Novel Multi-Target Agents Based on the Privileged Structure of 4-Hydroxy-2-quinolinone

In this work, the privileged scaffold of 4-hydroxy-2quinolinone is investigated through the synthesis of carboxamides and hybrid derivatives, as well as through their bioactivity evaluation, focusing on the ability of the molecules to inhibit the soybean LOX, as an indication of their anti-inflammatory activity. Twenty-one quinolinone carboxamides, seven novel hybrid compounds consisting of the quinolinone moiety and selected cinnamic or benzoic acid derivatives, as well as three reverse amides are synthesized and classified as multi-target agents according to their LOX inhibitory and antioxidant activity. Among all the synthesized analogues, quinolinone-carboxamide compounds 3h and 3s, which are introduced for the first time in the literature, exhibited the best LOX inhibitory activity (IC50 = 10 μM). Furthermore, carboxamide 3g and quinolinone hybrid with acetylated ferulic acid 11e emerged as multi-target agents, revealing combined antioxidant and LOX inhibitory activity (3g: IC50 = 27.5 μM for LOX inhibition, 100% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, 67.7% ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and 72.4% in the ABTS radical cation decolorization assay; 11e: IC50 = 52 μM for LOX inhibition and 97% inhibition of lipid peroxidation). The in silico docking results revealed that the synthetic carboxamide analogues 3h and 3s and NDGA (the reference compound) bind at the same alternative binding site in a similar binding mode.

Exploring the 2'-Hydroxy-Chalcone Framework for the Development of Dual Antioxidant and Soybean Lipoxygenase Inhibitory Agents

2'-hydroxy-chalcones are naturally occurring compounds with a wide array of bioactivity. In an effort to delineate the structural features that favor antioxidant and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activity, the design, synthesis, and bioactivity profile of a series of 2'-hydroxy-chalcones bearing diverse substituents on rings A and B, are presented. Among all the synthesized derivatives, chalcone 4b, bearing two hydroxyl substituents on ring B, was found to possess the best combined activity (82.4% DPPH radical scavenging ability, 82.3% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and satisfactory LOX inhibition value (IC50 = 70 μM). Chalcone 3c, possessing a methoxymethylene substituent on ring A, and three methoxy groups on ring B, exhibited the most promising LOX inhibitory activity (IC50 = 45 μM). A combination of in silico techniques were utilized in an effort to explore the crucial binding characteristics of the most active compound 3c and its analogue 3b, to LOX. A common H-bond interaction pattern, orienting the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups of the aromatic ring A towards Asp768 and Asn128, respectively, was observed. Regarding the analogue 3c, the bulky (-OMOM) group does not seem to participate in a direct binding, but it induces an orientation capable to form H-bonds between the methoxy groups of the aromatic ring B with Trp130 and Gly247.

Novel quinolinone-pyrazoline hybrids: synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity

The present project deals with the investigation of structure-activity relationship of several quinolinone-chalcone and quinolinone-pyrazoline hybrids, in an effort to discover promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. In order to accomplish this goal, four bioactive hybrid quinolinone-chalcone compounds (8a-8d) were synthesized via an aldol condensation reaction, which were then chemically modified, forming fifteen new pyrazoline analogues (9a-9o). All the synthesized analogues were in vitro evaluated in terms of their antioxidant and soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activity. Among all the pyrazoline derivatives, compounds 9b and 9m were found to possess the best combined activity, whereas 9b analogue exhibited the most potent LOX inhibitory activity, with IC50 value 10 μM. The in silico docking results revealed that the synthetic pyrazoline analogue 9b showed high AutoDock Vina score (- 10.3 kcal/mol), while all the tested derivatives presented allosteric interactions with the enzyme.

Nanosystems for the Encapsulation of Natural Products: The Case of Chitosan Biopolymer as a Matrix

Chitosan is a cationic natural polysaccharide, which has emerged as an increasingly interesting biomaterialover the past few years. It constitutes a novel perspective in drug delivery systems and nanocarriers' formulations due to its beneficial properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. The potentiality of chemical or enzymatic modifications of the biopolymer, as well as its complementary use with other polymers, further attract the scientific community, offering improved and combined properties in the final materials. As a result, chitosan has been extensively used as a matrix for the encapsulation of several valuable compounds. In this review article, the advantageous character of chitosan as a matrix for nanosystemsis presented, focusing on the encapsulation of natural products. A five-year literature review is attempted covering the use of chitosan and modified chitosan as matrices and coatings for the encapsulation of natural extracts, essential oils or pure naturally occurring bioactive compounds are discussed.