Active Anti-inflammatory Agents Research Articles

Bioisosteric Replacement in the Search for Biologically Active Compounds: Design, Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Novel [1,2,4]triazino[2,3-c]quinazolines

Background: Designing novel biologically active compounds with anti-inflammatory properties based on condensed quinazolines is a significant area of interest in modern medicinal chemistry. In the present study, we describe the development of promising new bioactive molecules through the bioisosteric replacement of a carbon atom with a sulfur atom in anti-inflammatory agents, specifically 3-methyl-2-oxo-2H-[1,2,4]triazino[2,3-c]quinazolin-6-yl)butanoate. Methods: Design and synthetic studies have led to the series of previously unknown substituted 2-[((3-R-2-oxo-2H-[1,2,4]triazino[2,3-c]quinazolin-6-yl)methyl)thio]carboxylic acids and their esters. These compounds were synthesized by reacting 6-chloroalkyl-3-R-2H-[1,2,4]triazino[2,3-c]quinazolin-2-ones with sulfanylalkyl carboxylic acids and their functional derivatives. The purity and structure of the obtained compounds were confirmed using a set of physicochemical methods, including elemental analysis, HPLC-MS, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Molecular modeling, predicted toxicity, drug-likeness, and pharmacokinetics data were used to select compounds for evaluation of their effects on acute aseptic inflammation (carrageenan-induced paw edema test) and on markers of the inflammatory process. Results: The compound 2-((1-(3-methyl-2-oxo-2H-[1,2,4]triazino[2,3-c]quinazolin-6-yl)ethyl)thio)acetic acid (compound 2e) was identified as the most active anti-inflammatory agent (AA = 53.41%), demonstrating significant inhibition of both paw edema development and the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Conclusions: Results from docking studies and analysis of “structure-affinity” correlations revealed that these compounds are promising candidates for further modification and detailed investigation of their anti-inflammatory activity

NMI-SO2Cl2-Mediated Amide Bond Formation: Facile Synthesis of Some Dihydrotriazolopyrimidine Amide Derivatives as Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Tubercular Agents.

Facile access to some novel biologically relevant dihydrotriazolopyrimidine carboxylic acid-derived amide analogues using NMI/SO2Cl2, and aromatic and aliphatic primary and secondary amines, is reported herein. The role of N-methylimidazole (NMI) as the base and sulfuryl chloride (SO2Cl2) as the coupling reagent has been effectively realized in accessing these molecules in good to excellent yields. The feasibility of the developed protocol has also been extended to the gram-scale synthesis of N-benzylbenzamide in a 75% yield from benzoic acid and benzyl amine. The newly synthesized compounds were tested via in vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-tubercular activity studies. The compounds 6aa and 6be were found to be the most active anti-inflammatory agents, whereas 6cb and 6ch were found to exhibit promising anti-tubercular potency when compared to other synthesized molecules. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies revealed the importance of the presence of electron-donating functionalities in enhancing the anti-inflammatory potential of the newly synthesized molecules. However, the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents was found to be significant for improving their anti-tubercular potency.

Novel Schiff base derivatives containing 4,5-disubstituted thiazole as potential antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents: Green synthesis, molecular docking and ADME analysis

We report the microwave-assisted (MW) green synthesis of some novel 4,5 disubstituted thiazole-containing Schiff base derivatives (SBs) as antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents. Spectroscopic techniques were used to confirm the formation of synthesized compounds. In-vitro antibiofilm and antifungal activity of synthesized molecules were evaluated against the Candida albicans strain (MTCC 227) by broth dilution method. Among the tested molecules, 3a showed excellent inhibition of both biofilm formation and planktonic growth at much lower MIC50 values (5.56 μg/mL and 1.20 μg/mL respectively) than other derivatives. Moreover, the spot assay of compound 3a showed fungicidal activity (100% cell death) for biofilm formation and planktonic growth at the lowest MFC values (10 μg/mL and 3.12 μg/mL respectively) compared to the standard drug fluconazole. In addition, the biofilm inhibition was further confirmed by morphological study through FESEM analysis. The anti-inflammatory study of SBs by protein denaturation method indicates that compound 3a (63.19%) was the most active anti-inflammatory agent at a lower concentration of 100 μg/mL in the series than the standard ibuprofen (42.36%). Whereas, the antioxidant study of SBs by the DPPH scavenging method shows compound 3j (IC50 = 436.10 μg/mL) was the more potent antioxidant agent as compared to other tested compounds and standard drug ascorbic acid (IC50 = 626.99 μg/mL). Furthermore, the molecular docking study of SBs with the active sites of sterol 14-α demethylase CYP51 enzyme of (PDB:5TZ1) C. albicans shows strong binding properties, supporting the experimental results of inhibition of biofilm formation. Additionally, the ADME characteristic of SBs demonstrates their potential for development as oral medication candidates.

