anti-Alzheimer Agents Research Articles

Insights on therapeutic approaches of natural anti-Alzheimer's agents in the management of Alzheimer's disease: A future perspective.

In the current scenario, Alzheimer's disease is a complex, challenging, and arduous health issue, and its prevalence, together with comorbidities, is accelerating around the universe. Alzheimer's disease is becoming a primary concern that significantly impacts an individual's status in life. The traditional treatment of Alzheimer's disease includes some synthetic drugs, which have numerous dangerous side effects, a high risk of recurrence, lower bioavailability, and limited treatment. Hence, the current article is a detailed study and review of all known information on plant-derived compounds as natural anti-Alzheimer's agents, including their biological sources, active phytochemical ingredients, and a possible mode of action. With the help of a scientific data search engine, including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/PubMed), Science Direct, and Google Scholar, analysis from 2001 to 2024 has been completed. This article also described clinical studies on phytoconstituents used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Plant-derived compounds offer promising alternatives to synthetic drugs in treating Alzheimer's disease, with the potential for improving cognitive function and slowing down the progression of the disease. Further research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore their therapeutic potential and develop effective strategies for managing this complex condition.

Design, Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies of Tailored Coumarin and Chromone Derivatives for Use as Anti-Alzheimer Agents

Design, Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies of Tailored Coumarin and Chromone Derivatives for Use as Anti-Alzheimer Agents

Theoretical examination of molecular docking, pharmacokinetics and in-silico design of specific tacrine derivatives as anti-Alzheimer agents

A common neurological illness that affects many individuals globally is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Its cause is currently unknown. One of the symptoms of AD is a reduction in cholinergic transmission, which has been linked to memory loss and cognitive impairment. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors such as donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine are used in medicine. However, their unfavourable side effects have caused them to be taken off the market. Because tacrine inhibits the enzyme AChE, molecular docking modelling has been used to simulate and create a variety of derivatives. The purpose of this work was to develop some strong Alzheimer's inhibitors and to calculate the binding scores of tacrine derivatives theoretically. Following docking, molecule A8 was selected as a template for creating new compounds since it had the greatest binding scores (-9.8 kcal/mol). The B3, B5, B6, B8, and B10 hypothetical molecules were constructed. The developed compounds' ADMET prediction and drug-likeness demonstrate strong pharmacokinetic properties. Furthermore, comparable strong inhibitor drugs against AD might be created using the in-silico methodologies used in this work.

Novel Bis-thiazoles with pyridine and 1,4-Dihydropyridine linkers as potential anti-Alzheimer agents

A series of bis-hydrazonothiazoles with pyridine and 1,4-dihydropyridine linkers was synthesized using 2,2′-[(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-diyl)bis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene)]bis(hydrazine-1-carbothioamide) and 2,2′-[(2,6-dimethylpyridine-3,5-diyl)bis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene)]bis(hydrazine-1-carbothioamide) as starting materials, which were reacted with 1-aryl-2-bromoethanone to form the desired bis-hydrazonothiazoles. Additionally, an alternative synthetic strategy involved the simple oxidation of 1,4-dihydropyridine linkers using a mixture of aqueous sodium nitrite and acetic acid to produce pyridine linkers. The synthesized compounds were subjected to molecular docking studies against the protein 1EVE (one of the AD bio-markers) to evaluate their 3-D orientation, flexibility, and conformational changes upon binding—key factors for optimizing drug design and therapeutic efficacy. The binding affinities of the synthesized compounds ranged from −1.14 to −11.64 kcal/mol, compared to -6.78 to -10.24 kcal/mol for the reference drugs. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in binding affinity between Donepezil and compounds 5c, 7a, 7b, and 8a, indicating similar therapeutic potential. Differences in binding affinities among the approved drugs underscored their distinct interaction profiles with the target protein. Molecular docking and SwissADME predictions helped prioritize molecules based on drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic profiles, identifying candidates for in-vivo validation and enhancing the drug development process.

