Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel morpholinopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives as dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors.

In this study, novel morpholinopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles were designed and synthesized as dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors and apoptosis inducers. The integration of a heterocycle at position 2, with or without spacers, of the new key intermediate 2-hydrazinyl-6-morpholinopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile (5) yielded compounds 6-10, 11a-c and 12a-h. The National Cancer Institute (USA) tested all compounds for antiproliferative activity. Schiff bases, 12a-h analogs, were the most active ones. The most promising compounds 12b and 12d exhibited excellent antitumor activity against the leukemia SR cell line, which is the most sensitive cell line, with IC50 0.10 ± 0.01 and 0.09 ± 0.01 µM, respectively, along with significant effects on PI3Kα/PI3Kß/PI3Kδ with IC50 values of 0.17 ± 0.01, 0.13 ± 0.01 and 0.76 ± 0.04 µM, respectively, for 12b and 1.27 ± 0.07, 3.20 ± 0.16 and 1.98 ± 0.11, respectively, for 12d compared to LY294002. Compared to Afinitor, these compounds inhibited mTOR with IC50 values of 0.83 ± 0.05 and 2.85 ± 0.17 µM, respectively. Annexin-V and propidium iodide (PI) double labeling showed that compounds 12b and 12d promote cytotoxic leukemia SR apoptosis. Compounds 12b and 12d also caused a G2/M cell cycle arrest in the leukaemia SR cell line. The findings of this study indicate that the highest effect was observed for 12b, which was supported by western blot and docking analysis.

New Phenylthiazoles: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation as Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Anti-COVID-19 Candidates.

The combination of antibacterial and antiviral agents is becoming a very important aspect of dealing with resistant bacterial and viral infections. The N-phenylthiazole scaffold was found to possess significant anti-MRSA, antifungal, and anti-COVID-19 activities as previously published; hence, a slight refinement was proposed to attach various alkyne lipophilic tails to this promising scaffold, to investigate their effects on the antimicrobial activity of the newly synthesized compounds and to provide a valuable structure-activity relationship. Phenylthiazole 4 m exhibited the most potent anti-MRSA activity with 8 µg/mL MIC value. Compounds 4 k and 4 m demonstrated potent activity against Clostridium difficile with MIC values of 2 µg/mL and moderate activity against Candida albicans with MIC value of 4 µg/mL. When analyzed for their anti-COVID-19 inhibitory effect, compound 4 b emerged with IC50 =1269 nM and the highest selectivity of 138.86 and this was supported by its binding score of -5.21 kcal mol-1 when docked against SARS-CoV-2 M pro . Two H-bonds were formed, one with His164 and the other with Met49 stabilizing phenylthiazole derivative 4 b, inside the binding pocket. Additionally, it created two arene-H bonds with Asn142 and Glu166, through the phenylthiazole scaffold and one arene-H bond with Leu141 via the phenyl ring of the lipophilic tail.

Impact of Eucalyptus maculata Hook resin exudate constituents on reducing COX-2 gene expression: In-vivo anti-inflammatory, molecular docking and dynamics studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Eucalyptus maculata Hook from the Myrtaceae family is a native Australian plant that is frequently cultivated in Egypt. Many Eucalyptus species, including E. maculata, were widely used by the Dharawal, the indigenous Australian people, for their anti-inflammatory properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract of E. maculata resin exudate, its methylene chloride and n-butanol fractions, as well as the isolated compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the ethanol extract was partitioned by methylene chloride, and n-butanol saturated with water. The fractions were chromatographed to isolate pure compounds. In-vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract, the fractions at a dose of 200 mg/kg, and the isolated compounds (20 mg/kg) was estimated using carrageenan-induced rat paws edema method against indomethacin (20 mg/kg). The activity was supported by histopathological and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Three isolated compounds were identified as aromadendrin (C1), 7-O-methyl aromadendrin (C2), and naringenin (C3). Our findings demonstrated that the tested fractions significantly reduced the paw edema starting from the 3rd to the 5th hour as compared to the positive control, compounds C2 and C3 showed the greatest significant reduction in paw edema. The ethanol extract, fractions, C2, and C3 demonstrated an anti-inflammatory potential through reducing the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE2, as well as COX-2 protein expression compared to the negative control. These results were supported by molecular docking, which revealed that the isolated compounds had high affinity to target COX-1 and COX-2 active sites with docking scores ranging from -7.3 to -9.6 kcal mol-1 when compared to ibubrofen (-7.8 and -7.4 kcal mol-1, respectively). Molecular dynamics simulations were also performed and confirmed the docking results. CONCLUSION: The results supported the traditional anti-inflammatory potency of E. maculata Hook, and the biochemical mechanisms underlying this activity were highlighted, opening up new paths for the development of potent herbal anti-inflammatory medicine. Finally, our findings revealed that E. maculata resin constituents could be considered as promising anti-inflammatory drug candidates.

New potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-cancer therapies of chitosan derivatives and its nanoparticles: Preparation and characterization.

Chitosan (CS) is a biopolymer and has reactive amine/hydroxyl groups facilitated its modifications. The purpose of this study is improvement of (CS) physicochemical properties and its capabilities as antiviral and antitumor through modification with 1-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)thiosemicarbazide (3A) or 1-(5-fluoro-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)thiosemicarbazide (3B) via crosslinking of poly(ethylene glycol)diglycidylether (PEGDGE) using microwave-assisted as green technique gives (CS-I) and (CS-II) derivatives. However, (CS) derivatives nanoparticles (CS-I NPs) and (CS-II NPs) are synthesized via ionic gelation technique using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Structures of new (CS) derivatives are characterized using different tools. The anticancer, antiviral efficiencies and molecular docking of (CS) and its derivatives are assayed. (CS) derivatives and its nanoparticles show enhancement in cell inhibition toward (HepG-2 and MCF-7) cancer cells in comparison with (CS). (CS-II NPs) reveals the lowest IC50 values are 92.70 ± 2.64 µg/mL and 12.64 µ g/mL against (HepG-2) cell and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) respectively and the best binding affinity toward corona virus protease receptor (PDB ID 6LU7) -5.71 kcal / mol. Furthermore, (CS-I NPs) shows the lowest cell viability% 14.31 ± 1.48 % and the best binding affinity -9.98 kcal/moL against (MCF-7) cell and receptor (PDB ID 1Z11) respectively. Results of this study demonstrated that (CS) derivatives and its nanoparticles could be potentially employed for biomedical applications.

Design and synthesis of some new benzoylthioureido benzenesulfonamide derivatives and their analogues as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

The present investigation reports the design and synthesis of three series of benzoylthioureido derivatives bearing either benzenesulfonamide 7a-f, benzoic acid 8a-f or ethylbenzoate 9a-f moieties. The synthesised compounds were screened for their carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity (CAI) against four isoforms hCA I, II, IX, and XII. Compounds 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7f exhibited a potent inhibitory activity towards hCAI (Kis = 58.20, 56.30, 33.00, and 43.00 nM), respectively compared to acetazolamide (AAZ) and SLC-0111 (Kis = 250.00 and 5080.00 nM). Compounds 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e, and 7f elicited selectivity over h CA II (Kis = 2.50, 2.10, 56.60,39.60 and 39.00 nM) respectively, relative to AAZ and SLC-0111(Kis = 12.10 and 960.00 nM). Also, compounds 7c, 7f, and 9e displayed selectivity against the tumour-associated isoform hCA IX (Kis = 31.20, 30.00 and 29.00 nM) respectively, compared to AAZ and SLC-0111 (Kis = 25.70 and 45.00 nM). Additionally, compounds 8a and 8f revealed a moderate to superior selectivity towards hCAXII (Kis = 17.00 and 11.00 nM) relative to AAZ and SLC-0111(Kis = 5.70 and 45.00 nM). Molecular docking and ADME prediction studies were performed on the most active compounds to shed light on their interaction with the hot spots of the active site of CA isoforms, in addition to prediction of their pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties.

New 5-Aryl-1,3,4-Thiadiazole-Based Anticancer Agents: Design, Synthesis, In Vitro Biological Evaluation and In Vivo Radioactive Tracing Studies.

A new series of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-based compounds featuring pyridinium (3), substituted piperazines (4a-g), benzyl piperidine (4i), and aryl aminothiazoles (5a-e) heterocycles were synthesized. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity potential of the new compounds against MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines indicated that compounds 4e and 4i displayed the highest activity toward the tested cancer cells. A selectivity study demonstrated the high selective cytotoxicity of 4e and 4i towards cancerous cells over normal mammalian Vero cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that treatment with either compound 4e or 4i induced cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Moreover, the significant increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase 9 levels in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells treated with either 4e or 4i indicated that their cytotoxic effect is attributed to the ability to induce apoptotic cell death. Finally, an in vivo radioactive tracing study of compound 4i proved its targeting ability to sarcoma cells in a tumor-bearing mice model.

The Anti-MRSA Activity of Phenylthiazoles: A Comprehensive Review.