Synthesis, molecular docking and pharmacological evaluations of novel naphthalene-pyrazoline hybrids as new orally active anti-inflammatory agents

The pyrazoline nucleus is widely present in diverse compounds as it serves as a valuable template for the discovery of new class of bioactive compounds. Various substituted 2-pyrazolines exhibit a spectrum of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antitumor properties. In view of this, we have synthesized a novel class of naphthalene-pyrazoline hybrids (PY1-PY20). All the synthesized hybrids were thoroughly characterized by means of standard spectroscopic techniques and tested for their in-vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Most of the compounds exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity and in particular the compounds bearing electron withdrawing groups had potential in vivo activity. Further, in-silico molecular docking studies were carried out using the ‘Molegro Virtual Docker’ as a docking tool against the target proteins such as COX-1 (PDB ID: 1EQH) and COX-2 (PDB ID: 1PXX). The results revealed that the majority of pyrazolines form hydrogen interactions with key residues (Ser 530, Tyr 385, Tyr 355, Arg 120, Ser 353, Arg 83) in the active binding sites of COX-1 (1EQH) and COX-2 (1PXX). Notably, interactions with residues Tyr 355, Arg 120, Ser 530 for COX-1, and Tyr 355, Arg 120, Gln 192, Leu 352, Ser 353, His 90, Tyr 38, Ser 530, and Tyr 385 for COX-2 are crucial for the reported anti-inflammatory activity of diverse compounds. Ligand-protein inverse molecular docking studies highlight specific hydrogen bond interactions, with PY-8, PY-11, PY-15, and PY-17 showing significant interactions. The study was able to identify potential anti-inflammatory naphthalene-pyrazoline derivatives.

Development of Orally Active Anti-Inflammatory Agents: In Vivo and In Silico Analysis of Naphthalene-Chalcone Derivatives Based on 2-Acetyl-6-Methoxy Naphthalene

Chalcone compounds are reported to have diverse biological activities such as antiviral, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antitumor, antifungal, anticancer, and so forth. Herewith, we wish to report the in-vivo anti-inflammatory activities of previously synthesized naphthalene-chalcone hybrids from 2-Acetyl-6-Methoxy Naphthalene derivatives (C1-C25). All synthesized chalcones (C1-C25) were thoroughly characterized with standard spectroscopic techniques and tested for their in-vivo anti-inflammatory activities. The currently employed in-silico docking methodology uses the ‘Molegro Virtual Docker’ as a docking tool and target proteins as COX-1 (PDB ID: 1EQH) and COX-2 (PDB ID: 1PXX). Molecular docking analysis of chalcones (C1-C25) suggested that compound C-24 exhibited best docking score of -117.495 kcal/mol than the standard flurbiprofen -115.259 kcal/mol on COX-1 target. To understand more about pharmacokinetics aspects, we predicted theoretical ADME properties using ‘QikProp, 2022’ and found that all compounds were exhibited acceptable pharmacokinetic properties.

Inflammation-Controlled Anti-Inflammatory Hydrogels.

While autoregulative adaptation is a common feature of living tissues, only a few feedback-controlled adaptive biomaterials are available so far. This paper herein reports a new polymer hydrogel platform designed to release anti-inflammatory molecules in response to the inflammatory activation of human blood. In this system, anti-inflammatory peptide drugs, targeting either the complement cascade, a complement receptor, or cyclophilin A, are conjugated to the hydrogel by a peptide sequence that is cleaved by elastase released from activated granulocytes. As a proof of concept, the adaptive drug delivery from the gel triggered by activated granulocytes and the effect of the released drug on the respective inflammatory pathways are demonstrated. Adjusting the gel functionalization degree is shown to allow for tuning the drug release profiles to effective doses within a micromolar range. Feedback-controlled delivery of covalently conjugated drugs from a hydrogel matrix is concluded to provide valuable safety features suitable to equip medical devices with highly active anti-inflammatory agents without suppressing the general immunosurveillance.

The Role of Leptin in Childhood Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): An Anti-Inflammatory Agent?

