Three new norditerpenoids alkaloids, 1β-hydroxy,14β-acetyl condelphine (1), jadwarine-A (2), jadwarine-B (3) along with two known alkaloids isotalatizidine hydrate (4) and dihydropentagynine (5) were isolated from medicinal plant Delphinium denudatum. The structures of natural products 1-5 were established on the basis of HR-EIMS, 1H and 13C NMR (1D & 2D) spectroscopic data as well as by comparison from literature data. The structures of compound 1 and 4 were also confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In-vitro AChE and BChE enzyme inhibitory activities of compounds 1-5 and molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the possible molecular inhibitory mechanism of the isolated natural products. Compound 2, 4 and 5 showed competitive inhibitory effects by inhibiting AChE and BChE, respectively, while 1 and 3 showed non-competitive inhibition. This work is the first report that provides a supporting evidence about the use of constituents of Delphinium denudatum in cerebral dementia and Alzheimer diseases.
An efficient one-pot microwave assisted stereoselective synthesis of novel dihydro-2'H-spiro[indene-2,1'-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole]-tetraone derivatives through three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from ninhydrin and sarcosine with a series of 1-aryl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-diones is described. The synthesised compounds were screened for their antimycobacterial and AChE inhibition activities. Compound 4b (IC50 1.30µM) has been found to display twelve fold antimycobacterial activity compared to cycloserine and it is thirty seven times more active than pyrimethamine. Compound 4h displays maximum AchE inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 0.78±0.01µmol/L.
Seventeen methanol extracts from different plant parts of five different Cassia species, including C. timorensis, C. grandis, C. fistula, C. spectabilis, and C. alata were screened against acetylcholinesterase (AChE). C. timorensis extracts were found to exhibit the highest inhibition towards AChE whereby the leaf, stem, and flower methanol extracts showed 94-97% inhibition. As far as we are aware, C. timorensis is one of the least explored Cassia spp. for bioactivity. Further fractionation led to the identification of six compounds, isolated for the first time from C. timorensis: 3-methoxyquercetin (1), benzenepropanoic acid (2), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (3), β-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5), and 1-octadecanol (6). Compound 1 showed moderate inhibition towards AChE (IC50: 83.71 μM), while the other compounds exhibited poor to slightly moderate AChE inhibitory activity. Molecular docking revealed that the methoxy substitution of 1 formed a hydrogen bond with TYR121 at the peripheral anionic site (PAS) and the hydroxyl group at C5 formed a covalent hydrogen bond with ASP72. Additionally, the OH group at the C3' position formed an interaction with the protein at the acyl pocket (PHE288). This possibly explains the activity of 1 in blocking the entry of acetylcholine (ACh, the neurotransmitter), thus impeding the hydrolysis of ACh.
α-Mangostin has been reported to possess a broad range of pharmacological effects including potent cholinesterase inhibition, but the development of α-mangostin as a potential lead compound is impeded by its toxicity. The present study investigated the impact of simple structural modification of α-mangostin on its cholinesterase inhibitory activities and toxicity toward neuroblastoma and liver cancer cells. The dialkylated derivatives retained good acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities with IC50 values between 4.15 and 6.73 µM, but not butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities, compared with α-mangostin, a dual inhibitor (IC50 : AChE, 2.48 µM; BChE, 5.87 µM). Dialkylation of α-mangostin produced AChE selective inhibitors that formed hydrophobic interactions at the active site of AChE. Interestingly, all four dialkylated derivatives of α-mangostin showed much lower cytotoxicity, being 6.4- to 9.0-fold and 3.8- to 5.5-fold less toxic than their parent compound on neuroblastoma and liver cancer cells, respectively. Likewise, their selectivity index was higher by 1.9- to 4.4-fold; in particular, A2 and A4 showed improved selectivity index compared with α-mangostin. Taken together, modification of the hydroxyl groups of α-mangostin at positions C-3 and C-6 greatly influenced its BChE inhibitory and cytotoxic but not its AChE inhibitory activities. These dialkylated derivatives are viable candidates for further structural modification and refinement, worthy in the search of new AChE inhibitors with higher safety margins.