Antimicrobial resistance is an aggravating global issue therefore it has been under extensive research in an attempt to reduce the number of antibiotics that are constantly reported as obsolete jeopardizing the lives of millions worldwide. Thiazoles possess a reputation as one of the most diverse biologically active nuclei, and phenylthiazoles are no less exceptional with an assorted array of biological activities such as anthelmintic, insecticidal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal activity. Recently phenyl thiazoles came under the spotlight as a scaffold having strong potential as an anti-MRSA lead compound. It is a prominent pharmacophore in designing and synthesizing new compounds with antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA, which is categorized as a serious threat pathogen, that exhibited concomitant resistance to most of the first-line antibiotics. MRSA has been associated with soft tissue and skin infections resulting in high death rates, rapid dissemination, and loss of millions of dollars of additional health care costs. In this brief review, we have focused on the advances of phenylthiazole derivatives as potential anti-MRSA from 2014 to 2021. The review encompasses the effect on biological activity due to combining this molecule with various synthetic pharmacophores. The physicochemical aspects were correlated with the pharmacokinetic properties of the reviewed compounds to reach a structure-activity relationship profile. Lead optimization of phenyl thiazole derivatives has additionally been outlined where the lipophilicity of the compounds was balanced with the metabolic stability and oral solubility to aid the researchers in medicinal chemistry, design, and synthesizing effective anti- MRSA phenylthiazoles in the future.

Design and synthesis of some new benzoylthioureido phenyl derivatives targeting carbonic anhydrase enzymes.

The present study aimed to develop potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs). The design of the target compounds was based on modifying the structure of the ureido-based carbonic anhydrase inhibitor SLC-0111. Six series of a substituted benzoylthioureido core were prepared featuring different zinc-binding groups; the conventional sulphamoyl group 4a-d and 12a-c, its bioisosteric carboxylic acid group 5a-d and 13a-c or the ethyl carboxylate group 6a-d and 14a-c as potential prodrugs. All compounds were assessed for their carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitory activity against a panel of four physiologically relevant human CA isoforms hCA I and hCA II, and hCA IX, and hCA XII. Compounds 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5d, 12a, and 12c revealed significant inhibitory activity against hCA I that would highlight these compounds as promising drug candidates for the treatment of glaucoma.

Comparative Study of the Synthetic Approaches and Biological Activities of the Bioisosteres of 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles and 1,3,4-Thiadiazoles over the Past Decade.

The bioisosteres of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 1,3,4-thiadiazoles are well-known pharmacophores for many medicinally important drugs. Throughout the past 10 years, 1,3,4-oxa-/thiadiazole nuclei have been very attractive to researchers for drug design, synthesis, and the study of their potential activity towards a variety of diseases, including microbial and viral infections, cancer, diabetes, pain, and inflammation. This work is an up-to-date comparative study that identifies the differences between 1,3,4-thiadiazoles and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles concerning their methods of synthesis from different classes of starting compounds under various reaction conditions, as well as their biological activities and structure-activity relationship.

Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. Bioactive Constituents Exert Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Anti-Inflammatory Activities: Molecular Docking and Dynamics, In Vitro, and In Vivo Studies.

In response to the urgent need to control Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), this study aims to explore potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents from natural sources. Moreover, cytokine immunological responses to the viral infection could lead to acute respiratory distress which is considered a critical and life-threatening complication associated with the infection. Therefore, the anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agents can be key to the management of patients with COVID-19. Four bioactive compounds, namely ferulic acid 1, rutin 2, gallic acid 3, and chlorogenic acid 4 were isolated from the leaves of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr (ethyl acetate extract) and identified using spectroscopic evidence. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed for the isolated and identified compounds (1-4) against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) as a proposed mechanism of action. Furthermore, all compounds were tested for their half-maximal cytotoxicity (CC50) and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory concentrations (IC50). Additionally, lung toxicity was induced in rats by mercuric chloride and the effects of treatment with P. dioca aqueous extract, ferulic acid 1, rutin 2, gallic acid 3, and chlorogenic acid 4 were recorded through measuring TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-10, G-CSF, and genetic expression of miRNA 21-3P and miRNA-155 levels to assess their anti-inflammatory effects essential for COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, rutin 2, gallic acid 3, and chlorogenic acid 4 showed remarkable anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities with IC50 values of 31 µg/mL, 108 µg/mL, and 360 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects were found to be better in ferulic acid 1 and rutin 2 treatments. Our results could be promising for more advanced preclinical and clinical studies especially on rutin 2 either alone or in combination with other isolates for COVID-19 management.

