Antihypernociceptive effects of Petersianthus macrocarpus stem bark on neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury in rats.

Petersianthus macrocarpus (Lecythidaceae) stem bark is traditionally used in West and Central Africa for the treatment of boils and pain. The present study examined the chemical composition of the aqueous and methanolic stem bark extracts of P. macrocarpus by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) . Their antinociceptive effect was evaluated using chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain in a rat model. On the ninth day post-surgery, the pain perception (allodynia and hyperalgesia) of the animals was assessed after the administration of aqueous and methanolic extracts at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. In addition, the effect of the extracts was evaluated on nitric oxide activity and on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and NF-κB). The LC-ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of ellagic acid as the major constituent in the methanol extract. Both extracts at the employed doses (100 and 200 mg/kg), significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) reduced the spontaneous pain, tactile and cold allodynia, and mechanical hyperalgesia. The methanolic extract used at the dose of 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the nitric oxide level (p < 0.001) and the gene expression levels of NF-κB (p < 0.05) and TNF-α (p < 0.01) in the brain. These data may indicate that stem bark extracts of P. macrocarpus possess a potent anti-hypernociceptive effect on CCI neuropathic pain. The inhibition of the nitric oxide pathway as well as the reduction in NF-κB and TNF-α gene expression in the brain may at least partially contribute to this effect. The results further support the use of this plant by traditional healers in pain conditions.

Synthesis, in vitro, and in vivo (Zebra fish) antitubercular activity of 7,8-dihydroquinolin-5(6H)-ylidenehydrazinecarbothioamides.

We, herein, describe the synthesis of a series of novel aryl tethered 7,8-dihydroquinolin-5(6H)-ylidenehydrazinecarbothioamides 4a-v, which showed in vitro and in vivo antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Rv. The intermediates dihydro-6H-quinolin-5-ones 3a-v were synthesized from ß-enaminones, reacting with cyclochexane-1,3-dione/5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione and ammonium acetate using a modified Bohlmann-Rahtz reaction conditions. They were further reacted with thiosemicarbazide to give the respective hydrazine carbothioamides 4a-v. All the new analogues 4a-v, were characterized by their NMR and mass spectral data analysis. Among the twenty-two compounds screened for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC27294), two compounds, 4e and 4j, exhibited the highest inhibition with an MIC of 0.39 µg/mL. Compounds 4a, 4g, and 4k were found to inhibit Mtb at an MIC of 0.78 µg/mL. Hydrazinecarbothioamides 4a-k, exhibited enhanced activity than dihydroquinolinones 3a-k. The observed increase in potency provides a clear evidence that hydrazinecarbothioamide is a potential pharmacophore, collectively imparting synergistic effect in enhancing antitubercular activity of the dihydroquinolinone core. The in vivo (Zebra fish) antimycobacterial screening of the in vitro active molecules led to the identification of a hit compound, 4j, with significant activity in the Mtb nutrient starvation model (2.2-fold reduction). Docking studies of 4j showed a hydrogen bond with the P156 residue of the protein.

Novel Zebrafish EAE model: A quick in vivo screen for multiple sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-clinical drug discovery for multiple sclerosis (MS) is a labor intensive activity to perform in rodent models. This is owing to the long duration of disease induction and observation of treatment effects in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. We propose a novel adult zebrafish based model which offers a quick and simple protocol that can used to screen candidates as a step between in vitro experiments and rodent studies. The experiments conducted for this manuscript were to standardize a suitable model of EAE in adult zebrafish and validate it using known modulators. METHODS: The EAE model was developed by disease induction with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein - 35-55 (MOG) and observation of survival, clinical signs and body weight changes. We have validated this model using fingolimod. We have further performed detailed validation using dimethyl fumarate, dexamethasone and SR1001, which are known modulators of rodent EAE. RESULTS: The immunization dose for the disease induction was observed to be 0.6mg/ml of MOG in CFA (Complete Freund's adjuvant), injected subcutaneously (s.c.) near spinal vertebrae. In the validation study with fingolimod, we have demonstrated the modulation of disease symptoms, which were also confirmed by histopathological evaluation. Furthermore, detailed validation with three other known drugs showed that our observations concur with those reported in conventional rodent models. DISCUSSION: We have standardized and validated the adult zebrafish EAE model. This model can help get a quick idea of in vivo activity of drugs in a week using very low quantities of candidate compounds. Further work will be required to define this model particularly as it is found that zebrafish may not express a MOG homologue.

