Antiproliferative activity, enzymatic inhibition and apoptosis-promoting effects of benzoxazole-based hybrids on human breast cancer cells.

New benzoxazole derivatives containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-triazole or triazolothiadiazine rings were synthesized and screened for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Doxorubicin, cisplatin and 2-(4-aminophenyl)benzothiazole (CJM 126) were used as references. The most active compounds 7a, 8d, 8e and 10c were screened for their antiproliferative activities against MCF-10A normal breast cells where compounds 8e and 7a were the most selective towards MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively compared to CJM 126. In vitro enzymatic inhibition assays of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and aromatase (ARO) enzymes were performed. Compound 7a showed inhibition of EGFR comparable to that of erlotinib while compound 8e exhibited nearly half the inhibitory activity of erlotinib towards EGFR and was more potent inhibitor of ARO than letrozole. Caspase-9 activation assay, cell cycle analysis and Annexin-V/ Propidium iodide assay performed for compounds 7a, 8d, 8e and 10c demonstrated over expression of caspase-9 protein level, pre G1 apoptosis and high annexin V binding affinity. Therefore, these compounds are considered as potent apoptosis-promoting agents. The predicted docking studies and in silico chemo-informatic properties of compounds 7a and 8e were appropriate. Compounds 7a and 8e are promising anti-breast cancer agents exhibiting potent apoptosis-promoting properties.

Benzoxazole derivatives as new generation of anti-breast cancer agents.

New 2-substituted benzoxazole derivatives were synthesized and screened for their in vitro anti-proliferative activities against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Compounds 4b, 4d and 11c eliciting the highest activity against MCF-7 cells were further assayed for their cytotoxic activities against A431 and HCC827 cancer cells in addition to their in vitro inhibition of wild and mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) enzymes. Compound 11c was the most active against A431 cells and it displayed a potent inhibition of EGFRWT while compounds 4b and 4d elicited higher potencies than erlotinib against mutated EGFRL858R. Compounds 4a, 6c and 8a showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 cancer cells where compounds 4a and 6c were slightly less potent aromatase (ARO) inhibitors than letrozole. MCF-7 cells treated with compounds 4b, 4d, 11c and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with compounds 4a, 6c and 8a showed remarkable over-expression of caspase-9 protein level and elicited pre G1 apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in addition to high annexin V binding affinity indicating significant apoptosis. Chemo-informatic and docking properties were also predicted. Docking results revealed that docked compounds displayed binding modes with EGFR and ARO enzymes comparable to that of the reference ligands. The benzoxazole derivatives 11c and 6c possessing amide and dithiocarbamate moieties respectively were found to be potent apoptosis-inducing anti-breast cancer agents with acceptable physicochemical properties. They exert their activity via inhibition of EGFR and ARO enzymes respectively.

Design, facile synthesis and anthelmintic activity of new O-substituted 6-methoxybenzothiazole-2-carbamates. Part II.

In the framework of pursuing the design and synthesis of a new series of substituted 6-methoxybenzothiazole-2-carbamates as potential anthelmintics, and as a continuation of the expended efforts in part I, we have set out to develop novel compounds with enhanced anthelmintic activity by blocking the 6-position of benzothiazole with side chains of different polarities. Guided by the findings in part I, and reporting the paramphistomicidal activity of oxadiazoline derivatives V and VI, we aimed to synthesize target benzothiazoles designed to comprise some planar heterocyclic ring systems, namely, 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 1,2,4-triazoles, bearing a variety of hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. The synthesis of the desired compounds was primarily achieved by cyclization of 6-acetohydrazide, 1. The in vitro paramphistomicidal activity of all synthesized carbamates was evaluated. Four synthesized carbamates exhibited notable activity. Compound 24, methyl 6-[(5-(4-bromophenacylsulfanyl)-[1,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl)methoxy]benzothiazole-2-carbamate, displayed an equipotent effect to the reference drug oxyclozanide at a concentration of 80 µg mL-1; compounds 9, 10 and 23 showed high orders of anthelmintic effect. A structural computational study on the polar nature and hydrophilic-lipophilic properties of the synthesized carbamates was undertaken to discuss their structure-activity relationship (SAR). Besides, pharmacophore mapping was performed using eight active compounds as a training set. The generated pharmacophore model revealed five common features and was validated using fenbendazole, triclabendazole and triclabendazole sulfoxide.