Functional biologically active derivatives as anticancer and antibacterial agents based on mefenamic acid

Abstract

Three new heterocyclic compounds were prepared based on the structure of mefenamic acid (MA). Firstly, MA was reacted with 5-aminosalicylic acid to produce a new heterocyclic compound. In turn this new compound was used as a starting material to produce more complex pharmaceutical compounds by reacting it with three different heterocyclic compounds (thiamine, cefotaxime, and 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole) to produce three biologically active heterocyclic compounds (I, II, III) respectively. Spectroscopic data and microanalyses of the newly synthesized compounds confirmed their structures. Antibacterial activities against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia Coli (E. coli) and the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were also studied. The new compounds (I, II, III) were more active as antibacterial agents against S. aureus than MA itself. The activity of Inhibition zone of compounds I and II against E. coli was very close to that of the standard drug. Meanwhile, compound III showed poor activity against E. coli. The anticancer activity of the new compounds was investigated. The results showed considerably high cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell (MCF-7) (IC50 =14.94, 23.24, and 24.98 µg/mL respectively). These findings are encouraging since I, II and III may have the potential to inhibit the diffusion of cancer cell lines. In general, this class of compounds could expand our understanding and knowledge of the effectiveness of combining two or more organic moieties to form more efficient drugs in the treatment of bacterial diseases as well as the treatment of cancer.