Energy-Based Pharmacophore and Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure--Activity Relationship (3D-QSAR) Modeling Combined with Virtual Screening To Identify Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Silent Mating-Type Information Regulation 2 Homologue 1 (SIRT1).

Silent mating-type information regulation 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1), being the homologous enzyme of silent information regulator-2 gene in yeast, has multifaceted functions. It deacetylates a wide range of histone and nonhistone proteins; hence, it has good therapeutic importance. SIRT1 was believed to be overexpressed in many cancers (prostate, colon) and inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis). Hence, designing inhibitors against SIRT1 could be considered valuable. Both structure-based and ligand-based drug design strategies were employed to design novel inhibitors utilizing high-throughput virtual screening of chemical databases. An energy-based pharmacophore was generated using the crystal structure of SIRT1 bound with a small molecule inhibitor and compared with a ligand-based pharmacophore model that showed four similar features. A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model was developed and validated to be employed in the virtual screening protocol. Among the designed compounds, Lead 17 emerged as a promising SIRT1 inhibitor with IC50 of 4.34 µM and, at nanomolar concentration (360 nM), attenuated the proliferation of prostate cancer cells (LnCAP). In addition, Lead 17 significantly reduced production of reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing pro inflammatory cytokines such as IL6 and TNF-α. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory potential of the compound was ascertained using an animal paw inflammation model induced by carrageenan. Thus, the identified SIRT1 inhibitors could be considered as potent leads to treat both cancer and inflammation.

Antinociceptive properties of the aqueous and methanol extracts of the stem bark of Petersianthus macrocarpus (P. Beauv.) Liben (Lecythidaceae) in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aqueous maceration from the stem barks of Petersianthus macrocarpus (P. Beauv.) Liben (Lecythidaceae) is taken orally in the central Africa for the management of various ailments, including pain. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work was carried out to evaluate in mice, the antinociceptive effects of the aqueous and methanol extracts of the stem bark of P. macrocarpus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of the aqueous and methanol extracts prepared as cold macerations was determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LCMS). The antinociceptive effects of these extracts administered orally at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were evaluated using behavioral pain model induced by acetic acid, formalin, hot-plate, capsaicin and glutamate. The rotarod test was also performed at the same doses. The oral acute toxicity of both extracts was studied at the doses of 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400 mg/kg in mice. RESULT: The LCMS analysis revealed the presence of ellagic acid as the major constituent in the methanol extract. Both extracts of P. macrocarpus significantly and dose dependently reduced the time and number of writhing induced by acetic acid. They also significantly inhibited the two phases of formalin-induced pain. These effects were significantly inhibited by a pretreatment with naloxone, except for the analgesic activity of the methanol extract at the earlier phase. In addition, nociception induced by hot plate, intraplantar injection of capsaicin or glutamate was significantly inhibited by both extracts. Acute toxicity test showed no sign of toxicity. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that aqueous and methanol extracts of P. macrocarpus are none toxic substances with good central and peripheral antinociceptive effects that are at least partially due to the presence of ellagic acid. These extracts may induce their antinociceptive effect by interfering with opioid, capsaicin and excitatory amino acid pathways.

Discovery of potent and selective nonplanar tankyrase inhibiting nicotinamide mimics.

Diphtheria toxin-like ADP-ribosyltransferases catalyse a posttranslational modification, ADP-ribosylation and form a protein family of 17 members in humans. Two of the family members, tankyrases 1 and 2, are involved in several cellular processes including mitosis and Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway. They are often over-expressed in cancer cells and have been linked with the survival of cancer cells making them potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we identified nine tankyrase inhibitors through virtual and in vitro screening. Crystal structures of tankyrase 2 with the compounds showed that they bind to the nicotinamide binding site of the catalytic domain. Based on the co-crystal structures we designed and synthesized a series of tetrahydroquinazolin-4-one and pyridopyrimidin-4-one analogs and were subsequently able to improve the potency of a hit compound almost 100-fold (from 11 µM to 150 nM). The most potent compounds were selective towards tankyrases over a panel of other human ARTD enzymes. They also inhibited Wnt/ß-catenin pathway in a cell-based reporter assay demonstrating the potential usefulness of the identified new scaffolds for further development.

A small molecule inhibitor of dengue virus type 2 protease inhibits the replication of all four dengue virus serotypes in cell culture.

BACKGROUND: Dengue has emerged as the most significant of arboviral diseases in the 21st century. It is endemic to >100 tropical and sub-tropical countries around the world placing an estimated 3.6 billion people at risk. It is caused by four genetically similar but antigenically distinct, serotypes of dengue viruses. There is neither a vaccine to prevent nor a drug to treat dengue infections, at the present time. The major objective of this work was to explore the possibility of identifying a small molecule inhibitor of the dengue virus protease and assessing its ability to suppress viral replication in cultured cells. METHODS: We cloned, expressed and purified recombinant dengue virus type 2 protease. Using an optimized and validated fluorogenic peptide substrate cleavage assay to monitor the activity of this cloned dengue protease we randomly screened ~1000 small molecules from an 'in-house' library to identify potential dengue protease inhibitors. RESULTS: A benzimidazole derivative, named MB21, was found to be the most potent in inhibiting the cloned protease (IC50 = 5.95 µM). In silico docking analysis indicated that MB21 binds to the protease in the vicinity of the active site. Analysis of kinetic parameters of the enzyme reaction suggested that MB21 presumably functions as a mixed type inhibitor. Significantly, this molecule identified as an inhibitor of dengue type 2 protease was also effective in inhibiting each one of the four serotypes of dengue viruses in infected cells in culture, based on analysis of viral antigen synthesis and infectious virus production. Interestingly, MB21 did not manifest any discernible cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This work strengthens the notion that a single drug molecule can be effective against all four dengue virus serotypes. The molecule MB21 could be a potential candidate for 'hit-to-lead' optimization, and may pave the way towards developing a pan-dengue virus antiviral drug.

Development of 2-(4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetamide derivatives as novel enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) inhibitors for the treatment of tuberculosis.

InhA, the enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is an attractive target for developing novel anti-tubercular agents. Twenty eight 2-(4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)acetamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro MTB InhA inhibition. Compounds were further evaluated for their in vitro activity against drug sensitive and resistant MTB strains and cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cell line. Compounds were docked at the active site of InhA to understand their binding mode and differential scanning fluorimetry was performed to ascertain their protein interaction and stability.

Multiple e-pharmacophore modeling, 3D-QSAR, and high-throughput virtual screening of hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase inhibitors.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) is a crucial and unique component of the HCV RNA replication machinery and a validated target for drug discovery. Multiple crystal structures of NS5B inhibitor complexes have facilitated the identification of novel compound scaffolds through in silico analysis. With the goal of discovering new NS5B inhibitor leads, HCV NS5B crystal structures bound with inhibitors in the palm and thumb allosteric pockets in combination with ligands with known inhibitory potential were explored for a comparative pharmacophore analyses. The energy-based and 3D-QSAR-based pharmacophore models were validated using enrichment analysis, and the six models thus developed were employed for high-throughput virtual screening and docking to identify nonpeptidic leads. The hits derived at each stage were analyzed for diversity based on the six pharmacophore models, followed by molecular docking and filtering based on their interaction with amino acids in the NS5B allosteric pocket and 3D-QSAR predictions. The resulting 10 hits displaying diverse scaffold were then screened employing biochemical and cell-based NS5B and anti-HCV inhibition assays. Of these, two molecules H-5 and H-6 were the most promising, exhibiting IC50 values of 28.8 and 47.3 µM against NS5B polymerase and anti-HCV inhibition of 96% and 86% at 50 µM, respectively. The identified leads comprised of benzimidazole (H-5) and pyridine (H-6) scaffolds thus constitute prototypical molecules for further optimization and development as NS5B inhibitors.