To investigate the effect of leptin in childhood ITP, we measured plasma leptin in 39 children with acute ITP, after treatment and in remission, and in 33 healthy age/BMI-matched controls. We also cultured ITP and control peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with recombinant leptin to assess its direct effect on pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. A significant increase in leptin was observed in children with active disease compared to controls. A significant inverse correlation of leptin with platelet count was also observed in children with acute ITP. Leptin remained high after treatment with IVIg, whereas steroid treatment lowered leptin below control levels. In remission, leptin was in the control range. Cytokine gene expression was significantly increased in children with acute ITP compared with controls, with highest expression for IFN-γ and IL-10. IVIg/steroid treatment significantly decreased IFN-γ and IL-10 expression. In remission, IFN-γ and IL-10 expression remained low. Addition of leptin to PBMCs isolated from patients in remission resulted in a significant increase in IL-10 gene expression compared to controls. Further experiments with purified T-cells and monocytes identified monocytes as the source of leptin-induced IL-10. We suggest that leptin acts as an active anti-inflammatory agent in childhood ITP by promoting IL-10 secretion by monocytes.

Optimization of pyrazole-based compounds with 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol moiety as selective COX-2 inhibitors cardioprotective drug candidates: Design, synthesis, cyclooxygenase inhibition, anti-inflammatory, ulcerogenicity, cardiovascular evaluation, and molecular modeling studies

The cardiovascular side effects associated with COX-2 selective drugs were the worst for coxibs leading to their withdrawal from the market a few years after their discovery. Therefore, the design of new series of pyrazole (4a,b 5a,b, 7a,b, 9a,b, 10a-h, and 11a-f) substituted with a triazole moiety as selective COX-2 inhibitors with cardioprotective effect was aimed in this paper. The target compounds were prepared and evaluated in-vitro against COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Compound 5-(5-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (7a) showed the highest selectivity towards COX-2 enzyme (S.I. = 27.56) and was the most active anti-inflammatory agent. Interestingly, its cardiovascular profile showed the cardiac biomarkers (ALP, AST, CK-MB, and LDH), as well as inflammatory cytokines named (TNF-α and IL-6) nearly similar to the control. Besides, a histopathological study of the heart muscle and the stomach was also included. The results confirmed that compound 7a has a more favorable cardio profile than celecoxib. Moreover, docking simulation for the most selective compounds 4b, 7a, 10e, 11c, and 11e inside COX-2 active site was performed to explain their binding mode. Finally, an ADME study was applied and proved the promising activity of the new compounds as a new oral anti-inflammatory agent. In conclusion, the newly developed compound 7a represents a potential selective COX-2 NSAID candidate with minimum cardiovascular risks.

Variations in natural polyphenols determine the anti-inflammatory potential of virgin coconut oils.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO), an edible oil prepared from fresh coconut kernel by natural or mechanical means without undergoing chemical refining, has been in the limelight of research as functional food oil. The phenolic components in VCO have been accredited with these pharmacological benefits. The present study compared the phenolic constituents of freshly prepared fermentation processed (FVCO) and hot-pressed VCO (HVCO) and their anti-inflammatory efficacies. The biochemical analysis documented quantitative variation in the phenolic content, being higher in HVCO than FVCO (40.03±5.8µg and 25.55±5.8µg/mL of oil, respectively). In vitro studies observed nitric oxide radical scavenging efficacy (IC50 value of 14.84±0.81µg/mL) for HVCO polyphenols, which shows higher inhibition efficacy than FVCO (29.41±1.7µg/mL). In dextran and formalin mediated acute and chronic inflammation in mice, HVCO displayed more protective efficacy (40.5 and 46.4% inhibition) than FVCO (33.3 and 43.8% inhibition), which is similar to the standard diclofenac (55.6 and 59.8% inhibition). The study, thus, concludes that compared to FVCO, HVCO is a more active anti-inflammatory agent. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Virgin coconut oil, a widely used edible oil in South Asian countries, has been shown to have health benefits possibly exerted by the natural phenolics it contains. However, different modes of preparations of VCO determine the phenolic combinations and efficacy as well. Our study compared two different VCO preparations and suggests that the VCO prepared by the traditional way (HVCO) is pharmacologically potent than that prepared by simple fermentation process (FVCO) in reducing inflammation. The efficacy is attributed to the variations in phenolic profile revealed by LC-MS analysis. Hence, the current study suggests HVCO as a potential food supplement that can reduce the incidence of degenerative diseases.

