Novel Glycopyrrolidine Compounds Inhibit Human Cancer Cell Proliferation and Induce Apoptotic Mode of Cell Death.

Spirocyclic compounds, present in a number of bioactive natural alkaloids, are cyclic systems containing one carbon atom common to two rings. A highly regioselective glycopyrrolidine compound library was synthesized using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition method, and its efficacy was tested on cell lines representing most commonly occurring cancers and the molecular mechanism of cell death deciphered. Results showed that among the 16 compounds screened, RPRR210 showed the most potent anticancer activity and induced cell cycle arrest, inhibited migration, caused cell death by inducing apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway, and were nontoxic to normal cells.

ß-lactam substituted polycyclic fused pyrrolidine/pyrrolizidine derivatives eradicate C. albicans in an ex vivo human dentinal tubule model by inhibiting sterol 14-α demethylase and cAMP pathway.

BACKGROUND: Further quest for new anti-fungal compounds with proven mechanisms of action arises due to resistance and dose limiting toxicity of existing agents. Among the human fungal pathogens C. albicans predominate by infecting several sites in the body and in particular oral cavity and root canals of human tooth. METHODS: In the present study, we screened a library of ß-lactam substituted polycyclic fused pyrrolidine/pyrrolizidine compounds against Candida sp. Detailed molecular studies were carried out with the active compound 3 on C. albicans. Morphological damage and antibiofilm activity of compound 3 on C. albicans was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biochemical evidence for membrane damage was studied using flow cytometry. In silico docking studies were carried out to elucidate the mechanism of action of compound 3. Further, the antifungal activity of compound 3 was evaluated in an ex vivo dentinal tubule infection model. RESULTS: Screening data showed that several new compounds were active against Candida sp. Among them, Compound 3 was most potent and exerted time kill effect at 4h, post antifungal effect up to 6h. When used in combination with fluconazole or nystatin, compound 3 revealed an minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) decrease by 4 fold for both drugs used. In-depth molecular studies with compound 3 on C. albicans showed that this compound inhibited yeast to hyphae (Y-H) conversion and this involved the cAMP pathway. Further, SEM images of C. albicans showed that compound 3 caused membrane damage and inhibited biofilm formation. Biochemical evidence for membrane damage was confirmed by increased propidium iodide (PI) uptake in flow cytometry. Further, in silico studies revealed that compound 3 docks with the active site of the key enzyme 14-α-demethylase and this might inhibit ergosterol synthesis. In support of this, ergosterol levels were found to be decreased by 32 fold in compound 3 treated samples as analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further, the antifungal activity of compound 3 was evaluated in an ex vivo dentinal tubule infection model, which mimics human tooth root canal infection. Confocal laser scanning microscopy studies showed 83% eradication of C. albicans and a 6 log reduction in colony forming unit (CFU) after 24h treatment in the infected tooth samples in this model. CONCLUSION: Compound 3 was found to be very effective in eradicating C. albicans by inhibiting cAMP pathway and ergosterol biosynthesis. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study can pave the way for developing new antifungal agents with well deciphered mechanisms of action and can be a promising antifungal agent or medicament against root canal infection.

Synthesis and antibacterial property of pyrrolopyrano quinolinones and pyrroloquinolines.

Synthesis of a series of novel pyrroloquinolinone and pyrroloquinoline derivatives has been accomplished by intramolecular domino Knoevenagel hetero Diels-Alder reaction and intramolecular imino Diels-Alder reaction. These compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens using disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. The efficacy of binding of these compounds to gyrase, an enzyme known to play a key role in bacterial replication is examined by studying its supercoiling and relaxation and also its gene expression using PCR method. The results indicated that most of the synthesised compounds exhibited good antibacterial activity against the microorganisms with MIC values of 5mM and could inhibit gyrase effectively leading to cell death.

Synthesis and antibacterial property of quinolines with potent DNA gyrase activity.

Synthesis of a series of novel tetrahydroquinoline annulated heterocycles has been accomplished by intramolecular imino and bisimino Diels-Alder reaction. These compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity. All the synthetic compounds, exhibited good antibacterial activity against microorganisms of which one of them 7 was found to be as active as the antibiotic ciplofloxacin and is found to have MIC value of 2.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli.