Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Excess Thermodynamic Properties of Highly Nonideal Liquid Mixtures of Butanol Isomers + DBE.

Binary alcohol + ether liquid mixtures are of significant importance as potential biofuels or additives for internal combustion engines and attract considerable fundamental interest as model systems containing one strongly H-bonded self-associating component (alcohol) and one that is unable to do so (ether), but that can interact strongly as a H-bond acceptor. In this context, the excess thermodynamic properties of these mixtures, specifically the excess molar enthalpies and volumes (HE and VE), have been extensively measured. Butanol isomer + di-n-butyl ether (DBE) mixtures received significant attention because of interesting differences in their VE, changing from negative (1- and isobutanol) to positive (2- and tert-butanol) with increasing alkyl group branching. With the aim of shedding light on the differences in alcohol self-association and cross-species H-bonding, considered responsible for the observed differences, we studied representative 1- and 2-butanol + DBE mixtures by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental excess property measurements. The simulations reveal marked differences in the self-association of the two isomers and, while supporting the existing interpretations of the HE and VE in a general sense, our results suggest, for the first time, that subtle changes in H-bonded topologies may contribute significantly to the anomalous volumetric properties of these mixtures.

In-Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antiproliferative and Photo-Protective Activities of Benzimidazolehydrazone Derivatives.

In the search of multifunctional compounds we designed benzimidazole derivatives endowed with phenolic hydroxy groups and a hydrazone moiety as potential radical-scavenger and the antioxidant agents. The target molecules have been prepared by a simple synthetic procedure and tested for their antioxidant activity by DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC test, for photoprotective activity against UV rays and for antiproliferative activity against Colo-38 melanoma cells. Furthermore, two different dermocosmetic formulations were prepared with the compounds endowed with the best antioxidant and photoprotective profile and their release from formulation evaluated using Franz Cells system. High antioxidant activity is related to the presence of at least two hydroxy groups on arylidene moiety of benzimidazoles. Structure activity analysis revealed that the position of hydroxy groups is crucial for antioxidant activity as well as the presence of a 2-hydroxy-4-(diethylamino)arylidene group. The same correlation pattern was found to be related to photoprotective activity resulting in an UVA Protection Factor better than the commercial solar filter PBSA and antiproliferative activity against melanoma cells without producing cytotoxicity on normal keratinocytes. The release analysis indicated that high antioxidant activities are achieved with limited release at concentration compatible with the use as UV sunscreen filter.

Synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of 2-arylbenzimidazoles.

Three series of arylbenzimidazole derivatives 3-40, 45 have been simply synthesized and tested for their antioxidant capacity. The 2-arylbenzimidazoles were tested against various radicals by the DPPH, FRAP and ORAC tests and showed different activity profiles. It has been observed that the number and position of the hydroxy groups on the 2-aryl portion and the presence of a diethylamino group or a 2-styryl group are related to a good antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, benzimidazoles showed satisfactory SPF values ​​in vitro compared to the commercial PBSA filter, proving to have a good photoprotective profile. In particular, 2-arylbenzimidazole-5-sulphonic acids 15 and 38, the 2-styryl-benzimidazole 45 showed broad spectrum solar protection against UVA and UVB rays. The antiproliferative effect of the benzimidazoles was tested on human skin melanoma Colo-38 cells. The styrylbenzimidazole 45 exhibited antiproliferative effect at low micromolar concentration against Colo-38 cells and very low antiproliferative activity on normal HaCat keratinocyte cells.

Indole derivatives as multifunctional drugs: Synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant, photoprotective and antiproliferative activity of indole hydrazones.