Mechano-activated biomolecule release in regenerating load-bearing tissue microenvironments

Although mechanical loads are integral for musculoskeletal tissue homeostasis, overloading and traumatic events can result in tissue injury. Conventional drug delivery approaches for musculoskeletal tissue repair employ localized drug injections. However, rapid drug clearance and inadequate synchronization of molecule provision with healing progression render these methods ineffective. To overcome this, a programmable mechanoresponsive drug delivery system was developed that utilizes the mechanical environment of the tissue during rehabilitation (for example, during cartilage repair) to trigger biomolecule provision. For this, a suite of mechanically-activated microcapsules (MAMCs) with different rupture profiles was generated in a single fabrication batch via osmotic annealing of double emulsions. MAMC physical dimensions were found to dictate mechano-activation in 2D and 3D environments and their stability in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating the tunability of this system. In models of cartilage regeneration, MAMCs did not interfere with tissue growth and activated depending on the mechanical properties of the regenerating tissue. Finally, biologically active anti-inflammatory agents were encapsulated and released from MAMCs, which counteracted degradative cues and prevented the loss of matrix in living tissue environments. This unique technology has tremendous potential for implementation across a wide array of musculoskeletal conditions for enhanced repair of load-bearing tissues.

Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Kenya Grade AA Green Coffee Bean Extracts

Kenya AA green coffee bean extracts were tested for natural ingredients used for anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory purposes in cosmetic products. Anti-oxidative activities were measured by total polyphenol, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated via nitric oxide (NO) assays, and through quantification of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression by western blotting. Data analyses were performed using independent Student's t-tests, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Total polyphenol content of water and ethanol extract was 169.0 ± 3.1 mg and 300.34 ± 16.6 mg tannic acid/g dry weight, respectively. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of all the extracts were significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Kenya AA green coffee bean extracts were toxic at a concentration of 1,000 μg/mL in RAW 264.7 cells. Anti-inflammatory activity as determined by NO assay showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO was significantly inhibited following treatment with Kenya AA green coffee bean extracts in a concentration-dependent manner. iNOS and COX-2 protein expression was also significantly inhibited following treatment. These results highlight the potential of Kenya AA green coffee bean extracts as a naturally active anti-inflammatory agent in cosmetic products.

Molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile components of Ligularia fischeri (Ledeb) Turcz based on network pharmacology

BackgroundLigularia fischeri (Ledeb) Turcz (LFT) is a well-known expectorant and active anti-inflammatory agent in Chinese traditional medicine. LFT’s expectorant effect is closely related to its anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to evaluate the differential composition and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the volatile components in LFT from different production areas.MethodHeadspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of volatile components, as well as chemometric methods, including similarity analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and principal component analysis, were performed to identify LFT produced in different areas. The molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of these components was determined by network pharmacology analysis.ResultsWe observed significant differences in the chemical constituents and percentage contents in samples with different origins. Eighteen volatile components were identified in four different producing areas, among which the highest content of olefinic components was the main component of the aroma of LFT. The mechanisms of these pharmacological effects involved multiple targets and pathways. Twenty-seven potential target proteins and 65 signaling pathways were screened, and a “component-target-disease” interaction network map was constructed. The volatile components of the LFT function mainly by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors.ConclusionThis study provides a theoretical framework for further development and application of LFT used in traditional Chinese medicine.Graphical abstract

Synthesis, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and COX-1/2 inhibitory activities of cyclic imides bearing 3-benzenesulfonamide, oxime, and β-phenylalanine scaffolds: a molecular docking study

Cyclic imides containing 3-benzenesulfonamide, oxime, and β-phenylalanine derivatives were synthesised and evaluated to elucidate their in vivo anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activity and in vitro cytotoxic effects. Most active anti-inflammatory agents were subjected to in vitro COX-1/2 inhibition assay. 3-Benzenesulfonamides (2–4, and 9), oximes (11–13), and β-phenylalanine derivative (18) showed potential anti-inflammatory activities with 71.2–82.9% oedema inhibition relative to celecoxib and diclofenac (85.6 and 83.4%, respectively). Most active cyclic imides 4, 9, 12, 13, and 18 possessed ED50 of 35.4–45.3 mg kg−1 relative to that of celecoxib (34.1 mg kg−1). For the cytotoxic evaluation, the selected derivatives 2–6 and 8 exhibited weak positive cytotoxic effects (PCE = 2/59–5/59) at 10 μM compared to the standard drug, imatinib (PCE = 20/59). Cyclic imides bearing 3-benzenesulfonamide (2–5, and 9), acetophenone oxime (11–14, 18, and 19) exhibited high selectivity against COX-2 with SI > 55.6–333.3 relative to that for celecoxib [SI > 387.6]. β-Phenylalanine derivatives 21–24 and 28 were non-selective towards COX-1/2 isozymes as indicated by their SI of 0.46–0.68.

