Pyrazole Paradigms: Unveiling Synthetic Pathways and Unraveling Anti-Cancer Potential.

This review investigates the synthetic methods and anti-cancer activities of pyrazole compounds. Various synthetic approaches, including traditional organic synthesis and microwaveassisted synthesis, have been used to change the pyrazole core structure, resulting in new compounds with improved pharmacological properties. The paper also covers the mechanisms of action that underpin pyrazole derivatives' anti-cancer characteristics, focusing on interactions with major molecular targets implicated in cancer growth and proliferation. SAR insights help to rationally develop novel anti-cancer drugs. In conclusion, the review emphasizes the versatility of pyrazole derivatives as scaffolds for the discovery and development of new anti-cancer medicines. By understanding synthesis routes and unravelling anti-cancer potential, this study hopes to encourage new research endeavours focused on leveraging the therapeutic advantages of pyrazole paradigms in the fight against cancer.

Evaluation of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract for its In vitro Antibacterial Properties, Mechanism of Action, and In vivo Corneal Ulcer Healing Effects in Rabbits' Eyes.

M. oleifera is the most adapted tree species in different medicinal eco-systems and has resilience against climate changes. This multiple-use tree provides healthy foods, snacks, honey, and fuel. Besides this, it has immense promising applicationsby offering antimicrobial and antibacterial activities for targeted uses. This validates the court of Hippocrates that let food be the medicine and medicine be the food for which moringa qualifies. In view of this, the antioxidant and in vitro antibacterial potency of the hydro-ethanolic extract of M. oleifera was evaluated on clinically isolated multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, in vivo, the healing response of M. oleifera extract was analysed on corneal ulcers induced in rabbit eyes infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. TheM. oleifera extract exhibited exponential antioxidant activity. In-vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar well diffusion assay showing zone of inhibition ranging from 11.05±0.36 to 20±0.40 mm at concentrations of 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/ml, whereas, in our finding, no zone of inhibition was observed below 20 mg/ml concentration, which indicated that there is threshold limit below which the antibacterial activity of M. oleifera extract is not observed. Furthermore, continuous application of 3% and 5% M. oleifera extract (eye drop) four times a day for 14 consecutive days showed a significant healing response of the eyes of rabbits with corneal ulcers. These results suggest that M. oleifera extract could be a viable alternative to existing antibacterial therapies for corneal ulcers. Additionally, there is a possibility of commercial formulation of M. oleifera extract in the form of deliverable pharmaceutical products; therefore, it should be explored further.

Unveiling the Role of PAR 1: A Crucial Link with Inflammation in Diabetic Subjects with COVID-19.

Inflammation is a distinguished clinical manifestation of COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), often associated with inflammatory dysfunctions, insulin resistance, metabolic dysregulation, and other complications. The present study aims to test the hypothesis that serum concentrations of PAR-1 levels differ between COVID-19 diabetic patients (T2DM) and non-diabetic COVID-19 patients and determine their association with different biochemical parameters and inflammatory biomarkers. T2DM patients with COVID-19 (n = 50) with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of (9.23 ± 1.66) and non-diabetic COVID-19 patients (n = 50) with HbA1c levels (4.39 ± 0.57) were recruited in this study. The serum PAR-1 levels (ELISA method) were determined in both groups and correlated with parameters such as age, BMI, inflammatory markers including CRP, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), D-dimer, homocysteine, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Demographic variables such as BMI (29.21 ± 3.52 vs. controls 21.30 ± 2.11) and HbA1c (9.23 ± 1.66 vs. controls 4.39 ± 0.57) were found to be statistically elevated in COVID-19 T2DM patients compared to non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. The concentrations of several inflammatory biomarkers and PAR-1 were remarkably increased in the COVID-19 T2DM group when compared with the non-diabetic COVID-19 group. The univariate analysis revealed that increased serum PAR-1 estimations were positively correlated with enhanced HbA1c, BMI, inflammatory cytokines, D-dimer, homocysteine, and NT-proBNP. The findings in the current study suggest that increased levels of serum PAR-1 in the bloodstream could potentially serve as an independent biomarker of inflammation in COVID-19 patients with T2DM.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Coumarin Analogs Targeted against SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV, an RNA virus, is contagious and displays a remarkable degree of adaptability, resulting in intricate disease presentations marked by frequent genetic mutations that can ultimately give rise to drug resistance. Targeting its viral replication cycle could be a potential therapeutic option to counter its viral growth in the human body leading to the severe infectious stage. The Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 is a promising target for therapeutic development as it is crucial for viral transcription and replication. The derivatives of ß-diketone and coumarin have already been reported for their antiviral potential and, thus, are considered as a potential scaffold in the current study for the computational design of potential analogs for targeting the viral replication of SARS-CoV-2. In our study, we used novel diketone-hinged coumarin derivatives against the SARS-CoV-2 MPro to develop a broad-spectrum antiviral agent targeting SARS-CoV-2. Through an analysis of pharmacokinetics and docking studies, we identified a list of the top 10 compounds that demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 MPro virus. On the basis of the pharmacokinetics and docking analyses, the top 5 novel coumarin analogs were synthesized and characterized. The thermodynamic stability of compounds KS82 and KS94 was confirmed by their molecular dynamics, and the stability of the simulated system indicated their inhibitory nature. Molecules KS82 and KS94 were further evaluated for their anti-viral potential using Vero E6 cells followed by RT-PCR assay against SARS-CoV-2. The test compound KS82 was the most active with the potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells. These data indicate that KS82 prevents the attack of the virus and emerges as the primary candidate with promising antiviral properties.