Two series of indole derivatives 4-17, 20-22 were easily prepared and assayed for their radical-scavenging ability. Arylidene-1H-indole-2-carbohydrazones showed different extent antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP and ORAC assays. Good antioxidant activity is related to the number and position of hydroxyl groups on the arylidene moiety as well as to the presence of methoxy or 4-(diethylamino) group. On the contrary low antioxidant activity is showed by the isomeric 1H-indol-2-yl(methylene)-benzohydrazides. Furthermore, hydrazones 4-17 showed photoprotective capacities with satisfactory in vitro SPF as compared to the commercial PBSA sunscreen filter. The indole 16 and 17, showing the best antioxidant and photoprotective profile, were included in different formulation and their topical release was evaluated. Varying the formulation composition, it was possible to optimize skin adsorption and solubility of the active indole in the formulation. The antiproliferative effect of the hydrazones 4-17 was tested on human erythroleukemia K562 and melanoma Colo-38 cells. Hydrazones 11, 16 and 17 showed growth inhibition at sub micromolar concentrations on both cell lines. These results indicate indole hydrazones as potential multifunctional molecules especially in the treatment of neoplastic diseases being the good antioxidant properties of 16 and 17 correlated to their high antiproliferative activity.

Benzofuran hydrazones as potential scaffold in the development of multifunctional drugs: Synthesis and evaluation of antioxidant, photoprotective and antiproliferative activity.

New benzofuranhydrazones 3-12 were easily prepared and assayed for their radical-scavenging ability. Hydrazones 3-12 showed different extent antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP and ORAC assays. Good antioxidant activity is related to the number and position of hydroxyl groups on the arylidene moiety. High antioxidant activity is showed by the 2-hydroxy-4-(diethylamino)benzylidene derivative 11. Furthermore, hydrazones 3-12 showed photoprotective capacities with satisfactory in vitro SPF as compared to the commercial PBSA sunscreen filter. The antiproliferative effects of the hydrazones 3-12 was tested on erythroleukemia K562 and Colo-38 melanoma human cells. All the compounds showed growth inhibition in the micromolar to sub micromolar concentration range. If taken together these results points to benzofuran hydrazones as potential multifunctional molecules especially in the treatment of neoplastic diseases being the good antioxidant properties of 5, 7 and 11 correlated to their high antiproliferative activity.

Design, synthesis and antiviral evaluation of novel heteroarylcarbothioamide derivatives as dual inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-associated RNase H and RDDP functions.

In the continuous effort to identify new HIV-1 inhibitors endowed with innovative mechanisms, the dual inhibition of different viral functions would provide a significant advantage against drug-resistant variants. The HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT)-associated ribonuclease H (RNase H) is the only viral-encoded enzymatic activity that still lacks an efficient inhibitor. We synthesized a library of 3,5-diamino-N-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbothioamide and 4-amino-5-benzoyl-N-phenyl-2-(substituted-amino)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbothioamide derivatives and tested them against RNase H activity. We identified the pyrazolecarbothioamide derivative A15, able to inhibit viral replication and both RNase H and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (RDDP) RT-associated activities in the low micromolar range. Docking simulations hypothesized its binding to two RT pockets. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that, with respect to wt RT, V108A substitution strongly reduced A15 IC50 values (12.6-fold for RNase H inhibition and 4.7-fold for RDDP), while substitution A502F caused a 9.0-fold increase in its IC50 value for RNase H, not affecting the RDDP inhibition, reinforcing the hypothesis of a dual-site inhibition. Moreover, A15 retained good inhibition potency against three non-nucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI)-resistant enzymes, confirming a mode of action unrelated to NNRTIs and suggesting its potential as a lead compound for development of new HIV-1 RT dual inhibitors active against drug-resistant viruses.

Novel propanamides as fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) has a key role in the control of the cannabinoid signaling, through the hydrolysis of the endocannabinoids anandamide and in some tissues 2-arachidonoylglycerol. FAAH inhibition represents a promising strategy to activate the cannabinoid system, since it does not result in the psychotropic and peripheral side effects characterizing the agonists of the cannabinoid receptors. Here we present the discovery of a novel class of profen derivatives, the N-(heteroaryl)-2-(4-((2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-4-yl)amino)phenyl)propanamides, as FAAH inhibitors. Enzymatic assays showed potencies toward FAAH ranging from nanomolar to micromolar range, and the most compounds lack activity toward the two isoforms of cyclooxygenase. Extensive structure-activity studies and the definition of the binding mode for the lead compound of the series are also presented. Kinetic assays in rat and mouse FAAH on selected compounds of the series demonstrated that slight modifications of the chemical structure could influence the binding mode and give rise to competitive (TPA1) or non-competitive (TPA14) inhibition modes.

