Anti-Trypanosomal and Antimalarial Properties of Tetralone Derivatives and Structurally Related Benzocycloalkanones.

Background and objectives: Sleeping sickness and malaria alike are insect-borne protozoan diseases that share overlapping endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa. The causative agent for malaria has developed resistance against all currently deployed anti-malarial agents. In the case of sleeping sickness, the currently deployed therapeutic options are limited in efficacy and activity spectra, and there are very few drug candidates in the development pipeline. Thus, there is a need to search for new drug molecules with a novel mode of actions. Materials and Methods: In the current study, an in vitro screening of a library of tetralone derivatives and related benzocycloalkanones was effected against T. b. brucei and P. falciparum. Results: Several hits with low micromolar activity (0.4-8 µM) against T. b. brucei were identified. Conclusions: The identified hits have a low molecular weight (<280 Da), a low total polar surface area (<50 Ų), and a defined structure activity relationship, which all make them potential starting points for further hit optimization studies.

2-Benzylidene-1-Indanone Analogues as Dual Adenosine A1/A2a Receptor Antagonists for the Potential Treatment of Neurological Conditions.

Previous studies explored 2-benzylidine-1-tetralone derivatives as innovative adenosine A1 and A2A receptor antagonists for alternative non-dopaminergic treatment of Parkinson's disease. This study's aim is to investigate structurally related 2-benzylidene-1-indanones with substitutions on ring A and B as novel, potent and selective adenosine A1 and A2A receptor blockers. 2-Benzylidene-1-indanone derivatives were synthesised via acid catalysed aldol condensation reactions and evaluated via radioligand binding assays to ascertain structure activity relationships to govern A1 and A2A AR affinity. The results indicated that hydroxy substitution at C4 of ring A and meta (3'), or para (4') substitution on ring B of the 2-benzylidene-1-indanone scaffold (2C: ) is preferred over substitution at C5 (2D: ) or C6 (2E: ) of ring A for adenosine A1 receptor activity and selectivity in the micromolar range. Furthermore, substitution at the meta (3') position of ring B with chlorine lead to the highly potent and selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, compound 2 H: . Compound 2C: and the 2Q: behaved as adenosine A1 receptor antagonists in the performed GTP shift assays. In view of these findings, compounds 2C: , 2 H: , 2Q: and 2P: are potent and selective adenosine A1 and A2A receptor antagonists for the potential treatment of neurological conditions.

Evaluation of multifunctional synthetic tetralone derivatives for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Neurodegeneration, a complex disease state, comprises several pathways that contribute to cell death. Conventional approach of targeting only one of these pathways has not been proven to be entirely successful and has demanded a hypothetical change as to how researchers design and develop new drugs. In this study, effects of a series of α, ß-unsaturated carbonyl-based tetralone derivatives against Alzheimer's disease (AD) were investigated. Moreover, their activity toward amyloid ß-induced cytotoxicity was also studied. Six compounds including 3f, 3o, 3u, 3ae, 3af, and 3ag were discovered to be most protective against Aß-induced neuronal cell death in PC12 cells. The findings of in vitro experiment revealed that most of these compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activity against MAO-B, AChE, and self-induced Aß1-42 aggregation. The compound 3f exhibited best AChE (IC50  = 0.045 ± 0.02 µm) inhibitory potential in addition to potent inhibition of MAO-B (IC50  = 0.88 ± 0.12 µm). Furthermore, compound 3f disassembled the Aß fibrils produced by self-induced Aß aggregation by 78.2 ± 4.8%. Collectively, these findings suggest that some compounds from this series have potential to be promising multifunctional agents for AD treatment.