Tamarixetin 3-O-ß-d-Glucopyranoside from Azadirachta indica Leaves: Gastroprotective Role through Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Activity in Mice.

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a well-known medicinal and insecticidal plant. Although previous studies have reported the antiulcer activity of neem leaf extract, the lead compound is still unidentified. The present study reports tamarixetin 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1) from a methanol extract of neem leaves and its gastroprotective activity in an animal model. Compound 1 showed significant protection against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ex vivo and circular dichroism studies confirmed that 1 inhibited the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity with an IC50 value of ca. 50 µM. Molecular docking and dynamics showed the binding of 1 into the pocket of the active site of MMP-9, forming a coordination complex with the catalytic zinc, thus leading to inhibition of MMP-9 activity.

A Novel Spirooxindole Derivative Inhibits the Growth of Leishmania donovani Parasites both In Vitro and In Vivo by Targeting Type IB Topoisomerase.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a fatal parasitic disease, and there is an emergent need for development of effective drugs against this neglected tropical disease. We report here the development of a novel spirooxindole derivative, N-benzyl-2,2'α-3,3',5',6',7',7α,α'-octahydro-2methoxycarbonyl-spiro[indole-3,3'-pyrrolizidine]-2-one (compound 4c), which inhibits Leishmania donovani topoisomerase IB (LdTopIB) and kills the wild type as well as drug-resistant parasite strains. This compound inhibits catalytic activity of LdTopIB in a competitive manner. Unlike camptothecin (CPT), the compound does not stabilize the DNA-topoisomerase IB cleavage complex; rather, it hinders drug-DNA-enzyme covalent complex formation. Fluorescence studies show that the stoichiometry of this compound binding to LdTopIB is 2:1 (mole/mole), with a dissociation constant of 6.65 µM. Molecular docking with LdTopIB using the stereoisomers of compound 4c produced two probable hits for the binding site, one in the small subunit and the other in the hinge region of the large subunit of LdTopIB. This spirooxindole is highly cytotoxic to promastigotes of L. donovani and also induces apoptosis-like cell death in the parasite. Treatment with compound 4c causes depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, formation of reactive oxygen species inside parasites, and ultimately fragmentation of nuclear DNA. Compound 4c also effectively clears amastigote forms of wild-type and drug-resistant parasites from infected mouse peritoneal macrophages but has less of an effect on host macrophages. Moreover, compound 4c showed strong antileishmanial efficacies in the BALB/c mouse model of leishmaniasis. This compound potentially can be used as a lead for developing excellent antileishmanial agents against emerging drug-resistant strains of the parasite.