A versatile inhibitory approach and molecular mechanism on cancer cells and cholinesterase enzymes: Synthesis, DFT, ADMET and molecular docking of thiadiazole and oxadiazole derivatives

This study presents a multi-routed research design featuring thiadiazole/ oxadiazole based Schiff base derivatives as potential inhibitors, targeting cancer and Alzheimer. Among thiadiazole based Schiff base derivatives, the excellent inhibition was exhibited by compound 1 (IC50 = 20.10 ± 1.1, 22.21 ± 1.03 and 26.23 ± 2.2 µM for HepG2 (liver cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and W138 (lung cancer), respectively) in comparison to the standard Doxorubicin. Oxadiazole based compound 9 was also found with spellbinding efficacy (IC50 =15.20 ± 2.5, 19.13 ± 2.2 and 12.33 ± 3.4 µM for HepG2, MCF-7 and W138, respectively). Both compounds 1(IC50=3.10 ± 0.20 and 3.70 ± 0.10 µM against AChE and BuChE) and 9 (IC50=2.20 ± 0.10 and 2.80 ± 0.50 µM against AChE and BuChE) were also found as excellent anti-Alzheimer agents in comparison to reference donepezil. The outcomes of in vitro biological activity were further studied in silico via molecular docking, DFT and ADMET to elucidate the binding interactions, stability, reactivity and pharmacokinetic profiles of potent compounds.

Design, synthesis, in vitro, and in silico study of benzothiazole-based compounds as a potent anti-Alzheimer agent.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurological disorder that involves multiple enzymes in the process of developing. Conventional monotherapies provide relief, necessitating alternative multi-targeting approaches to address AD complexity. Therefore, we synthesize N-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl) benzamide-based compounds and tested against monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B). In the in vitro experimental evaluation of MAO, all the compounds displayed remarkable potency, having IC50 values in the lower micromolar range. The most potent MAO-A inhibitor was (3e) with an IC50 value of 0.92 ± 0.09μM, whereas, (3d) was the most potent inhibitor of MAO-B with an IC50 value of 0.48 ± 0.04μM. Moreover, Enzyme kinetics studies revealed that the potent inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B showed competitive mode of inhibition. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were also performed to confirm the mode of inhibition and obtain an intuitive picture of potent inhibitors. It also revealed several important interactions, particularly hydrogen bonding interaction. All the newly synthesized compounds showed good ADME pharmacokinetic profile and followed Lipinski rule; these compounds represent promising hits for the development of promising lead compounds for AD treatment.

Green synthesis of Tacrine modified Schiff bases as anti-Alzheimer Agents: An effective strategy validated through in-silico and in-vitro analysis

A variety of Tacrine-modified Schiff base analogues were developed via solvent free (green) method and structurally elucidated using 1HNMR, FTIR and UV–Vis analysis. High product yield was obtained from the synthesised molecules, which were produced efficiently at room temperature without the need of a solvent. The developed molecules were subsequently assessed for their potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). These molecules revealed effective inhibition of AChE and BChE enzymes with IC50 values varying from 0.1 ± 0.02 to 0.3 ± 0.03 μM and 0.065 ± 0.01 to 0.3 ± 0.03 μM respectively. Compared to the standard Tacrine which has IC50 values of 0.35 ± 0.02 μM for AChE and 0.1 ± 0.01 μM for BChE. Notably, compound 3f showed strong inhibition among others for both the enzymes. The structure–activity relationship of derivatives synthesized were verified and established through molecular docking studies. Theoretical ADME studies also predicted excellent drug-likeness for all the synthesized molecules. Antioxidant activities were also assessed because elevated oxidative stress levels are linked with cognitive loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD). These findings suggest that the lead compound is potentially an effective inhibitor for the therapeutic management of AD.

Design, Synthesis and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Novel 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives

Inhibition of the cholinesterases (AChE and BChE) plays a pivotal role in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The present study reports the synthesis and anticholinesterase activity of five novel thiadiazole analogs in search of anti-Alzheimer agents. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. Tested compounds inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes with IC50 values in the range of 8.250-20.382 μM and 14.143-0.986 μM, respectively. N-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-[(5-(allylamino)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio]-N-(3-nitrobenzyl)acetamide (6e) was determined as the most potent inhibitor against both tested enzymes when compared with standard drug tacrine. Molecular docking study was carried out to reveal the binding interactions between compound 6e and the active site of AChE

Anti-Alzheimer's Potency of Rich Phenylethanoid Glycosides Extract from Marrubium vulgare L.: In Vitro and In Silico Studies.

