Urease is a bacterial enzyme that is responsible for virulence of various pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Helicobacter pylori and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Increased urease activity aids in survival and colonization of pathogenic bacteria causing several disorders especially gastric ulceration. Hence, urease inhibitors are used for treatment of such diseases. In search of new molecules with better urease inhibitory activity, herein we report a series of acridine derived (thio)semicarbazones (4a-4e, 6a-6l) that were found to be active against urease enzyme. Molecular docking studies were carried out to better comprehend the preferential mode of binding of these compounds against urease enzyme. Docking against urease from pathogenic bacterium S. pasteurii was also carried out with favorable results. In silico ADME evaluation was done to determine drug likeness of synthesized compounds.
A series of 9-(2-(1-arylethylidene)hydrazinyl)acridine and its analogs were designed, synthesized and evaluated for biological activities. Various biochemical assays were performed to determine the free radical scavenging capacity of synthesized compounds (4a-4j). Anticancer activity of these compounds was assessed against two different human cancer cell lines viz cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and liver cancer cells (HepG2) as well as normal human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293). Compounds 4b, 4d and 4e showed potential anti-proliferative effects on HeLa cells. Based on results obtained from antioxidant and cytotoxicity studies, 4b, 4d and 4e were further studied in detail for different biological activities. 4b, 4d and 4e reduced the cell growth, inhibited metastatic activity and declined the potential of cell migration in HeLa cell lines. Topoisomerase1 (Top1) treated with compounds 4b, 4d and 4e exhibited inhibition of Top1 and prevented DNA replication. Molecular docking results validate that interaction of compounds 4b, 4d and 4e with Top1-DNA complex, which might be accountable for their inhibitory effects. Further it was concluded that compounds 4b, 4d and 4e arrests the cells at S phase and consequently induces cell death through DNA damage in HeLa cells.