Evaluation of Iris Kashmiriana Baker plant extracts against nociception and rheumatoid arthritis in experimental rats: A concept proof by In-silico model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Iris Kashmiriana Baker, a traditional medicinal plant, is native to Asia, found in India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, as name indicates majorly it's found in Kashmir region of India. Ethnopharmacologically this plant has been used there for the management of joint pain, but there was no scientific literature available. This species also comes under critically endangered species. AIM OF THE STUDY: The current study aims to evaluate the effect of Iris kashmiriana Baker against nociception and rheumatoid arthritis in experimental rats with In-silico model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Various extracts of the plant were investigated for their in-vitro antioxidant activity. Acute inflammation and FCA induced in rat model, then acetic acid-induced writhing in mice were used. These anti-rheumatic results were justified by the computational method. RESULTS: The total phenolic and flavonoid concentration of HE extracts were found to be 95.30 ± 2.80 mg/g and 18.18 ± 5.88 mg/g respectively. IC50 and maximum inhibition of HE extracts against DPPH and H2O2 were also effective. Among different doses, 400 mg/kg of HE extracts showed significant (p<0.001) reduction in acute inflammation (16.42 %), in analgesic activity, the HE extract was found statistically (p<0.001) reduced (60.15 %) and in arthritis model, maximum inflammation reduced (25.9%) was found with hydro ethanol extract and statistical significant (p<0.001). and the paw thickness was reduced (27.4 %). Antioxidant activity of HE extract was found to be optimum (37.01%, p<0.001), Superoxide dismutase concentration was found to be optimum (65.12%, p<0.001). In Histopathology, HE 400 mg/kg showed mild inflammation only. The weight of the thymus and spleen were also determined and the HE 400 mg/kg extract inhibited the increase in weight of these organs compared with positive group (28.26 %, and 25.11 %), respectively. CONCLUSION: Among all the different extracts and various doses, the iris kashmiriana Baker hydro-ethanolic (60:40) 400 mg/kg extract showed the best response among all different extracts.

Computational Studies to Understand the Neuroprotective Mechanism of Action Basil Compounds.

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, pose a significant global health challenge, emphasizing the need for novel neuroprotective agents. Basil (Ocimum spp.) has been recognized for its therapeutic potential, and numerous studies have reported neuroprotective effects. In this manuscript, we present a computational protocol to extricate the underlying mechanism of action of basil compounds in neuroprotective effects. Molecular docking-based investigation of the chemical interactions between selected bioactive compounds from basil and key neuroprotective targets, including AChE, GSK3ß, γ-secretase, and sirtuin2. Our results demonstrate that basil compound myricerone caffeoyl ester possesses a high affinity of -10.01 and -8.85 kcal/mol against GSK3ß and γ-secretase, respectively, indicating their potential in modulating various neurobiological processes. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the protein-ligand complexes' stability and to analyze the bound basil compounds' dynamic behavior. This comprehensive computational investigation enlightens the putative mechanistic basis for the neuroprotective effects of basil compounds, providing a rationale for their therapeutic use in neurodegenerative disorders after further experimental validation.