Marrubium vulgare L. (M. vulgare), the white horehound, is well known for treating inflammation-related diseases. In this context, we investigated the efficacy of M. vulgare ingredients in treating Alzheimer's disease using various in vitro and in silico antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-tyrosinase mechanisms. In our results, sixty-one components were tentatively identified using gas and liquid chromatography (GC-MS and LC-MSn) and categorized as hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and polyphenolics. The extract inhibited linoleic oxidation with an IC50 value of 114.72 µg/mL, captured iron (Fe2+) ions with an IC50 value of 164.19 µg/mL, and displayed reducing power. In addition, the extract showed radical-scavenging ability towards DPPH•, NO•, ABTS•+, and H2O2 assays compared to L-ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene. The DPPH• was scavenged by 77.62% at 100 µg/mL, and NO•, ABTS•+, and H2O2 were scavenged with IC50 values of 531.66, 117.51, and 143.10 µg/mL, respectively. M. vulgare also exhibited discriminating anti-inflammatory potency against cyclooxygenase (COX-2) with IC50 values of 619.15 µg/mL compared to celecoxib (p > 0.05). Notably, three Alzheimer's biomarkers, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase were significantly inhibited. The molecular docking study supposed that the phenylethanoid glycosides of samioside and forsythoside B inhibited AChE and tyrosinase enzymes with low binding affinities of -9.969 and -8.804 kcal/mol, respectively. Marruboside was a proper inhibitor of COX and BChE enzymes with a binding score of -10.218 and -10.306 kcal/mol, respectively. M. vulgare extract showed significant inhibitory actions, which suggest that it could have a promising potential as an anti-Alzheimer agent.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of indoloquinoxaline derivatives as promising anti-alzheimer agents: DFT and molecular docking study

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline. One of the major pathological features of AD is the degeneration of cholinergic neurons and associated loss of acetylcholine (ACh), a key neurotransmitter involved in memory and cognition. Reduced ACh levels correlate with the severity of cognitive symptoms in AD. Thus, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme responsible for breaking down ACh, is a leading treatment strategy. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate novel AChE inhibitors based on an indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline scaffold. A series of indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline derivatives were designed by molecular hybridization of indole and quinoxaline privileged structures. Microwave-assisted synthesis improved the efficiency of obtaining the desired compounds. In vitro screening identified several potent AChE inhibitors, with IC50 values down to 0.02 µM. The most active compounds contained electron-withdrawing groups like nitro and benzoyl moieties. DFT calculations provided insights into geometrical, thermal, and electronic properties of the compounds. FMO analysis revealed variations in HOMO and LUMO energies that impact reactivity. Molecular docking elucidated binding modes, highlighting the pi-pi, pi-H, and H-bonding interactions with key amino acids in the catalytic gorge of AChE. Overall, the indole-quinoxaline hybrids represent promising candidates for development of novel dual binding site AChE inhibitors and multifunctional anti-Alzheimer agents.

Biological study with molecular mechanism of imidazothiazole based Schiff bases as anti-Alzheimer agent: Insight into the role of synthesis, molecular docking and ADMET analysis

The current study aims to develop synthetic route and biological evaluation regarding a series of fused imidazothiazole derived Schiff base hybrid derivatives (1–17), synthesized by treating imidazothiazole bearing ester with hydrazine. The first intermediate imidazothiazole bearing hydrazide upon treating with ammonium thiocyanate was cyclized in the presence of 1,2-dioxane and potassium carbonate to second intermediate fused imidazothiazole bearing 2-aminothiadiazole. This intermediate was then mixed substituted benzaldehyde to afford fused imidazothiazole derived Schiff base hybrid derivatives. The current study revealed that the synthesized derivatives were examined and found with high inhibition profile against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in-comparison with marketed drug donepezil (IC50=7.20 ± 0.10 and 7.80 ± 0.20 µM for AChE and BuChE). Among all the derivatives, analog 11 (IC50=2.10 ± 0.30 and 2.80 ± 0.20 µM) was the one having highest inhibitory profile against both enzymes due to attachment of highly active tri-fluoromethyl group and hence regarded as potent analog. Furthermore, analog 7, 8, 9, 12 and 14 were also studied to exhibit excellent activity due to the attachment of electron donating groups and were found modest in contrast with the standard marketed drug. Protein-ligand interactions were observed through in-silico docking studies and their drug likeness properties were studied through ADMET analysis.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of tetrahydropyrimidine analogue as GSK-3β/Aβ aggregation inhibitor and anti-Alzheimer’s agent

