based on the collected data, a quality prediction model is proposed and its accuracy is validated against previously unused budgets and an untested scenario in a third and final experiment.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and computational studies of novel fused six-membered O-containing heterocycles as potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

An efficient, borax-catalyzed protocol for the synthesis of novel 4-aryl-substituted-4H-pyran derivatives fused to α-pyrone ring in a one-pot is described. By this achievement, some novel 4-aryl substituted 4H-pyrans fused to the α-pyrone ring as potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) with good to excellent yields are obtained from a one-pot three-component reaction between various aryl aldehydes, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one and malononitrile. The method is a facile, inexpensive, practical and highly efficient one to obtain target compounds. The chemical structures of all compounds were characterized by FT-IR, FT-¹³CNMR and FT-¹HNMR, MS spectroscopy and also elemental analyses data. Furthermore, the purity of all novel compounds was checked by HPLC. In addition, both molecular modelling studies and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMETox) prediction nominated all compounds as good acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to the potential treatment of Alzheimer, Parkinson and Autism diseases that among them compound 4f showed the best activity against acetylcholinesterase enzyme.

N-substituted piperazinyl sarafloxacin derivatives: synthesis and in vitro antibacterial evaluation

Background

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are compounds of major interest with broad antimicrobial activities against community and hospital-acquired infections such as respiratory tract infections (nosocomial pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis), skin and soft tissue infections, bone and joint infections, intra-abdominal infections and sexually transmitted diseases. This broad range of activities along with favorable pharmacokinetic and low toxicity introduced this class of compounds as important antimicrobial chemotherapy agents. The rapid increase in prevalence of FQs resistant microbes in environment motivated medicinal chemists to discover new quinolone-based compounds with potent activities against Gram-positive bacteria.

Methods

The designed compounds were prepared through the two-component reaction between aromatic α-haloketones or α-halooximes and sarafloxacin in the presence of NaHCO₃ in DMF, affording the corresponding N-[2-(aryl-3-yl) ethyl] piperazinyl quinolone derivatives in good yields. All synthesized compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Gram-positive [Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538p, Micrococcus luteus, ATCC 1110, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633] and Gram-negative [Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10031 Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Serratia marcescens PTCC 1111] bacteria.

Results

The antibacterial activities of 24 new compounds were reported as MIC values in comparison to sarafloxacin. The most active compound, 4 g, exhibited similar inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria including S. aureus, S. epidermidis and B. subtilis compared to positive control. Furthermore, benzyloxime incorporated derivatives (4 s-4x) showed poor activity against all tested strains, except 4x.

Conclusion

The obtained results indicated that the synthesized compounds containing substituted piperazine moiety at the C-7 position displayed same or weak inhibitory activities compared to sarafloxacin.

Graphical abstract

Efficient drug delivery of β-estradiol encapsulated in Zn-metal-organic framework nanostructures by microwave-assisted coprecipitation method

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are structures made up of inorganic nodes, which can be either single ions or clusters of ions and organic linkers. This study reports on a novel processing route for producing β-estradiol encapsulated in Zn-MOF nanocomposites by microwave-assisted coprecipitation as a facile and fast method. Zn-MOF nanocomposites were synthesized with the aid of Zn(OAc)₂⋅2H₂O and 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid ammonium as an organic ligand. Furthermore, we studied encapsulated β-estradiol which is one of the most important classes of estrogenic compounds that are used in the treatment of prostate cancer and breast cancer. The effects of β-estradiol concentration and microwave irradiation on the morphology, particle size, distribution, and in vitro photoluminescence spectroscopy experiments of β-estradiol entrapped in Zn-MOF nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller spectroscopy. These nanostructures can be a good option for thawing hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs over time. Zn-MOF nanocomposites with high porosity, total pore volume (0.04665 cm³g⁻¹), and nanostructures have provided the platform to load β-estradiol such as low soluble drugs. Maximum of drug release was about 82% at pH 8.9 after 8 h.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of chalcone-triazole hybrid derivatives as 15-LOX inhibitors

An efficient aldol condensation/click reaction sequence is employed for the synthesis of chalcone-triazole-based derivatives in moderate to good yields. The ability of target compounds to inhibit 15-lipoxygenase enzyme was investigated and moderate to low inhibitory activities were observed for the synthesized compounds.