Evaluation of N-phenyl-2-aminothiazoles for treatment of multi-drug resistant and intracellular Staphylococcus aureus infections.

The increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens calls for additional urgency in the development of new antibacterial candidates. N-Phenyl-2-aminothiazoles are promising candidates that possess potent anti-MRSA activity and could potentially replenish the MRSA antibiotic pipeline. The initial screen of a series of compounds in this novel class against several bacterial strains revealed that the aminoguanidine analogues possessed promising activities and superior safety profiles. The determined MICs of these compounds were comparable to, if not better than, those of the control drugs (linezolid and vancomycin). Remarkably, compounds 3a, 3b, and 3e possessed potent activities against multidrug resistant staphylococcal isolates and several clinically important pathogens, such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Streptococcus pneumoniae. In addition, the compounds were superior to vancomycin in the rapid killing of MRSA and the longer post-antibiotic effects. Furthermore, low concentrations of compounds 3a, 3b, and 3e reduced the intracellular burden of MRSA by greater than 90%. Initial in vitro PK/toxicity assessments revealed that compound 3e was highly tolerable and possessed a low metabolic clearance rate and a highly acceptable half-life.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrimidine-5-carbonitriles featuring morpholine moiety as antitumor agents.

Aim: Design and synthesis of novel morpholinopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles as antitumor agents. Materials & methods: New series of morpholinopyrimidine-5-carbonitriles have been synthesized. 19 derivatives (3b, 4a, 5-6, 9-12, 13a-e, 14a-c and 15-17) were evaluated for their in vitro antitumor activity by the National Cancer Institute (NCI; MD, USA). Moreover, compound 13e was evaluated against PI3K (α, ß and δ) and the mechanism of its cytotoxic activity on leukemia SR was studied. Results: Compound 13e possessed remarkable broad spectrum antitumor activity with GI50 (median growth inhibition) and TGI (total growth inhibition) values of 6.15 and 28.66 µM, respectively, caused cell cycle arrest at G2-M phase and significant increase in the percentage of annexin V-FITC - positive apoptotic cells, also increased the level of active caspase-3. Moreover, 13e revealed good safety profile against transformed human liver epithelial-2 (THLE2).

Synthesis and in-vitro anti-proliferative evaluation of some pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines as novel larotrectinib analogs.

A series of 2-phenyl-7-(aryl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitriles 11a-j and 2-phenyl-7-(aryl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3,6-dicarbonitriles 16a-c was synthesized by the reaction of 5-amino-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (5) with 3-(dimethylamino)-1-arylprop-2-en-1-ones 6a-j or 2-aryl-3-(dimethylamino)acrylonitriles 12a-c, respectively. In addition, 7-amino-5-oxo-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitrile (22) was prepared from the reaction of compound 5 with ethyl cyanoacetate. The anticancer activity of the newly synthesized compounds against Huh-7, HeLa, MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cell lines showed moderate activity of compound 11f as anti-proliferative agent against Huh-7 cell line with IC50 = 6.3 µM when compared with doxorubicin (IC50 = 3.2 µM). On the other hand, compound 16b revealed potent anti-proliferative activity against HeLa cell line with IC50 = 7.8 µM when compared with doxorubicin (IC50 = 8.1 µM). Also compound 11i exhibited a promising anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cell line (IC50 = 3.0 µM) whereas IC50 of doxorubicin = 5.9 µM, finally compounds 11i and 16b have potent activity as anti-proliferative agents against MDA-MB231 cell line with IC50 = 4.32 and 5.74 µM, respectively when compared with doxorubicin (IC50 = 6.0 µM).

Triazolopyridazine derivatives: Synthesis, cytotoxic evaluation, c-Met kinase activity and molecular docking.

Novel series of some triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives were designed and synthesized. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity at 10-5 M concentration towards 60 cancer cell lines according to USA NCI protocol. Most of the synthesized compounds showed good activity against SR (leukemia) cell panel. The most active compounds, 2f and 4a were subjected for further evaluation at a five dose level screening and their efficacy for c-Met kinase inhibition was determined in vitro. Binding mode of these derivatives was explored via molecular docking.

Design, synthesis, modeling studies and biological screening of novel pyrazole derivatives as potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents.