The complex nature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) etiopathology is among the principal hurdles to developing effective anti-Alzheimer agents. Tau pathology and Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation are hallmarks and validated therapeutic strategies of AD. GSK-3β is a serine/threonine kinase involved in tau phosphorylation. Its excessive activity also contributes to the production of Aβ plaques, making GSK-3β an attractive AD target. Taking this into account, In this article, we outline the design, synthesis, and biological validation of a focused library of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine based derivatives as inhibitors of GSK-3β, tau phosphorylation, and Aβ accumulation. The inhibitory activity of forty nine synthetic compounds was tested against GSK-3β and other AD-relevant kinases. The kinetic experiments revealed the mode of GSK-3β inhibition by the most potent compound 44. The in- vitro drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies were thereafter performed. The anti-aggregation activity of the most potent GSK-3β inhibitor was tested using AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain CL2006 for quantification of Aβ plaques and BR5706 C. elegans strain for tau pathology evaluation. We then evaluated the blood–brain barrier permeability and got promising results. Therefore, we present compound 44 as a potential ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitor with good metabolism and pharmacokinetic profile, anti-aggregation properties for amyloid beta protein, and reduction in tau-phosphorylation levels. We recommend more investigation into compound 44-based small molecules as possible targets for AD disease-modifying treatments.

2-amino-6-ethoxy-4-arylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile Scaffolds as potential acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes are of prime importance for treating Alzheimerʼs disease (AD). Apart from many organic scaffolds, pyridine-based compounds have previously been reported as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. The current study reports a series of pyridine-based synthetic molecules for their acetylcholinesterase AChE and butyrylcholinesterase BChE inhibitory potential assessed via in vitro, kinetics, and in silico studies. For this purpose, 2-amino-6-ethoxy-4-arylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile analogs 1–23 were synthesized by using a two-step reaction scheme. In the first step, different aryl aldehydes were treated with malononitrile to afford the 2-benzylidenemalononitrile in the presence of catalyst ammonium acetate. In the next step, 2-benzylidenemalononitrile intermediates were reacted again with malononitrile, catalyzed by potassium hydroxide, to synthesize a range of functionalized pyridine scaffolds in good yields. Compounds were subjected to in vitro screening against AChE and BChE enzymes. Several derivatives, including 2, 3, 11, 14–16, 19, 20, and 22, showed many folds of increased inhibitory potential and binding affinity in the ranges of Ki = 1.62 ± 0.13 nM to 15.84 ± 0.10 nM for AChE and Ki = 1.35 ± 0.31 nM to 13.52 ± 0.61 nM for BChE, as compared to the standard tacrine Ki = 53.31 ± 11.32 nM for AChE, and Ki = 58.16 ± 7.24 nM for BChE. Further, molecular docking studies deduced key interactions between the ligands (compounds) and the active pocket of enzymes. The current research study has identified several potential AChE and BChE inhibitors that may serve as lead candidates after targeted advanced research for exploring anti-Alzheimer agents.

Medicinal perspectives, molecular docking and structure activity relationship of benzothiazole derived thiazole-based bis-benzohydrazide as potential anti-Alzheimer agents

A new series of benzothiazole derived thiazole-based bis-benzohydrazide hybrid (1–20) analogs were synthesized. Initially, the product confirmation was identified by employing TLC and the basic skeleton of the new hybrid synthesized compounds was further confirmed through spectroscopic techniques such as 13CNMR, 1HNMR and HREI-MS. Moreover, the synthesized analogs were tested for their inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. In the whole series, compounds 1, 2, 3 and 6 were found with potent activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Molecular docking inveatigation of the potent compounds was performed within the active site of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase revealing compounds 1, 2, 3 and 6 showing promising binding orientations against both enzymes as compared to reference drug donepezil with their IC50 values 1(2.20 ± 1.40 and 3.18 ± 0.45 μM), 2 (2.89 ± 1.25 and 2.78 ± 1.49 μM), 3 (2.94 ± 1.10 and 3.07 ± 1.23 μM), 6 (5.83 ± 1.45 and 6.03 ± 3.08 μM), respectively, and reference drug (IC50 = 8.73 ± 2.68 and 9.30 ± 2.60 μM for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylchlinesterase, respectively. In addition, ADME studies were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the functional mechanisms of a drug on a living organism. It is considered that benzothiazole derived thiazole based bis-benzohydrazide hybrid analogs (1, 2, 3, 6) might be better inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Colchicine─Aryl/Alkyl Amine Hybrids as Potential Noncytotoxic Cholinesterase Inhibitors: Identification of SBN-284 as a Dual Inhibitor of Cholinesterases and NLRP3 Inflammasome.