New tacrine-derived AChE/BuChE inhibitors: Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-amino-2-phenyl-4H-pyrano[2,3-b]quinoline-3-carboxylates

A series of poly-functionalized tacrine-derived compounds namely 5-amino-2-phenyl-4H-pyrano[2,3-b]quinoline-3-carboxylates were designed and synthesized as cholinesterases inhibitors. The in vitro inhibition assay against AChE and BuChE demonstrated that most of compounds had potent AChE inhibitory with reserving potential of BuChE inhibition. Among them, compound 6i bearing a 4-(3-bromophenyl) moiety showed the most potent activity against AChE/BuChE (IC₅₀s values of 0.069 and 1.35 μM, respectively). The anti-AChE activity of 6i was five times more than that of tacrine. The SAR study revealed that chloro/bromo substituent at ortho or meta position of the 4-phenyl ring can improve the anticholinesterase activity.

An efficient approach to the synthesis of coumarin-fused dihydropyridinones

3,4-Dihydro-2

A short synthesis of 7-amino alkoxy homoisoflavonoides

The synthesis of novel derivatives of homoisoflavonoids as potentially interesting medicinally important heterocycles in an efficient catalytic alternative two-step route has been introduced.

Effect of Apium graveolens and Trachyspermum copticom on clinical symptoms of patients with functional dyspepsia

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed at investigating the effect of Iranian traditional remedy prepared from Apium graveolens and Trachyspermum copticom (AT) on the severity and frequency of symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 150 FD patients were included in this randomized double-blind trial, based on the ROME III diagnostic criteria, and they were divided into three intervention groups namely, AT, Placebo and omeprazole. Then, severity and frequency of symptoms during this eight-week trial were measured. Obtained information was analyzed using Chi-square test and repeated measures test.

RESULT

In general, the severity and frequency of symptoms after the 4th week significantly decreased in the AT group as compared to the omeprazole and placebo groups, and continued to reduce by the end of the eighth week. General reduction of symptom severity and frequency in the omeprazole group was significantly different from the placebo group by the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. With respect to each individual symptom, AT markedly improved symptoms, such as burning, pain, early satiation, fullness, bloating, belching and nausea, as compared to placebo-treated group. Moreover, AT significantly improved symptoms, like vomiting, and nausea, except for pain, as compared to omeprazole-treated subjects.

CONCLUSION

According to the results, AT, as Iranian traditional remedy, was more effective than omeprazole and placebo in reducing the symptoms in FD patients.

Synthesis and anticholinesterase activity of new substituted benzo[d]oxazole-based derivatives

A series of novel benzo[d]oxazole derivatives (6a-n) have been synthesized and biologically evaluated as potential inhibitors of acetylcholinesterases (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The chemical structures of all final compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic methods. In vitro studies showed that most of the synthesized compounds are potent acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors. Among them, compounds 6a and 6j strongly inhibited AChE and BChE activities with IC₅₀ values of 1.03-1.35 and 6.6-8.1 μm, respectively. Docking studies also provided the binding modes of action and identified hydrophobic pi forces as the main interaction.

Design, synthesis and anticholinesterase activity of novel benzylidenechroman-4-ones bearing cyclic amine side chain

A series of 3-(4-(aminoalkoxy)benzylidene)-chroman-4-ones 7a-r were designed and synthesized as analogs of homoisoflavonoids which are well known natural products with diverse pharmacological properties related to Alzheimer's disease. The in vitro anti-cholinesterase activity of designed compounds 7a-r against AChE and BuChE, revealed that compounds bearing piperidinylethoxy residue showed potent activity against AChE at sub-micromolar level (IC50 values = 0.122-0.207 μM), more potent than reference drug tacrine. The structure-activity relationships study of piperidinylethoxy series demonstrated that the selectivity and physicochemical properties of compounds could be optimized by selection of a proper substituent on the C-7 position of chroman ring, while the high potency of the molecule against AChE was reserved.