New lycoctonine-type dual cholinesterase inhibitor, swatinine-C (1), along with three known norditerpenoid alkaloids, hohenackerine (2), aconorine (5) and lappaconitine (6) and two synthetically known but phytochemically new benzene derivatives, methyl 2-acetamidobenzoate (3) and methyl 4-[2-(methoxycarbonyl)anilino]-4-oxobutanoate (4), was isolated from the roots of A. laeve. Structures of new and known compounds (1-6) were established on the basis of latest spectroscopic techniques and by close comparison with the data available in literature. In vitro, compounds (1-6) were tested against AChE and BChE inhibitory activities. Compounds 1 and 2 showed competitive inhibition against AChE (IC50 = 3.7 μM, 4.53 μM) and BChE (IC50 = 12.23 μM, 9.94 μM), respectively. Compounds 5 and 6 showed promising noncompetitive type of inhibitory profile against AChE (IC50 = 2.51 and 6.13 μM) only. Compounds 3 and 4 showed weak inhibitory profile against both AChE and BChE.
The recent use of organophosphate nerve agents in Syria, Malaysia, Russia, and the United Kingdom has reinforced the potential threat of their intentional release. These agents act through their ability to inhibit human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE; E.C. 3.1.1.7), an enzyme vital for survival. The toxicity of hAChE inhibition via G-series nerve agents has been demonstrated to vary widely depending on the G-agent used. To gain insight into this issue, the structures of hAChE inhibited by tabun, sarin, cyclosarin, soman, and GP were obtained along with the inhibition kinetics for these agents. Through this information, the role of hAChE active site plasticity in agent selectivity is revealed. With reports indicating that the efficacy of reactivators can vary based on the nerve agent inhibiting hAChE, human recombinatorially expressed hAChE was utilized to define these variations for HI-6 among various G-agents. To identify the structural underpinnings of this phenomenon, the structures of tabun, sarin, and soman-inhibited hAChE in complex with HI-6 were determined. This revealed how the presence of G-agent adducts impacts reactivator access and placement within the active site. These insights will contribute toward a path of next-generation reactivators and an improved understanding of the innate issues with the current reactivators.
Series of pyrolidine analogues were synthesized and examined as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. Among the compounds, compounds 4k and 6k were the most potent inhibitors of the series. Compound 4k, showed potent inhibitory activity against acetyl cholinesterase enzyme with IC(50) 0.10 μmol/L. Pyrolidine analogues might be potential acetyl cholinesterase agents for AD.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, which affected 35 million people in the world. The most practiced approach to improve the life expectancy of AD patients is to increase acetylcholine neurotransmitter level at cholinergic synapses by inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes. A series of unreported piperidone grafted spiropyrrolidines 8(a-p) were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities. Therein, compounds 8h and 8l displayed more potent AChE enzyme inhibition than standard drug with IC50 values of 1.88 and 1.37 µM, respectively. Molecular docking simulations for 8l possessing the most potent AChE inhibitory activities, disclosed its interesting binding templates to the active site channel of AChE enzymes. These compounds are remarkable AChE inhibitors and have potential as AD drugs.
Novel mono and bis spiropyrrolidine derivatives were synthesized via an efficient ionic liquid mediated, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition methodology and evaluated in vitro for their AChE and BChE inhibitory activities in search for potent cholinesterase enzyme inhibitors. Most of the synthesized compounds displayed remarkable AChE inhibitory activities with IC50 values ranging from 1.68 to 21.85 μM, wherein compounds 8d and 8j were found to be most active inhibitors against AChE and BChE with IC50 values of 1.68 and 2.75 μM, respectively. Molecular modeling simulation on Torpedo californica AChE and human BChE receptors, showed good correlation between IC50 values and binding interaction template of the most active inhibitors docked into the active site of their relevant enzymes.
Hexacyclic derivatives share vital pharmacological properties, considered useful in Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was synthesis and its evaluation for acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity of novel hexacyclic analogues. Compound 4f, showed potent inhibitory activity against acetyl cholinesterase enzyme with IC(50) 0.72 μmol/L.
Three-component reaction of a series of 1-acryloyl-3,5-bisbenzylidenepiperidin-4-ones with isatin and L-proline in 1:1:1 and 1:2:2 molar ratios in methanol afforded, respectively the piperidone-grafted novel mono- and bisspiro heterocyclic hybrids comprising functionalized piperidine, pyrrolizine and oxindole ring systems in good yields. The in vitro evaluation of cholinesterase enzymes inhibitory activity of these cycloadducts disclosed that monospiripyrrolizines (8a-k), are more active with IC50 ranging from 3.36 to 20.07 μM than either the dipolarophiles (5a-k) or bisspiropyrrolizines (9a-k). The compounds, 8i and 8e with IC50 values of 3.36 and 3.50 μM, respectively showed the maximum inhibition of acethylcholinesterase (AChE) and butrylylcholinestrase (BuChE). Molecular modeling simulation, disclosed the binding interactions of the most active compounds to the active site residues of their respective enzymes. The docking results were in accordance with the IC50 values obtained from in vitro cholinesterase assay.