Discovery of novel 1,2,4-triazol-5-ones as tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

In this work, synthetic integration of substituted semicarbazides and various aliphatic, aryl and heteroaryl acids into 1,2,4-triazol-5-ones was accomplished. Following the assessment of neurotoxicity and peripheral analgesic activity, the compounds were evaluated in two peripheral models of neuropathic pain, the chronic constriction injury and partial sciatic nerve ligation to assess their antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic potential. ED(50) studies undertaken for selected compounds exhibiting promising efficacies (1c, 3c and 4a) revealed values ranging from 13.21 to 39.85 mg/kg in four behavioral assays of hyperalgesia and allodynia (spontaneous pain, tactile allodynia, cold allodynia, and mechanical hyperalgesia). Mechanistic studies revealed that the compounds suppressed the inflammatory component of the neuropathic pain inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha and preventing oxidative and nitrosative stress.

Synthesis and antitubercular activities of substituted benzoic acid N'-(substituted benzylidene/furan-2-ylmethylene)-N-(pyridine-3-carbonyl)-hydrazides.

A series of benzoic acid hydrazones and its nicotinyl derivatives (1-10) were prepared and evaluated for their antitubercular activity towards a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The structures of newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by infrared (IR) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral data and elemental analysis. The in vitro antitubercular activity of synthesized compounds against MTB was carried out in Middlebrook 7H11agar medium supplemented with OADC by agar dilution method. The antitubercular activity results indicated that nicotinic acid N-(3,5-dinitro-benzoyl)-N'-(4-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide (1) is the most potent among the synthesized compounds with MIC of 3.5×10(-3) µM.

5-Nitro-2,6-dioxohexahydro-4-pyrimidinecarboxamides: synthesis, in vitro antimycobacterial activity, cytotoxicity, and isocitrate lyase inhibition studies.

Fourteen 5-nitro-2,6-dioxohexahydro-4-pyrimidinecarboxamides (3a-n) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB), multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MC(2)), as well as their cytotoxicity and MTB isocitrate lyase (ICL) inhibition activity. 1-Cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-7-(3-methyl)-4-[(5-nitro-2,6-dioxohexahydro-4-pyrimidinyl)carbonyl]piperazino-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid (3n) was found to be the most active compound in vitro with MICs of < 0.17 and 0.17 µM against log-phase MTB and MDR-TB, respectively. Some compounds showed 20-45% inhibition against MTB ICL at 10 µM.

A microwave-assisted, facile, regioselective Friedländer synthesis and antitubercular evaluation of 2,9-diaryl-2,3-dihydrothieno-[3,2-b]quinolines.

A series of 2,9-diaryl-2,3-dihydrothieno[3,2-b]quinolines have been synthesized regioselectively by Friedländer annulation of 5-aryldihydro-3(2H)-thiophenones and 2-aminobenzophenones in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in good yields under microwave irradiation at 100 degrees C. The 2,9-diaryl-2,3-dihydrothieno[3,2-b]quinolines were screened for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) and multi-drug resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Among the 17 compounds screened, 7-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-9-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothieno-[3,2-b]quinoline and 7-chloro-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-9-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothieno[3,2-b]quinoline display maximum activity with MIC of 0.90 and 0.95 muM against MTB and MDR-TB respectively.

Newer GABA derivatives for the treatment of epilepsy including febrile seizures: a bioisosteric approach.

The present study aims at design and synthesis of newer gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives with the combination of thiosemicarbazone and GABA pharmacophores in order to develop newer anticonvulsants. The reported compounds were designed as bioisosteric analogues of GABA semicarbazones. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by the use of their spectral data besides elemental analysis. Initial anticonvulsant screening was performed using intraperitoneal (i.p.) maximal electroshock-induced seizure (MES), subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ), subcutaneous strychnine (scSTY), and subcutaneous picrotoxin (scPIC)-induced seizure threshold tests. A model involving 22-day old rat pups was also employed to further screen the effects of the test compounds against hyperthermia-induced febrile seizures. Only compounds 1 and 11 were found to be active in the MES test. Most of the compounds were found to be effective in the scPIC and febrile seizure models and very few compounds showed protection in scPTZ and scSTY models. This is the first report on these new GABA derivatives effective in the treatment of febrile seizures.