Thiazolidine-2,4-dione-based irreversible allosteric IKK-β kinase inhibitors: Optimization into in vivo active anti-inflammatory agents

Selective kinase inhibitors development is a cumbersome task because of ATP binding sites similarities across kinases. On contrast, irreversible allosteric covalent inhibition offers opportunity to develop novel selective kinase inhibitors. Previously, we reported thiazolidine-2,4-dione lead compounds eliciting in vitro irreversible allosteric inhibition of IKK-β. Herein, we address optimization into in vivo active anti-inflammatory agents. We successfully developed potent IKK-β inhibitors with the most potent compound eliciting IC50 = 0.20 μM. Cellular assay of a set of active compounds using bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages elucidated significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro evaluation of microsomal and plasma stabilities showed that the promising compound 7a is more stable than compound 7p. Finally, in vivo evaluation of 7a, which has been conducted in a model of LPS-induced septic shock in mice, showed its ability to protect mice against septic shock induced mortality. Accordingly, this study presents compound 7a as a novel potential irreversible allosteric covalent inhibitor of IKK-β with verified in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.

New imidazolone derivatives comprising a benzoate or sulfonamide moiety as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial inhibitors: Design, synthesis, selective COX-2, DHFR and molecular-modeling study.

New imidazol-5-one derivatives 12a,b and 12e, f, 14a,b and 16a,b were synthesized and screened for their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using a standard acute carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema method. All the tested compounds exhibited good anti-inflammatory activity; especially compound 12f which produced the maximum effect of 49.0% compared to the standard drug, celecoxib, (43.1%). The most active anti-inflammatory agents 12a, 12e, and 12f were studied for their interactions with enzyme COX-2 compared to celecoxib. The study showed that, compound 12e exhibited a high selectivity towards COX-2 inhibition with IC50 = 0.087 μM. Moreover, the antibacterial screening indicated that some synthesized compounds showed good antibacterial activity toward the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Additionally, compounds 7, 12a, 12f, and 12 showed a good binding affinity with enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) whereas compound 12f has a higher inhibitory effect on DHFR than the tested compounds 7, 12a and 12 h. On the other hand, the combination between these tested compounds and sulfadiazine as a reference drug (10 μM compound + 1 μM reference), showed that compound 12 h has higher potency (0.078 ± 0.002) than sulfadiazine (0.135 ± 0.004). In addition, docking analysis was performed and it confirmed the presented results.

Synthesis, Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition, Anti-inflammatory Evaluation and Docking Study of Substituted-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-benzo[d]oxazole Derivatives.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used for many years, but the chronic use of NSAID's leads to gastric side effects, ulceration and kidney problems. These side effects are due to non-selective inhibition of COX-2 along with COX-1. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel and selective COX-2 inhibitors. In this paper wehave synthesized a series of novel hybrids comprising of substituted-N- (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-benzo[d]oxazole derivatives and screened for the treatment of inflammation. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by elemental and spectral analysis (ATR-FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Mass spectroscopy). All of the compounds were evaluated for cyclooxygenase (COX-1/COX-2) inhibitory activity by in vitro enzymatic assay. The compound which showed COX-2 activity (3a - 3e, 3g - 3h, 3k, 3m and 3o) was further screened for in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and ulcerogenic liability. Molecular docking study was also performed with resolved crystal structure of COX-2 to understand the binding mechanism of newly synthesized inhibitors in the active site of COX-2enzyme. The in vitro COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory studies showed that the synthesized compounds potentially inhibited COX-2 (IC50 = 0.04 - 26.41 µM range) over COX-1 (IC50 = 0.98 - 33.33 µM range). The in vivo studies predicted that compounds 3c (70.9%, 0.6±0.22), 3m (68.1%, 1.9±0.41) and 3o (70.4%, 1.7±0.27) produced more efficacy against carrageenan induced paw edema and less ulcerogenic effect, as compared to standard ibuprofen (65.9%, 2.2±0.44). The results of docking studies were found to be concordant with the biological evaluation studies of the prepared compound. Among all the tested compounds, 2-Chloro-N-(2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)- benzo[d]oxazol-5-yl)-benzamide (3c) was the most potent anti-inflammatory agent and has less ulcerogenic potential. This series of compound can be explored more for development of safer and more active anti-inflammatory agents.