Synthesis, Computational, and Anticancer In Vitro Investigations of Aminobenzylnaphthols Derived from 2-Naphtol, Benzaldehydes, and α-Aminoacids via the Betti Reaction.

Multicomponent reactions have emerged as an important approach for the synthesis of diverse and complicated chemical compounds. They have various advantages over two-component reactions, including the convenience of one-pot procedures and the ability to modify the structure of agents. Here, we employed in vitro and in silico studies to explore the anticancer potential of novel aminobenzylnaphthols derived from the Betti reaction (MMZ compounds). MTT assay was used to explore the cytotoxic activity of the compounds in pancreatic (BxPC-3 cells) and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cell lines or normal human lung fibroblasts (WI-38 cells). Proapoptotic properties of two derivatives MMZ-45AA and MMZ-140C were explored using AO/EB and annexin V-FITC/PI staining. In silico studies including ADMET profiling, molecular target prediction, docking, and dynamics were employed. The compounds exhibited cytotoxic properties and showed proapoptotic properties in respective IC50 concentrations. As indicated by in silico investigations, anticancer activity of MMZs can be attributed to the inhibition of ADORA1, CDK2, and TRIM24. Furthermore, compounds exhibited favorable ADMET properties. MMZs constitute an interesting scaffold for the potential development of new anticancer agents.

In Silico Approaches to Developing Novel Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3ß (GSK-3ß).

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by plaque agglomeration and entanglement in several areas of the neural cells, which leads to apoptosis. The main etiology of AD is senile dementia, which is linked to amyloid-beta (Aß) deregulation and tau perivascular pathogeny. Hyperphosphorylated tau has a propensity for microtubules, which elevate the instability and tau-protein congregates, leading to accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Tau hyperphosphorylation is susceptible to GSK-3, which has led to an emerging hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of AD. Accordingly, attempts have been made to conduct investigations and achieve further advancements on new analogues capable of inhibiting the GSK-3 protein, which are currently in the clinical trials. In this analysis, we have evaluated certain GSK-3 inhibitor variants utilising scaffolding and framework devised techniques with pharmacological characteristics, accompanied by computational screenings (pharmacokinetics and docking). The structure-based designed analogues interacted effectively with the active amino acids of GSK-3ß target protein. The in silico pharmacokinetic studies revealed their drug-like properties. The analogues with best interactions and binding scores will be considered in the future to completely demonstrate their potential relevance as viable GSK-3 inhibitors.

Artificial Intelligence in The Management of Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by a gradual but irreversible loss of neurological function. The ability to detect and treat these conditions successfully is crucial for ensuring the best possible quality of life for people who suffer from them. The development of effective new methods for managing and treating neurodegenerative illnesses has been made possible by recent developments in computer technology. In this overview, we take a look at the prospects for applying computational approaches, such as drug design, AI, ML, and DL, to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. To review the current state of the field, this article discusses the potential of computational methods for early disease detection, quantifying disease progression, and understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the challenges associated with these approaches and potential future directions. Moreover, it delves into the creation of computational models for the individualization of care for neurodegenerative diseases. The article concludes with suggestions for future studies and clinical applications, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of using computational techniques in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Agarwood oil nanoemulsion counteracts LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in RAW264.7 mouse macrophages.

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress and inflammation are key pathophysiological features of chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Agarwood oil obtained from Aquilaria trees has promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its clinical application is hampered by poor solubility. A viable approach to overcome this involves formulation of oily constituents into emulsions. Here, we have investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of an agarwood oil-based nanoemulsion (DE'RAAQSIN) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages in vitro. METHODS: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of DE'RAAQSIN was assessed by measuring the levels of ROS and nitric oxide (NO) produced, using the DCF-DA assay and the Griess reagent assay, respectively. The molecular pathways activated by DE'RAAQSIN were investigated via qPCR. RESULTS: LPS stimulation of RAW264.7 cells increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and ROS and resulted in the overexpression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene. Furthermore, LPS induced the upregulation of the expression of key proinflammatory genes (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and CXCL1) and of the antioxidant gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). DE'RAAQSIN demonstrated potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by significantly reducing the levels of ROS and of secreted NO, simultaneously counteracting the LPS-induced overexpression of iNOS, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and HO-1. These findings were corroborated by in silico activity prediction and physicochemical analysis of the main agarwood oil components. CONCLUSIONS: We propose DE'RAAQSIN as a promising alternative managing inflammatory disorders, opening the platform for further studies aimed at understanding the effectiveness of DE'RAAQSIN.