An atom efficient, solvent-free, green synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of 2-amino-6-methyl-4-aryl-8-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridine-3-carbonitriles.

An atom efficient, green protocol for the synthesis of fifteen 2-amino-6-methyl-4-aryl-8-[(E)-arylmethylidene]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridine-3-carbonitriles in quantitative yields from the reaction of 1-methyl-3,5-bis[(E)-arylmethylidene]-tetrahydro-4(1H)-pyridinones with malononitrile in presence of solid sodium ethoxide under solvent-free condition is described. The compounds were tested for their in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB), multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), and Mycobacterium smegmatis using agar dilution method. 2-Amino-4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-8-(E)-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylidene-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]-pyridine-3-carbonitrile was found to be the most potent compound (MIC: 0.43microM) against MTB and MDR-TB, being 100 times more active than standard, isoniazid against MDR-TB.

N-Hydroxythiosemicarbazones: synthesis and in vitro antitubercular activity.

N-Hydroxythiosemicarbazide was prepared by two methods starting from 2,4-dimethoxy benzyl amine and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, which in turn was reacted with various aldehydes and ketones to obtain the titled compounds. Eighteen compounds were tested for their in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the agar dilution method. Compound 10p was found to be the most potent compound (MIC: 0.28 microM) and was 2.5 times more active than standard isoniazid.

Epibatidine and its analogues as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist: an update.

Epibatidine (EPB) (1), an alkaloid isolated from the skin of the Ecuadorian poison frog, Epipedobates tricolor has attracted attention because of its exceptionally powerful analgesic properties: several hundred times greater than those of morphine, and the fact that it acts at nicotine rather than opiate receptors. Although the substance is toxic, it does serve as a lead compound in the development of drugs for pain relief as well as treatment of disorders whose pathogenesis involves nicotinic receptors. In this article, isolation, synthetic methods, effect on neuronal and neuromuscular nicotinic receptors, therapeutic potential, toxicity, nicotinic pharmacophore structural modifications related issues of 1 are discussed.

Synthesis and in-vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of gatifloxacin Mannich bases.

Mannich bases of gatifloxacin were synthesized by reacting them with formaldehyde and several isatin derivatives. Their chemical structures have been confirmed by means of their IR, 1H-NMR data and by elemental analysis. The compounds were tested in-vitro against a panel of 58 human tumour cell lines derived from nine neoplastic diseases. Among them compound 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7[[N4-(3'-sulphadoximino)-1'-(5-bromoisatinyl) methyl]-3-methyl N1-piperazinyl]-3-quinoline carboxylic acid (6) emerged as a potent anticancer agent being more active than standard DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide against 30 cancer cell lines.

Nevirapine derivatives with broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic properties for the effective treatment of HIV/AIDS.

A series of nevirapine derivatives has been synthesized in an effort to enhance the spectrum of chemotherapeutic properties for the effective treatment of AIDS and AIDS-related opportunistic infections. The nevirapine derivative bearing isoniazid moiety (3a) was found to be the most potent compound with EC50 of<0.0636 microM, CC50 of>1000 microM and selectivity index of>15,723 which also exhibited 90% inhibition against Mycobacterium tuberculosis at 6.25 microg/ml. Compound 3c showed 100% inhibition against M. tuberculosis and also exhibited potent antibacterial activity against 24 pathogenic bacteria with MIC less than 1 microg/ml.

Progress in the research of artemisinin and its analogues as antimalarials: an update.

Malaria is the number one infectious disease in the world today. Worldwide, over two million people die each year from malaria. This shocking reality is largely due to the emergence of drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide isolated from Artemesia annua has been shown to be a fast acting, safe and effective drug against multidrug-resistant and sensitive strains of P. falciparum. This article reports a survey of the literature dealing with artemisinin related antimalarial issues that have appeared from 1980s to the beginning of 2003. A broad range of medical and pharmaceutical disciplines is covered, including a brief introduction about discovery, phytochemical aspects, antimalarial mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and major drawbacks and various structural modifications made to overcome them.