Silver (I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis and characterization, biological evaluation of Anti-Cholinesterase, anti-alpha-amylase, anti-lipase, and antibacterial activities, and molecular docking study

Abstract

A series of novel silver(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have been prepared and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The biological capacity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated in vitro for their anti-microbial, anti-cholinesterase, anti-lipase, anti-diabetic activities in search of potent inhibitors compound. All compounds were tested against two types of fungi and three bacterias. The results proved that most compounds indicated moderate to excellent activity against all types of bacteria and fungi except compound 2f that didn’t show any antibacterial activity. The synthesized compound's capacity to inhibit the enzymes AChE, BChE, Lipase, and α-amylase were evaluated. The results showed that silver(I)–NHC complexes 3a-f are effective against all types of enzymes. The highest activity was reported toward AChE, BChE, and α-amylase enzymes, and at a lower rate against Lipase enzyme compared to the references drug. In contrast, benzimidazolium salts 2a-f, which showed significant inhibitory activity against AChE and BChE enzymes, while all salts were not active against both Lipase and α-amylase enzymes. Molecular docking simulations using AutoDock, have been performed of the new compounds as a representative set of our molecules into AChE and BChE enzymes for lead optimization of the binding interaction template of the most active inhibitors docked into the active site of their relevant AChE and BChE enzymes inhibitors.