Colchicine, one of the oldest anti-inflammatory natural products still used clinically, inhibits NF-κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Despite its cytotoxicity and narrow therapeutic range, colchicine continues to intrigue medicinal chemists exploring its anti-inflammatory potential. This study aimed to investigate the colchicine scaffold for its role in Alzheimer's disease by targeting neuroinflammation and cholinesterases. Molecular docking revealed that colchicine's hydrophobic trimethoxyphenyl framework can potentially bind to the peripheral anionic site of cholinesterases. Hybrid structures combining colchicine with aryl/alkyl amines were designed to bind both peripheral and catalytic sites of cholinesterases. We describe here the design, synthesis, and in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of these colchicine-aryl/alkyl amine hybrids, along with their in silico interactions with the cholinesterase active site gorge. Nontoxic analogs demonstrating strong cholinesterase binding affinity were further evaluated for their anticholinesterase and antineuroinflammatory activities. The colchicine-donepezil hybrid, SBN-284 (3x), inhibited both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase as well as the NLRP3 inflammasome complex at low micromolar concentrations. It achieved this through noncompetitive inhibition, occupying the active site gorge and interacting with both peripheral and catalytic anionic sites of cholinesterases. Analog 3x was shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and exhibited no toxicity to neuronal cells, primary macrophages, or epithelial fR2 cells. These findings highlight the potential of this lead compound for further preclinical investigation as a promising anti-Alzheimer agent.

1,2,3-Triazole appended Schiff base functionalized silanes: A colorimetric sensor of Al (III) and a potent inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase in Alzheimer’s diseases via molecular docking

The current article reports the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole appended Schiff base functionalized silanes. The organosilane 7a used for the colorimetric detection of Al (III). The absorption studies have been performed, resulting in a limit of detection values of 1.28 × 10-7 M for the ligand7a.In order to validate the practical applicability of the synthesized probe, the real sample analysis has been performed with aluminium foil in distilled water. Further,the ligand 7a reversibility from [ligand 7a + Al (III)] complex upon EDTA addition can be utilised to build a molecular logic gate, with Al (III) and EDTA considered as inputs and the absorbance intensity at 433 nm considered as the output.The potential binding site of 7a for the Al (III) has been analysed by characterizing the metal–ligand complex using 1H NMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity assay of compounds 7(a-c) was performed using SAF-1 (ECACC n°00122301), rendering thenon-toxicity of synthesized compounds. The binding energy of −10.16 Kcal mol−1demonstrated that the ligand 7a is a potent inhibitor for the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme and might be employed as an anti-Alzheimer agent in the future.

Unveiling piperazine-quinoline hybrids as potential multi-target directed anti-Alzheimer's agents: design, synthesis and biological evaluation.

Multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) have recently been popularized due to their outstanding efficacy in combating the complicated features of Alzheimer's disease. This study details the synthesis of piperazine-quinoline-based MTDLs through a multicomponent Petasis reaction, targeting multiple factors such as AChE, BuChE, metal chelation to restore metal dyshomeostasis, and antioxidant activity. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibited notable inhibitory activity against AChE and BuChE enzymes at specific concentrations. Among the synthesized compounds compound (95) containing a 4-chloroaniline moiety and a 4-methoxybenzyl group displayed the most promising inhibitory activities against AChE (IC50 3.013 µM) and BuChE (IC50 = 3.144 µM). Compound (83) featuring 2-methoxyaniline and 4-fluorobenzyl substituents, exhibited the highest BuChE inhibition (IC50 1.888 µM). Notably, compound (79) demonstrated 93-times higher selectivity for BuChE over AChE. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were also performed to explore the binding modes and stability of these compounds with the AChE amd BuChE proteins. Further, kinetics study was performed against AChE for comounds (83 and 95) which indicated mixed inhibition of the enzyme by these compounds, Amongs the synthesized compounds, nine compounds were assessed for their antioxidant activity, displaying significant antioxidant properties with IC50 values ranging from 156 µM to 310 µM. Moreover, all the compounds demonstrated metal chelating tendency with Cu+2, Zn+2, Fe+2, Fe+3 and Al+3. This study provides insights into the design of novel MTDLs, highlighting compound (95) as a potential candidate for combating Alzheimer's disease.