In Vitro and In Silico Investigation of BCI Anticancer Properties and Its Potential for Chemotherapy-Combined Treatments.

BACKGROUND: DUSP6 phosphatase serves as a negative regulator of MAPK kinases involved in numerous cellular processes. BCI has been identified as a potential allosteric inhibitor with anticancer activity. Our study was designed to test the anticancer properties of BCI in colon cancer cells, to characterize the effect of this compound on chemotherapeutics such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin activity, and to identify potential molecular targets for this inhibitor. METHODS: BCI cytotoxicity, proapoptotic activity, and cell cycle distribution were investigated in vitro on three colon cancer cell lines (DLD1, HT-29, and Caco-2). In silico investigation was prepared to assess BCI drug-likeness and identify potential molecular targets. RESULTS: The exposure of colorectal cancer cells with BCI resulted in antitumor effects associated with cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. BCI exhibited strong cytotoxicity on DLD1, HT-29, and Caco-2 cells. BCI showed no significant interaction with irinotecan, but strongly attenuated the anticancer activity of oxaliplatin when administered together. Analysis of synergy potential further confirmed the antagonistic interaction between these two compounds. In silico investigation indicated CDK5 as a potential new target of BCI. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies point to the anticancer potential of BCI but note the need for a precise mechanism of action.

Scaffold Morphing and In Silico Design of Potential BACE-1 (ß-Secretase) Inhibitors: A Hope for a Newer Dawn in Anti-Alzheimer Therapeutics.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the prime cause of 65-80% of dementia cases and is caused by plaque and tangle deposition in the brain neurons leading to brain cell degeneration. ß-secretase (BACE-1) is a key enzyme responsible for depositing extracellular plaques made of ß-amyloid protein. Therefore, efforts are being applied to develop novel BACE-1 enzyme inhibitors to halt plaque build-up. In our study, we analyzed some Elenbecestat analogues (a BACE-1 inhibitor currently in clinical trials) using a structure-based drug design and scaffold morphing approach to achieve a superior therapeutic profile, followed by in silico studies, including molecular docking and pharmacokinetics methodologies. Among all the designed compounds, SB306 and SB12 showed good interactions with the catalytic dyad motifs (Asp228 and Asp32) of the BACE-1 enzyme with drug-likeliness properties and a high degree of thermodynamic stability confirmed by the molecular dynamic and stability of the simulated system indicating the inhibitory nature of the SB306 and SB12 on BACE 1.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-arthritic Properties of Mucuna gigantea Plant Extracts: Establishing by Molecular Docking Study.

Background Mucuna giganteais a traditional plant reported in the management of nervous disorders, male infertility, etc., and also exhibits aphrodisiac, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic properties. Very few studies are conducted on Mucuna gigantea. It has not been pharmacologically evaluated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA, the body's natural defence mechanism gets confused and begins to target the healthy tissues in the body, which leads to joint pain, swelling, bone erosion, and joint stiffness. It is a condition that is classified as an auto-immune disorder. Methods In-silico docking depicted that beta-sitosterol is present in Mucuna gigantea out of ligand library prepared based on a literature survey using computational analysis. Inflammation was induced by carrageen and chronic inflammation was induced by Freund's complete adjuvant in the plantar surface of the rats. The petroleum ether, ethanolic and aqueous extracts in three divided doses (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg) were administered orally. Diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg), prednisolone (5 mg/kg), and methotrexate (0.5 mg/kg) were used as standard. The statistical significance between means was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett's multiple range test. The values are expressed as mean ± SD for each group (n=6), and aP<0.0001, bP<0.001, and cP<0.05 were compared with a negative control group. Results Ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts showed a statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect at 3hr with 300mg/kg effect in analgesic activity, whereas aqueous extracts showed statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect at 1.5hr with 150 and 300mg/kg. In the carrageen-induced model, all three extracts at 300 mg/kg showed a statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect from 2- 4hr. In Freund's adjuvant model, all three extracts at all doses showed a statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect. Also, Mucuna gigantea remarkably ameliorated altered WBCs, rheumatoid factor, and positively modified radiographic and histopathological changes. Conclusion Taken together, these results support the traditional use of Mucuna gigantea as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agent that may be proposed for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Pyrazolo[4,3-e]tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazine Sulfonamides as an Important Scaffold for Anticancer Drug Discovery-In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation.