Recent applications of 1,3-thiazole core structure in the identification of new lead compounds and drug discovery

1,3-Thiazole is one of the most important scaffolds in heterocyclic chemistry and drug design and discovery. It is widely found in diverse pharmacologically active substances and in some naturally-occurring compounds. Thiazole is a versatile building-block for lead generation, and is easily access of diverse derivatives for subsequent lead optimization. In the recent years, many thiazole derivatives have been synthesized and subjected to varied biological activities. In this article we intended to review the most important biological effects of thiazole-based compounds and highlight their roles in new leads identification and drug discovery. This article is also intended to help researches for finding potential future directions on the development of more potent and specific analogs of thiazole-based compounds for various biological targets.

A Query Tool Enabling Clinicians and Researchers to Explore Patient Cohorts

Due to the increasing amount of health information being gathered and the potential benefit of data reuse, it is now becoming a necessity for tools, which collect and analyse this data, to support integration of heterogeneous datasets, as well as provide intuitive user interfaces, which allow clinicians and researchers to query the data without needing to form complex SQL queries. The West Midlands Query Tool consists of an easy-to-use graph-based GUI, which interacts with a flexible middleware application. It has the main objective of querying heterogeneous data sources for exploring patient cohorts through a query builder and criteria set.

Design, synthesis, docking study and cytotoxic activity evaluation of some novel letrozole analogs

Background

Breast cancer is the most common type of female cancer. One class of hormonal therapy for breast cancer drugs -non steroidal aromatase inhibitors- are triazole analogues. In this work, some derivatives of these drugs was designed and synthesized. All synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities on breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, T47D and MCF-7).

Methods

Our synthetic route for designed compounds started from 4-bromotolunitrile which was reacted with 1H-1,2,4-triazole to afford 4-(4-cyanobenzyl)-1,2,4-triazole. The reaction of later compound with aromatic aldehydes led to formation of the designed compounds. Eleven novel derivatives 1a-k were tested for their cytotoxic activities on three human breast cancer cell lines.

Results

Among the synthesized compound, 4-[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethenyl]benzonitrile (1c) showed the highest activity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines and 4-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethenyl]benzonitrile (1 h) exhibited highest activity against T47D cell line. According to cytotoxic activities results, compound 4-[2-(4-dimethylamino)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethenyl]benzonitrile (1 k) showed comparative activity against T47D and MDA-MB-231 cell lines with compound (1 h) and our reference drug Etoposide.

Conclusion

In the process of anti-cancer drug discovery, to find new potential anti-breast cancer agents, we designed and synthesized a novel series of letrozole analogs. Cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that compounds (1c) and (1 k) were the most potent compounds with comparative activity with Etoposide. The results revealed that π-π interactions are responsible for the enzyme inhibitions of compounds (1 c) and (1 k).

An Efficient Synthesis of Novel Dihydrothiazol-2-yl-amides via Cyclisation of Propargylic Carbamothioyl-amides

An efficient protocol is described for the versatile synthesis of novel dihydrothiazol-2-yl-amide derivatives via the regioselective 5-exo-dig heterocyclisation of N-propargyl carbamothioyl-amides in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in refluxing ethanol. All products were obtained in good yields and short reaction time (10–30 min).