Synthesis of extended conjugated indolyl chalcones as potent anti-breast cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents

In the present investigation, synthesis of a series of extended conjugated δ-chloro-α-cyano substituted indolyl chalcones (5a–p) was accomplished by reacting 3-cyanoacetylindole 2 with 3-chloro-3-phenyl-propenal 4 in the presence of piperidine. The structural interpretations of newly synthesized compounds were based on chemical and spectroscopic evidences. Anti-tumor evaluation of the synthesized compounds in vitro against MCF-7 (breast carcinoma) cell line revealed that they possess high anti-tumor activities. Among them, compound 5e and 5a demonstrated excellent activity against breast carcinoma (GI50 <0.1 and 4μM respectively) as good as adriamycin (GI50 <0.1μM). The compounds were also screened against the normal Vero monkey cell line, which showed moderate selectivity against inhibition of cancer cells. The effect of extended conjugation on activity authenticated by comparing activity profile of compound 5a, 5i and 5m with their simple analogues. Among the synthesized compounds, 5i and 5l were found to be active anti-inflammatory agents in addition to having noteworthy antioxidant potential. These results suggest the possible use of these compounds for the design and development of novel anti-breast cancer agents.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of newer pyrazolinylbenzidines and isoxazolinylbenzidines.

In an effort to search for more active antiinflammatory agent, a series of pyrazolinylbenzidines and isoxazolylbenzidines was designed, synthesized, and screened for their potential as novel orally inflammation inhibitors. Compounds 4,4'-bis-(1"-acetyl-5"-substitutedaryl-2"-pyrazolin-3"-yl)benzidines (8-13) and 4,4'-bis-(2"-substitutedaryl-isoxazolin-4'-yl)benzidines (14-19) have been synthesized from 4,4'-bis-(substituted benzylidenyl-acetyl)benzidines (2-7). The structures of the products have been delineated by spectral and elemental analysis. Compounds 2-19 evaluated for antiinflammatory activity and acute toxicity and results are reported. The compound 4,4'-bis-[1"-acetyl-5"-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2"-pyrazolin-3'-yl)benzidine (9) showed more potent and dose-dependent antiinflammatory activity in comparison to reference drug.

2-Amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-2λ5-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one-based urea and thiourea derivatives: synthesis, molecular docking study and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities

A series of new class of P-heterocycle encompassing urea and thiourea derivatives, N-(substitutedphenyl)-N′-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-2λ5-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)ureas 11a–e/thioureas 11f–k, was accomplished from the precursor intermediate, 2-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-2λ5-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one, 9. The compound 9 was obtained by cyclization of pyridine-2,3-diamine, 6 with POCl3 followed by amidation with NaNH2. The products were tested for their in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, and in vitro antimicrobial activity including minimum inhibitory concentration. Compounds 11a, 11d and 11j exhibited comparable anti-inflammatory activity to the standard drug, diclofenac, both in in vitro and in vivo assays, which might be due to the presence of lipophilic functional groups, F, NO2 and CF3. The compounds 11c and 11j exhibited potential growth of inhibition against selected bacterial and fungal strains at lower minimum inhibitory concentrations, while most of the thiourea-linked analogues exhibited good antimicrobial activity. A molecular modelling study was performed on cyclooxygenase isoenzyme (COX-2) to investigate the hypothetical binding mode of the most active anti-inflammatory agents, and binding conformers were proposed.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of furoxan coupled ibuprofen derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents

A series of furoxan-based nitric oxide releasing ibuprofen derivatives were synthesized and tested for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, ulcerogenic, lipid peroxidation, and hepatotoxic properties. The compounds exhibited more protection than ibuprofen with regard to gastric toxicity. Among the tested compounds 4-[2-[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanamido]ethoxycarbonyl]-3-methylfuroxan and 4-[2-[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoyl]hydrazinecarbonyl]-3-phenylfuroxan emerged as most active anti-inflammatory agents with reduced gastrotoxicity. The results showed that incorporation of NO donating group caused a moderate increase in anti-inflammatory activity with a marked decrease in gastric ulcerations compared to their parent drug ibuprofen. A molecular docking study of all the compounds was also performed to provide the binding modes of COX-1 enzyme. Among all the titled compounds, 4-[2-[2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanamido]ethoxycarbonyl]-3-methylfuroxan was found to be most potent and have high docking score showing favorable orientation within the COX-1 binding site.