Pyrazolo[4,3-e]tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazine sulfonamides (MM-compounds) are a relatively new class of heterocyclic compounds that exhibit a wide variety of biological actions, including anticancer properties. Here, we used caspase enzyme activity assays, flow cytometry analysis of propidium iodide (PI)-stained cells, and a DNA laddering assay to investigate the mechanisms of cell death triggered by the MM-compounds (MM134, -6, -7, and -9). Due to inconsistent results in caspase activity assays, we have performed a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, colony formation assay, and gene expression profiling. The compounds' cytotoxic and pro-oxidative properties were also assessed. Additionally, computational studies were performed to demonstrate the potential of the scaffold for future drug discovery endeavors. MM-compounds exhibited strong micromolar (0.06-0.35 µM) anti-proliferative and pro-oxidative activity in two cancer cell lines (BxPC-3 and PC-3). Activation of caspase 3/7 was observed following a 24-h treatment of BxPC-3 cells with IC50 concentrations of MM134, -6, and -9 compounds. However, no DNA fragmentation characteristics for apoptosis were observed in the flow cytometry and DNA laddering analysis. Gene expression data indicated up-regulation of BCL10, GADD45A, RIPK2, TNF, TNFRSF10B, and TNFRSF1A (TNF-R1) following treatment of cells with the MM134 compound. Moreover, in silico studies indicated AKT2 kinase as the primary target of compounds. MM-compounds exhibit strong cytotoxic activity with pro-oxidative, pro-apoptotic, and possibly pro-necroptotic properties that could be employed for further drug discovery approaches.

A Review on Natural Antioxidants for Their Role in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

The neurodegenerative condition known as Parkinson's disease (PD) is brought on by the depletion of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia, which is the brain region that controls body movement. PD occurs due to many factors, from which one of the acknowledged effects of oxidative stress is pathogenic pathways that play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease. Antioxidants, including flavonoids, vitamins E and C, and polyphenolic substances, help to reduce the oxidative stress brought on by free radicals. Consequently, this lowers the risk of neurodegenerative disorders in the long term. Although there is currently no cure for neurodegenerative illnesses, these conditions can be controlled. The treatment of this disease lessens its symptoms, which helps to preserve the patient's quality of life. Therefore, the use of naturally occurring antioxidants, such as polyphenols, which may be obtained through food or nutritional supplements and have a variety of positive effects, has emerged as an appealing alternative management strategy. This article will examine the extent of knowledge about antioxidants in the treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses, as well as future directions for research. Additionally, an evaluation of the value of antioxidants as neuroprotective agents will be provided.

The Anti-inflammatory and Anti-arthritis Activity of Garcinia travancorica in a Rat Model: A Proof of Concept with Computational Studies.

Background Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease of human joints characterized by severe pain, stiffness, and tissue damage at the local site. Bone and cartilaginous tissue damage at the synovial joints is initiated by the production of autoantibody induced by inflammatory signaling through cytokines. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Garcinia travancorica against acute and chronic inflammation in a rat model after designing the ligand library and target identification using computational analysis. Methods Acute inflammation was induced by carrageen, and chronic inflammation was induced by Freund's complete adjuvant in the plantar surface of the rats. The petroleum ether, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts in three divided doses (75 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) were administered orally. Diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg), prednisolone (5 mg/kg), and methotrexate (0.5 mg/kg) were used as standard. Various parameters were evaluated, and statistical significance between means was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett's multiple range test. Results: Docking-based in-silico screening of the ligand library has revealed the potential of Polyanxanthone-C as an anti-rheumatoid agent, which is supposed to deliver its therapeutic effect by synergistic targeting of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor receptor type-1. Conclusion: This plant has the potential to be used in the treatment of arthritis-related disorders.