Novel coumarin-3-carboxamides bearing N-benzylpiperidine moiety as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Some novel coumarin-3-carboxamide derivatives linked to N-benzylpiperidine scaffold were synthesized and evaluated as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitors. The screening results showed that most of compounds exhibited potent anti-AChE activity in the range of nM concentrations. Among them, compound 10c bearing an N-ethylcarboxamide linker and a 6-nitro substituent showed the most potent activity (IC₅₀ = 0.3 nM) and the highest selectivity (SI = 26,300). Compound 10c was 46-fold more potent than standard drug donepezil against AChE. The kinetic study revealed that compound 10c exhibited mixed-type inhibition against AChE. Protein-ligand docking study demonstrated that the target compounds have dual binding site interaction mode and these results are in agreement with kinetic study.

5,6-Dimethoxybenzofuran-3-one derivatives: a novel series of dual Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors bearing benzyl pyridinium moiety

Background

Several studies have been focused on design and synthesis of multi-target anti Alzheimer compounds. Utilizing of the dual Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors has gained more interest to treat the Alzheimer’s disease. As a part of a research program to find a novel drug for treating Alzheimer disease, we have previously reported 6-alkoxybenzofuranone derivatives as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. In continuation of our work, we would like to report the synthesis of 5,6-dimethoxy benzofuranone derivatives bearing a benzyl pyridinium moiety as dual Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Methods

The synthesis of target compounds was carried out using a conventional method. Bayer-Villiger oxidation of 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde furnished 3,4-dimethoxyphenol. The reaction of 3,4-dimethoxyphenol with chloroacetonitrile followed by treatment with HCl solution and then ring closure yielded the 5,6-dimethoxy benzofuranone. Condensation of the later compound with pyridine-4-carboxaldehyde and subsequent reaction with different benzyl halides afforded target compounds. The biological activity was measured using standard Ellman’s method. Docking studies were performed to get better insight into interaction of compounds with receptor.

Results

The in vitro anti acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase activity of compounds revealed that, all of the target compounds have good inhibitory activity against both Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase enzymes in which compound 5b (IC50 = 52 ± 6.38nM) was the most active compound against acetylcholinesterase. The same binding mode and interactions were observed for the reference drug donepezil and compound 5b in docking study.

Conclusions

In this study, we presented a new series of benzofuranone-based derivatives having pyridinium moiety as potent dual acting Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and Structure-Activity Relationship study of 2-Alkylthio-5-(nitroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole Derivatives

Nitro-containing heteroaromatic derivatives structurally related to nitroimidazole (Metronidazole) are being extensively evaluated against Helicobacter pylori isolates. On the other hand, 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives have also demonstrated promising antibacterial potential. In present study, we evaluated anti-H. pylori activity of novel hybrid molecules bearing nitroaryl and 1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties. Anti-H. pylori activity of novel 5-(5-nitroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives bearing different bulky alkylthio side chains at C-2 position of thiadiazole ring, were assessed against three different metronidazole resistant H. pylori isolates by paper disk diffusion method. Most of the compounds demonstrated moderate to strong inhibitory response especially at 25 μg/disk. The structure-activity relationship study of the compounds demonstrated that introduction of different alkylthio moieties at C-2 position of thiadiazole ring; alter the inhibitory activity which is mainly dependent on the type of C-5 attached nitrohetercyclic ring. The promising compound of this scaffold, bearing 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole moiety at C-5 and α-methylbenzylthio side chain at C-2 position of thiadiazole ring, showed strong inhibitory response against metronidazole resistant H. pylori isolates at 12.5 μg/disk (the inhibition zone diameter at all evaluated concentrations (12.5- 100 μg/disk) is >50 mm). Novel 5-(5-nitroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole scaffold bearing different C-2 attached thio-pendant moieties with promising anti-H. pylori potential were identified. Among different nitroheterocycles, 5-nitrofuran and 5-nitroimidazole moieties were preferable for the substitution at C-5 position of 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring. Introduction of different alkylthio side chains at C-2 position of central ring alter the inhibitory activity which is mainly dependent on the type of C-5 attached nitrohetercyclic ring.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of some 2-amino-4-aryl-3-cyano-7-(dimethylamino)-4H-chromenes

A series of 2-amino-4-aryl-3-cyano-7- (dimethylamino)-4H-chromenes was synthesized by condensation of 3- (dimethylamino) phenol, an aromatic aldehyde and malonitrile in ethanol containing piperidine. The assignments of the structure of all synthesized compounds were based on spectral data (IR, Mass and(1)H NMR). The cytotoxic activities of the synthesized compounds against six human tumor cell lines were determined by MTT assay. Several compounds showed significant cytotoxic activity.