Potent Nematicidal Activity of Maleimide Derivatives on Meloidogyne incognita.

Different maleimide derivatives were synthesized and assayed for their in vitro activity on the soil inhabiting, plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita, also known as root-knot nematode. The compounds maleimide, N-ethylmaleimide, N-isopropylmaleimide, and N-isobutylmaleimide showed the strongest nematicidal activity on the second stage juveniles of the root-knot nematode with EC50/72h values of 2.6 ± 1.3, 5.1 ± 3.4, 16.2 ± 5.4, and 19.0 ± 9.0 mg/L, respectively. We also determined the nematicidal activity of copper sulfate, finding an EC50 value of 48.6 ± 29.8 mg/L. When maleimide at 1 mg/L was tested in combination with copper sulfate at 50 mg/L, we observed 100% mortality of the nematodes. We performed a GC-MS metabolomics analysis after treating nematodes with maleimide at 8 mg/L for 24 h. This analysis revealed altered fatty acids and diglyceride metabolites such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, and 1-monopalmitin. Our results suggest that maleimide may be used as a new interesting building block for developing new nematicides in combination with copper salts.

Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Antiproliferative Activity of New Benzimidazolehydrazones.

The synthesis and antiproliferative activity of new benzimidazole derivatives bearing an hydrazone mojety at the 2-position is described. The new N'-(4-arylidene)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbohydrazides were evaluated for their cytostatic activity toward the murine leukemia (L1210), human T-cell leukemia (CEM), human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) and human pancreas carcinoma cells (Mia Paca-2). A preliminary structure-activity relationship could be defined. Some of the compounds possess encouraging and consistent antiproliferative activity, having IC50 values in the low micromolar range.

Nematicidal activity of acetophenones and chalcones against Meloidogyne incognita and structure-activity considerations.

BACKGROUND: With the ultimate goal of identifying new compounds active against root-knot nematodes, a set of 14 substituted chalcones were synthesised, starting from acetophenones. These chalcones and various acetophenones were tested in vitro against Meloidogyne incognita. RESULTS: The most potent acetophenones were 4-nitroacetophenone and 4-iodoacetophenone, with EC(50/24 h) values of 12 ± 5 and 15 ± 4 mg L(-1) respectively, somewhat weaker than that of the chemical control fosthiazate in our previous experiments (EC(50/24 h) 0.4 ± 0.3 mg L(-1)). When we converted the acetophenones to chalcones, the nematicidal activity differed, based on their substitution pattern. The condensation of 4-nitroacetophenone with 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde to give the corresponding chalcone (E)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one led to a slight reduction in activity (EC(50/24 h) value 25 ± 17 mg L(-1)). Moreover, (E)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-iodophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one showed better activity (EC(50/24) h value 26 ± 15 mg L(-1)) than 4-methoxyacetophenone (EC(50/24 h) value 43 ± 10 mg L(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: Acetophenones and chalcones may represent good leads in the discovery of new nematicidal compounds and may have potential use in crop management as active ingredients.

In vitro nematicidal activity of aryl hydrazones and comparative GC-MS metabolomics analysis.

A series of aryl hydrazones were synthesized and in vitro assayed for their activity on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The phenylhydrazones of thiophene-2-carboxyaldehyde 5, 3-methyl-2-thiophenecarboxyaldehyde, 6, and salicylaldehyde, 2, were the most potent with EC50/48h values of 16.6 ± 2.2, 23.2 ± 2.7, and 24.3 ± 1.4 mg/L, respectively. A GC-MS metabolomics analysis, after in vitro nematode treatment with hydrazone 6 at 100 mg/L for 12 h, revealed elevated levels of fatty acids such as lauric acid, stearic acid, 2-octenoic acid, and palmitic acid. Whereas control samples showed the highest levels of monoacylglycerols such as monostearin and 2-monostearin, surprisingly, 2 h after treatment with hydrazone 6, nematodes excreted 3 times the levels of ammonia eliminated in the same conditions by controls. Thus, phenylhydrazones may represent a good scaffold in the discovery and synthesis of new nematicidal compounds, and a metabolomics approach may be helpful in understanding their mechanisms of toxicity and mode of action.