Design, synthesis, analgesic, anti-inflammatory activity of novel pyrazolones possessing aminosulfonyl pharmacophore as inhibitors of COX-2/5-LOX enzymes: Histopathological and docking studies

Abstract

A series of newly synthesized 4-aryl-hydrazonopyrazolones were designed and their structures were confirmed by spectral and elemental analyses. All synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro COXs, 5-LOX inhibition, in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 5d, 5f and 5i were found to be the most potent COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors with superior COX-2 selectivity index values (SI = 5.29–5.69) to reference standard celecoxib (SI = 3.52). Four compounds; 5b, 5c, 5d and 5f showed excellent anti-inflammatory activity (% edema inhibition = 72.72–54.54%) and perfect ED50 values (ED50 = 0.044–0.104 mmol/kg) relative to celecoxib (ED50 = 0.032 mmol/kg). To explore the most active compounds, ulcerogenic effect on stomach in comparison with indomethacin and celecoxib in addition to histopathological investigations were performed. Compound 5f showed better gastric profile (UI = 2.33) than celecoxib (UI = 3.00). Also, 5f caused 50% increase in thermal pain threshold close to reference drug indomethacin (53.13%). Docking study of all the target compounds into COX-2 and 5-LOX active sites was performed to rational their anti-inflammatory activities.