Hybrid benzothiazole derived fused triazole/thiazole derivatives as versatile anti-Alzheimer agents: synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies

Alzheimer's disease, as per reports, 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia and an increase of 152 million is expected by 2050. This study reports a novel synthetic approach to designing and synthesizing a series of benzothiazole-based fused 1,3,4-triazole/1,3,4-thiadiazole hybrid derivatives (1–19), which show promising potential as therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These derivatives were structurally confirmed through spectroscopic analytical techniques, including 13C NMR, 1H NMR and HREI-MS. All the analogs were subjected to biological inhibitory evaluation against AChE and BuChE, in which analog 2 ((IC50 = 3.30±0.20 and 3.70±0.40 µM), 7 (2.70±0.10 and 3.240±0.10 µM), 12 (4.80±0.30 and 5.40±0.20 µM), 15 (2.10±0.20 and 3.10±0.50 µM) and 19 (4.40±0.20 and 5.10±0.10 µM)) exhibited spellbinding potency in contrast to standard Donepezil (IC50 = 4.60±0.10 µM for AChE and 5.20±0.71 µM for BuChE). The surpassing potential of the analogs is elaborated in SAR analysis, based on number, position and nature of the substituents. In this regard, analog 15 having two flouro groups, was found as the top ranking candidate, inhibiting the enzymes through hydrogen bonding. Additionally, molecular docking study was also performed to investigate the binding modes and interactions between the ligands and the target protein. Furthermore, the drug-likeness of the compounds was evaluated through in silico ADME analysis, which assessed their pharmacokinetic properties and potential to become a successful drug candidate.

Computational Investigation of Novel Compounds as Dual Inhibitors of AChE and GSK-3β for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands out as one of the most devastating and prevalent neurodegenerative disorders known today. Researchers have identified several enzymatic targets associated with AD among which Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are prominent ones. Unfortunately, the market offers very few drugs for treating or managing AD, and none have shown significant efficacy against it. Objectives: To address this critical issue, the design and discovery of dual inhibitors will represent a potential breakthrough in the fight against AD. In the pursuit of designing novel dual inhibitors, we explored molecular docking and dynamics analyses of tacrine and amantadine uredio-linked amide analogs such as GSK-3β and AChE dual inhibitors for curtailing AD. Tacrine and adamantine are the FDA-approved drugs that were structurally modified to design and develop novel drug candidates that may demonstrate concurrently dual selectivity towards GSK-3β and AChE. Methods: In the following study, molecular docking was executed by employing AutoDock Vina, and molecular dynamics and ADMET predictions were made using Desmond, Qikprop modules of Schrödinger. Results: Our findings revealed that compounds DST2 and DST11 exhibited remarkable molecular interactions with active sites of GSK-3β and AChE, respectively. These compounds effectively interacted with key amino acids, namely Lys85, Val135, Asp200, and Phe295, resulting in highly favourable docking energies of -9.7 and -12.7 kcal/mol. Furthermore, through molecular dynamics simulations spanning a trajectory of 100 ns, we confirmed the stability of ligands DST2 and DST11 within the active cavities of GSK-3β and AChE. The compounds exhibiting the most promising docking results also demonstrated excellent ADMET profiles. Notably, DST21 displayed an outstanding human oral absorption rate of 76.358%, surpassing the absorption rates of other molecules. Conclusion: Overall, our in-silico studies revealed that the designed molecules showed potential as novel anti-Alzheimer agents capable of inhibiting both GSK-3β and AChE simultaneously. So, in the future, the designing and development of dual inhibitors will harbinger a new era of drug design in AD treatment.

Exploring the Potential of Nano-Encapsulated Elettaria Cardamom Oil as Anti-Alzheimer Agent

Exploring the Potential of Nano-Encapsulated Elettaria Cardamom Oil as Anti-Alzheimer Agent