Identification of levomenthol derivatives as potential dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: a comparative study with gliptins.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors are a potent therapeutic treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is a family of compounds used as DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4Is) called gliptins. They bind tightly to DPP4 to form an inactive protein-ligand complex. However, there remains a need to identify novel DPP4Is that are more efficacious and safer due to the increasing prevalence of T2DM and the undesirable side effects of gliptins. To identify potential DPP4Is, we screened over 1800 novel compounds in a comparative study with gliptins. We performed dual-factor molecular docking to assess the binding affinity of the compounds to DPP4 and found four compounds with a higher binding affinity to DPP4 than currently used gliptins. The newly identified compounds interacted with the dyad glutamate (GLU205 and GLU206) and tyrosine (TYR662 and TYR666) residues in DPP4's active site. We performed molecular dynamics simulations to determine the stability of the protein-ligand complexes formed by the compounds and DPP4. Furthermore, we examined the toxicity and pharmacological profile of the compounds. The compounds are drug-like, easy to synthesize, and relatively less toxic than gliptins. Collectively, our results suggest that the novel compounds are potential DPP4Is and should be considered for further studies to develop novel antidiabetics.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

In-Silico Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of Oxadiazole-Based Selective Cyclo-oxygenase-2 Inhibitors.

A series of oxadiazole-based five-membered heterocyclic derivatives was designed and synthesized with the intent of exclusive cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition to acquire anti-inflammatory activity without the presence of gastric toxicity. Oxadiazole-based novel analogs were designed by using bioisosteric substitutions and were screened against the macromolecular target by using docking-based virtual screening to identify their potential inhibitors. These selective COX-2 inhibitors were further evaluated for their stability within the binding cavity of macromolecular complex by performing molecular dynamic simulation for 100 ns. Selected compounds were synthesized by using Naphthalene-2-yl-acetic acid as a starting material based on the fundamental structure of naphthalene. The naphthalene ring and methylene bridge of naphthalene-2-yl-acetic acid were retained in the rational molecular design by replacing the carboxyl group with biologically significant groups like 1,3,4-oxadiazoles, with the goal of obtaining a novel, superior, and relatively safe anti-inflammatory molecule with better efficacy and optimized pharmacokinetics. Anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic properties of the compounds were evaluated experimentally for their pharmacological efficiency.

Pyrazolo[4,3-e]tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazine Sulfonamides as Novel Potential Anticancer Agents: Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Cell Cycle Analysis.

The current study continues the evaluation of the anticancer potential of three de novo synthesized pyrazolo[4,3-e]tetrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazine sulfonamides-MM129, MM130, and MM131-against human cancer cells of HeLa, HCT 116, PC-3, and BxPC-3 lines. The pro-apoptotic activity of the investigated sulfonamides was shown by observations of changes in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential of the tested cells, externalization of phosphatidylserine on the cellular membrane surface, and cell morphology in microscopic imaging. The computational studies have shown that MM129 exhibited the lowest binding energy values when docked against CDK enzymes. In addition, the highest stability was shown for complexes formed between MM129 and CDK5/8 enzymes. All examined compounds induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in the BxPC-3 and PC-3 cells and simultaneously caused the accumulation of cells in the S phase in the HCT 116 cells. In addition, the increase in the subG1 fraction was observed in PC-3 and HeLa cells. The application of a fluorescent H2DCFDA probe revealed the high pro-oxidative properties of the tested triazine derivatives, especially MM131. In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that MM129, MM130, and MM131 exhibited strong pro-apoptotic properties towards investigated cells, mainly against the HeLa and HCT 116 cell lines, and high pro-oxidative potential as well. Moreover, it is suggested that the anticancer activity of the tested compounds may be associated with their ability to inhibit CDK enzymes activities.

Substances of Natural Origin in Medicine: Plants vs. Cancer.

Continuous monitoring of the population's health is the main method of learning about disease prevalence. National and international data draw attention to the persistently high rates of cancer incidence. This necessitates the intensification of efforts aimed at developing new, more effective chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive drugs. Plants represent an invaluable source of natural substances with versatile medicinal properties. Multidirectional activities exhibited by natural substances and their ability to modulate key signaling pathways, mainly related to cancer cell death, make these substances an important research direction. This review summarizes the information regarding plant-derived chemotherapeutic drugs, including their mechanisms of action, with a special focus on selected anti-cancer drugs (paclitaxel, irinotecan) approved in clinical practice. It also presents promising plant-based drug candidates currently being tested in clinical and preclinical trials (betulinic acid, resveratrol, and roburic acid).