Synthesis and in-vitro antibacterial activity of 5-substituted 1-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazoles

A series of 5-substituted 1-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for in-vitro antibacterial activity against a panel of microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Helicobacter pylori using conventional agar dilution method. Among the test compounds, 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-imidazole was the most potent against Gram-positive bacteria, with a MIC value of < or =8 microg/mL. All compounds showed no significant activity against Gram-negative bacteria at concentrations < or =64 microg/mL. The MIC values against 15 clinical isolates of H. pylori indicated that compounds 10 and 11 were the most active compounds in this series in terms of inhibiting the growth of H. pylori (MIC = 2 microg/mL). It was also demonstrated that their corresponding activities were four times larger than that of metronidazole.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of N-[5-chlorobenzylthio-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl] piperazinyl quinolone derivatives

A series of N-[5-(chlorobenzylthio)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl] piperazinyl quinolone derivatives (4a-I) have been synthesized by reaction of piperazinyl quinolones with 5-chloro-2-(chlorobenzylthio)-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. Their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra. The antibacterial activities of 4a-I against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were determined. Several compounds showed a good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria among which, compound 4e with a 2-chlorobenzylthio moiety in ciprofloxacin derivative, exhibited high activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC = 0.06 microg/mL). The structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that the position of chlorine atom on benzyl moiety would dramatically affect the antibacterial activities of the synthesized compounds.

Liquid chromatography method for determination of mefenamic acid in human serum

A simple, rapid and specific method for analysis of mefenamic acid (I) in serum by a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Only 70 microl of serum and a little sample work-up is required. A simple procedure of extraction by dichloromethane followed by evaporation to dryness under gentle stream of nitrogen and dissolving the dried residue in mobile phase was used. The mefenamic acid peak was separated from endogenous peaks on a C(8) column by a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (50:50, v/v, pH 3). Mefenamic acid and internal standard (IS) (diclofenac) were eluted at 7.4 and 5.4 min, respectively. The limit of quantitation of mefenamic acid in serum was 25 ng/ml at 280 nm. The method was linear over the range of 25-2000 ng/ml with r(2) of 0.998. Mean recovery for mefenamic acid was 110%.

Antituberculosis agents. VII. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of antimycobacterial activity and cytotoxicity of some N-piperazinyl quinolone derivatives

A series of N-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl] and N-[2-aryl-2-benzyloxyimino ethyl]piperazinyl quinolones (5-13) have been prepared as part of a study to examine the relationship between structural modification at 7-position and activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Primary screening was conducted at concentration of 6.25 micrograms/ml against M. tuberculosis H37Rv using BACTEC 460 radiometric system and BACTEC 12B medium. The actual minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for compounds demonstrating at least 90% inhibition in the primary screening. The results demonstrate that substitution of phenyl ring with 4- fluoro, 2, 4-difluoro and 2,4-dichloro groups resulted in variable inhibition percentage (Inh% = 7-101). Despite the significant antituberculosis activity of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin derivatives containing 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl moiety (MIC = 0.39 & 6.25 micrograms/ml), compounds with 2-aryl-2-(hydroxyimino)ethyl, 2-aryl-2-(benzyloxyimino)ethyl and 2-aryl-2-(4-chlorobenzyloxyimino)ethyl did not show any activity (MIC > 6.25 micrograms/ml, Inh% = -7 to 75). Active compounds were also screened by serial dilution to assess toxicity to a VERO cell line. While the most active compound 5a was not soluble in tissue culture media, compound 5b showed IC50 = 5.3 micrograms/ml.