Reported herein are the design, synthesis, and pharmacologic evaluation of novel pyrazole and pyrazoline derivatives. The study presents the effect of lengthening of carbon chain in different pyrazole derivatives bearing various amine moieties. Combination of pyrazoline ring with either pyrazole or quinoline rings (Floctafenine derivatives) through synthesis of chalcones and their cyclization into pyrazolines was involved. The structures of target compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectral data. All the newly synthesized compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities compared to Indomethacin as a reference drug. Docking and molecular modeling study was initiated to validate the attained pharmacological data and provide understandable evidence for the observed anti-inflammatory behavior of the most potent compounds 14b, 15b and 22 through their various interactions with the active site of COX-2 isozyme. Protein Data Bank (PDB) file of COX II enzyme with the code 4Z0L and its co-crystallized ligand Indomethacin were used for this purpose. The binding affinity was evaluated via comparing the scoring energy (S) and amino acid interactions of novel compounds with Indomethacin.

Alkoxyphenylthiazoles with broad-spectrum activity against multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacterial pathogens.

With the continued rise of antibiotic resistance and reduced susceptibility to almost all front-line antibiotics, multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections represent an incessant threat to healthcare providers. This study presents a new series of phenylthiazole compounds where two active moieties were combined into one scaffold. The antibacterial activity of the hybrid structures extended to include several clinically-relevant multi-drug resistant pathogens including methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, cephalosporin-resistant and methicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, the most potent compounds, 16a and 17a, exhibited a fast bactericidal mode of action in vitro with low susceptibility to induce bacterial resistance. In addition to its potent spectrum of activity against Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, compound 17a was found to be metabolically stable in rats, with a half-life of 4 h.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of chromenopyrimidines as potential cytotoxic agents.

AIM: The design and synthesis of chromenopyrimidines as microtubule destabilizing agents. MATERIALS & METHODS: Novel chromenopyrimidines and chromenotriazolopyrimidines were prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line. The most potent compound was tested for its possible effect on tubulin inhibition, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis initiation and caspase-3 activation. RESULTS: All the prepared compounds showed potent cytotoxic activity. Compound 13 was the most prominent (IC50 = 0.13 µM on tumor cell line MCF-7 and 14.06 µM on mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A). Compound 13 inhibited tubulin polymerization (IC50 = 8.39 µM), caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase (fivefold more than control) and cellular apoptosis. Compound 13 increased the level of active caspase-3, 12-fold compared with control.

Design, synthesis and cytotoxic activity of certain novel chalcone analogous compounds.

A series of chalcone analogous compounds were designed and synthesized. Replacing/substituting the enone or ethylenic bridge of the parent chalcone with rigid heterocyclic moieties or substituted aromatic amines gave nineteen target compounds. Their cytotoxic activities were screened against both breast and liver cancer cells as well as breast and liver normal cells. Target compounds were also evaluated for their inhibition activity of tubulin beta polymerization. Target compound 2e, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a-4d, 5a, 5b and 6 showed broad spectrum excellent anticancer activity against both MCF-7 and HepG2. Compound 4a showed the most TUBb inhibition activity.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of certain trisubstituted azetidin-2-one derivatives as a cis-restricted combretastatin A-4 analogues.

Novel series of 1,3,4-trisubstituted azetidin-2-one derivatives 8a-p were synthesized and proposed as cytotoxic agents acting via inhibition of tubulin at the colchicine binding site. The design of the target compounds was based upon modification in the structure of the vascular targeting agent combretastatin A-4 (CA-4). The cis double bond linker in CA-4 was replaced with the azetidin-2-one ring aiming to prevent the cis/trans isomerization that suppresses the activity of CA-4, thereby enhancing its antiproliferative activity. All new compounds were investigated in vitro against MCF-7 and HCT-116 cell lines. The inhibition of tubulin polymerization by four most potent compounds 8g, 8j, 8n and 8o was also evaluated. The synthesis of the final targets was achieved adopting Staudinger reaction. Molecular modeling studies were performed to rationalize the biological results.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of certain benzothiazole derivatives against human MCF-7 cancer cell line.

A new series of benzothiazole has been synthesized as cytotoxic agents. The new derivatives were tested for their cytotoxic activity toward the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line against cisplatin as the reference drug. Many derivatives revealed good cytotoxic effect, whereas four of them, 4, 5c, 5d, and 6b, were more potent than cisplatin, with IC50 values being 8.64, 7.39, 7.56, and 5.15 µm compared to 13.33 µm of cisplatin. The four derivatives' cytotoxic activity was accompanied by regulating free radicals production, by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase and depletion of intracellular reduced glutathione, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, accordingly, the high production of hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and other free radicals causing tumor cell death as monitored by reduction in the synthesis of protein and nucleic acids. Most of the tested compounds showed potent to moderate growth inhibitory activity; in particular, compound 6b exhibited the highest activity suggesting it is a lead compound in cytotoxic activity.