Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-benzyl-N-(2-(phenylamino)pyridin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamides as antimitotic agents.

A library of 1-benzyl-N-(2-(phenylamino)pyridin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamides (7a-al) have been designed, synthesized and screened for their anti-proliferative activity against some selected human cancer cell lines namely DU-145, A-549, MCF-7 and HeLa. Most of them have shown promising cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell line (A549), amongst them 7f was found to be the most potent anti-proliferative congener. Furthermore, 7f exhibited comparable tubulin polymerization inhibition (IC50 value 2.04 µM) to the standard E7010 (IC50 value 2.15 µM). Moreover, flow cytometric analysis revealed that this compound induced apoptosis via cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in A549 cells. Induction of apoptosis was further observed by examining the mitochondrial membrane potential and was also confirmed by Hoechst staining as well as Annexin V-FITC assays. Furthermore, molecular docking studies indicated that compound 7f binds to the colchicine binding site of the ß-tubulin. Thus, 7f exhibits anti-proliferative properties by inhibiting the tubulin polymerization through the binding at the colchicine active site and by induction of apoptosis.

Design, Synthesis, and in vitro and in vivo Evaluations of (Z)-3,4,5-Trimethoxystyrylbenzenesulfonamides/sulfonates as Highly Potent Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors.

Newer therapeutics can be developed in drug discovery by adopting the strategy of scaffold hopping of the privileged scaffolds from known bioactive compounds. This strategy has been widely employed in drug-discovery processes. Structure-based docking studies illustrate the basic underlying concepts and reveal that interactions of the sulfonamide group and hydrophobic interactions are crucial. On the basis of this strategy, over 60 synthetic analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the NCI panel of 60 human cancer cell lines; the majority of these compounds exhibited promising cytotoxicity with GI50 values ranging between 18 and 50 nm. Among these compounds, (Z)-N-[2,3-dimethoxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)phenyl]-4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide (7 a) and (Z)-N-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-(3,4,5-trimethoxystyryl)phenyl]-4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide (9 a) were found to be potent. Similar results were obtained against three human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging between 0.04 and 3.0 µm. Studies aimed at elucidating the mechanism of action of these new analogues revealed that they inhibited the in vitro polymerization of tubulin and disorganized the assembly of microtubules in HeLa and MCF-7cancer cells. Lead compounds 7 a and 9 a displayed notable in vivo antitumor activity in a HeLa tumor xenograft model. Our studies have resulted in the identification of a scaffold that can target tubulin polymerization, which should have significant potential toward the development of new antitumor drugs.

Design and synthesis of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole linked triazole conjugates: Microtubule-destabilizing agents.

A series of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole linked triazole conjugates were synthesized by using Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cyclo-addition reaction (click chemistry approach) and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against some human cancer cell lines like, HeLa (cervical), DU-145 (prostate), A549 (lung), MCF-7 (breast) and HepG2 (liver). Among them, Conjugates 4g and 4h demonstrated a significant antiproliferative effect against human lung cancer cells (A549) with IC50 values of 0.92 and 0.78 µM respectively. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that these conjugates induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase in A549 lung cancer cells. The tubulin polymerization assay and immunofluorescence analysis showed that these conjugates effectively inhibit microtubule assembly in cell free and cell based (A549) experiment respectively. Moreover, the apoptosis inducing properties were evaluated by Hoechst staining, mitochondrial membrane potential and Annexin V-FITC assay. Further, western blot analysis was performed for proapoptotic protein Bax and antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the results demonstrated that there was up regulation of Bax and down regulation of Bcl-2 suggesting that these compounds induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cells, A549.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1,2,3-triazole tethered Pyrazoline and Chalcone Derivatives.

A series of pyrazoline derivatives and corresponding chalcone intermediates with substituents same as combretastatin-A4(CA-4) conjugated with triazole nucleus has been synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer potential. Sulphorhodamine B(SRB) assay indicated compound 12c to be the most active compound from the series with GI50 value of 6.7 µm against the human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2. Interestingly, the intermediate 11c exhibited more promising cytotoxicity demonstrating GI50 value of 1.3 µm against the prostate cancer cell line DU145. Compounds 11c and 12c caused accumulation of cells in G2/M phase and inhibited tubulin polymerization. Furthermore, these compounds reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential and activate caspases 3 and 9, thereby indicating their ability to trigger apoptosis.

Discovery of pyrrolospirooxindole derivatives as novel cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitors by catalyst-free, green approach.

Aiming to develop a new target for the anticancer treatment, a series of 5'H-spiro[indoline-3,4'-pyrrolo [1,2-a]quinoxalin]-2-ones has been synthesized by simple, highly efficient and environmentally friendly method in excellent yields under catalyst-free conditions using ethanol as a green solvent. A simple filtration of the reaction mixture and subsequent drying affords analytically pure products. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against five different human cancer cell lines, among the congeners compound 3n showed significant cytotoxicity against the human prostate cancer (DU-145). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that this compound induces cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and Western blot analysis suggested that reduction in Cdk4 expression level leads to apoptotic cell death. This was further confirmed by mitochondrial membrane potential ((ΔΨm), Annexin V-FITC assay and docking experiments. Furthermore, it was observed that there is an increase in expression levels of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors like Cip1/p21 and Kip1/p27.

Sulfamic acid promoted one-pot three-component synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of spirooxindoles.

A simple, mild and efficient method for the synthesis of pyrazolopyridine based spirooxindoles by the three-component reaction has been developed using sulfamic acid (H2NSO3H) as a green catalyst. The method involves use of water as a solvent which makes it eco-friendly. The catalyst used is readily available and is prominent for short reaction time, operational simplicity and high yields. After completion of the reaction the catalyst could be recovered and reused for up to four cycles without loss in catalytic activity. Employing this method a library of 34 compounds has been synthesized and investigated for their cytotoxicity against a panel of three human cancer cell lines. Some of the compounds like 4o and 4p exhibited remarkable cytotoxicities with IC50 values of 0.35µM and 1.92µM against MDA-MB-231 cell line.