To discover multifunctional agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, a series of hydrazide based Schiff bases were designed and synthesized based on multitarget-directed strategy. We have synthesized twenty-eight analogs of hydrazide based Schiff bases, characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and evaluated in vitro for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition. All compounds showed varied degree of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition when compared with standard Eserine. Among the series, compounds 10, 3 and 24 having IC50 values 4.12±0.01, 8.12±0.01 and 8.41±0.06μM respectively showed potent acetylcholinesterase inhibition when compared with Eserine (IC50=0.85±0.0001μM). Three compounds 13, 24 and 3 having IC50 values 6.51±0.01, 9.22±0.07 and 37.82±0.14μM respectively showed potent butyrylcholinesterase inhibition by comparing with eserine (IC50=0.04±0.0001μM). The remaining compounds also exhibited moderate to weak inhibitory potential. Structure activity relationship has been established. Through molecular docking studies the binding interaction was confirmed.
Sixteen novel coumarin-based compounds are reported as potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The most active compound in this series, 5a (IC50 0.04 ± 0.01 µM), noncompetitively inhibited AChE with a higher potency than tacrine and galantamine. Compounds 5d, 5j, and 5 m showed a moderate antilipid peroxidation activity. The compounds showed cytotoxicity in the same range as the standard drugs in HEK-293 cells. Molecular docking demonstrated that 5a acted as a dual binding site inhibitor. The coumarin moiety occupied the peripheral anionic site and showed π-π interaction with Trp278. The tertiary amino group displayed significant cation-π interaction with Phe329. The aromatic group showed π-π interaction with Trp83 at the catalytic anionic site. The long chain of methylene lay along the gorge interacting with Phe330 via hydrophobic interaction. Molecular docking was applied to postulate the selectivity toward AChE of 5a in comparison with donepezil and tacrine. Structural insights into the selectivity of the coumarin derivatives toward huAChE were explored by molecular docking and 3D QSAR and molecular dynamics simulation for 20 ns. ADMET analysis suggested that the 2-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)acetamides showed a good pharmacokinetic profile and no hepatotoxicity. These coumarin derivatives showed high potential for further development as anti-Alzheimer agents.
We synthesized 10 analogs of benzimidazole-based thiosemicarbazide 1 (a-j) and 13 benzimidazole-based Schiff bases 2 (a-m), and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and evaluated in vitro for acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BchE) inhibition activities. All the synthesized analogs showed varying degrees of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory potentials in comparison to the standard drug (IC50 = 0.016 and 4.5 µM. Amongst these analogs 1 (a-j), compounds 1b, 1c, and 1g having IC50 values 1.30, 0.60, and 2.40 µM, respectively, showed good acetylcholinesterase inhibition when compared with the standard. These compounds also showed moderate butyrylcholinesterase inhibition having IC50 values of 2.40, 1.50, and 2.40 µM, respectively. The rest of the compounds of this series also showed moderate to weak inhibition. While amongst the second series of analogs 2 (a-m), compounds 2c, 2e, and 2h having IC50 values of 1.50, 0.60, and 0.90 µM, respectively, showed moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibition when compared to donepezil. Structure Aactivity Relation of both synthesized series has been carried out. The binding interactions between the synthesized analogs and the enzymes were identified through molecular docking simulations.
A series of novel carbonyl compounds was synthesized by a simple, eco-friendly and efficient method. These compounds were screened for anti-oxidant activity, in vitro cytotoxicity and for inhibitory activity for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The effect of these compounds against amyloid β-induced cytotoxicity was also investigated. Among them, compound 14 exhibited strong free radical scavenging activity (18.39 μM) while six compounds (1, 3, 4, 13, 14, and 19) were found to be the most protective against Aβ-induced neuronal cell death in PC12 cells. Compounds 4 and 14, containing N-methyl-4-piperidone linker, showed high acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity as compared to reference drug donepezil. Molecular docking and QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) studies were also carried out to determine the structural features that are responsible for the acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.
A series of 2'-hydroxy- and 2'-hydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxychalcones was synthesised and evaluated as inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The majority of the compounds were found to show some activity, with the most active compounds having IC50 values of 40-85 µM. Higher activities were generally observed for compounds with methoxy substituents in the A ring and halogen substituents in the B ring. Kinetic studies on the most active compounds showed that they act as mixed-type inhibitors, in agreement with the results of molecular modelling studies, which suggested that they interact with residues in the peripheral anionic site and the gorge region of AChE.
In recent decade, the entrance of α-N-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones derivates (Triapne, COTI-2 and DpC) in clinical trials for cancer and HIV-1 has vastly increased the interests of medicinal chemists towards this class of organic compounds. In the given study, a series of eighteen new (3a-r) 3-ethoxy salicylaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazones (TSC), bearing aryl and cycloalkyl substituents, were synthesized and assayed for their pharmacological potential against carbonic anhydrases (hCA I and hCA II), cholinesterases (AChE and BChE) and α-glycosidase. The hCA I isoform was inhibited by these novel 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone derivatives (3a-r) in low nanomolar levels, the Ki of which differed between 144.18 ± 26.74 and 454.92 ± 48.32 nM. Against the physiologically dominant isoform hCA II, the novel compounds demonstrated Kis varying from 110.54 ± 14.05 to 444.12 ± 36.08 nM. Also, these novel derivatives (3a-r) effectively inhibited AChE, with Ki values in the range of 385.38 ± 45.03 to 983.04 ± 104.64 nM. For BChE was obtained with Ki values in the range of 400.21 ± 35.68 to 1003.02 ± 154.27 nM. For α-glycosidase the most effective Ki values of 3l, 3n, and 3q were with Ki values of 12.85 ± 1.05, 16.03 ± 2.84, and 19.16 ± 2.66 nM, respectively. Moreover, the synthesized TCSs were simulated using force field methods whereas the binding energies of the selected compounds were estimated using MM-GBSA method. The findings indicate the present novel 3-ethoxy salicylaldehyde-based thiosemicarbazones to be excellent hits for pharmaceutical applications.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) have become a significant target in the search for an efficient treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Chalcone-based compounds display a strong potency to hinder AChE. So, this study focused on the synthesis of a series of new chalcone derivatives with anti-cholinesterase potential and their structures were characterized based on spectroscopic methods including IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. Chalcone derivatives were screened against AChE. Most of them exhibited potent inhibitory activity against AChE. Compound 11i showed the most potent activity toward acetylcholinesterase compared to the positive compound, Galantamine. Docking studies into the active site of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme ravealed the significant docking score of the synthesized compounds with docking score of -7.959 to -9.277 kcal/mol when compared to the co-crystallized ligand, Donepezil (-10.567 kcal/mol). The interaction's stability was further assessed using a conventional atomistic 100 ns dynamics simulation study, which revealed the conformational stability of representative compound 11i in the cavity of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people and the pathogenesis of this disease is associated with oxidative stress. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with antioxidant activities are considered potential treatments for AD. Some novel ketone derivatives of gallic hydrazide-derived Schiff bases were synthesized and examined for their antioxidant activities and in vitro and in silico acetyl cholinesterase inhibition. The compounds were characterized using spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays revealed that all the compounds have strong antioxidant activities. N-(1-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylidene)-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzohydrazide (2) was the most potent inhibitor of human acetyl cholinesterase, giving an inhibition rate of 77% at 100 μM. Molecular docking simulation of the ligand-enzyme complex suggested that the ligand may be positioned in the enzyme's active-site gorge, interacting with residues in the peripheral anionic subsite (PAS) and acyl binding pocket (ABP). The current work warrants further preclinical studies to assess the potential for these novel compounds for the treatment of AD.
Two series of novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors containing benzimidazole core structure were synthesized by a four-step reaction pathway starting from 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid as the basic compound. The structure of the novel benzimidazoles was characterized and confirmed by the elemental and mass spectral analyses as well as (1)H NMR spectroscopic data. Of the 34 novel synthesized compounds, three benzimidazoles revealed AChE inhibition with IC50<10 μM. The highest inhibitory activity (IC50=5.12 μM for AChE and IC50=8.63 μM for BChE) corresponds to the compound 5IIc (ethyl 1-(3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate). The relationship between lipophilicity and the chemical structures as well as their limited structure-activity relationship was discussed.