New quinazolin-2,4-dione derivatives incorporating acylthiourea, pyrazole and/or oxazole moieties as antibacterial agents via DNA gyrase inhibition.

This article contributes to the search for new therapeutic agents for treatment of diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. In this study, a new series of compounds incorporating numerous bioactive moieties such as quinazolin-2,4-dione, acylthiourea linkage, and/or five membered nitrogen heterocycles (pyrazole and oxazole) 2-5a-c was described to identify new antibacterial drug candidates via inhibition of DNA gyrase enzyme. The precursor N-[N'-(2-cyano-acetyl)-hydrazinocarbothioyl]-4-(2,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-quinazolin-3-yl)-benzamide 2 was prepared by treatment of compound 1 with ammonium thiocyanate and cyanoacetic acid hydrazide through multicomponent reaction (MCR). In addition, compounds 3a-d and 4a-b were synthesized by treatment of 2 with aromatic aldehydes and/or ketones through Knoevenagel reaction, affording high purity products in satisfactory yields. Moreover, new heterocyclic moieties such as pyrazole and/or oxazole attached to quinazolin-2,4-dione core 5a-c were synthesized by treatment of 3c with different nucleophilic reagents like hydrazine, phenyl hydrazine and hydroxyl amine, respectively. Subsequently, the obtained products were structurally characterized by IR, 1H-, 13C-NMR, and MS analyses. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and antibacterial potency of all compounds were estimated against two G-ve (E. coli and P. aeruginosa), and two G+ve bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus). Encouragingly, compound 3c demonstrated the best antibacterial activity against all the strains of the tested pathogenic bacteria at low concentrations compared with the standard drug, Ciprofloxacin. Electron withdrawing groups such as -NO2 and -Cl enhance the antibacterial activity. Next, a molecular docking study between the synthesized derivatives and the target enzyme, DNA gyrase enzyme (PDB: 2xct) was undertaken to investigate intermolecular interactions between the compounds and target enzyme.

Towards a New Generation of Hormone Therapies: Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel 1,2,3-Triazoles as Estrogen-Positive Breast Cancer Therapeutics and Non-Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) show promising features as drugs to treat estrogen-responsive breast cancer as they block aromatase activity, the key enzyme in estrogen synthesis. The current AIs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for breast cancer treatment present severe adverse effects. For these reasons, it is important to develop of new AIs that are more specific and sensitive. In this paper, we report the synthesis and the characterization of new nonsteroidal aromatase AIs containing triazoles moieties for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer in post-menopausal women. A new series of 1,2,3-triazole based molecules were successfully synthetized and their chemical structures were determined from the spectral data (FT-IR, 13C NMR, 1H NMR, mass spectroscopy) and micro-analytical data. Additionally, the physical properties of the newly synthesized derivatives were reported. The novel compounds were also tested for their anticancer activity in both breast cancer (MCF7 and T-47D) and normal breast (MCF 10A) cell lines, evaluating their effect on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The results revealed that the compounds exhibited promising and specific anti-cancer action.

Antimicrobial Potency and E. coli ß-Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition Efficacy of Phenazone-Based Molecules.

In this investigation, 4-antipyrinecarboxaldhyde was reacted with methyl hydrazinecarbodithioate to afford the carbodithioate derivative 3. The as-prepared carbodithioate derivative 3 is considered to be a key molecule for the preparation of new antipyrine-1,3,4-thiadiazole-based molecules (4-9) through its reaction with the appropriate hydrazonoyl halides. Furthermore, a typical Biginelli three-component cyclocondensation reaction involving ethyl acetoacetate, 4-antipyrinecarboxaldhyde, and thiourea under the standard conditions is carried out in the presence of sulfuric acid to afford the corresponding antipyrine-pyrimidine hybrid molecule (10). The latter was submitted to react with hydrazine monohydrate to provide the corresponding hydrazide derivative (11) which, under reaction with ethyl acetoacetate in refluxing ethanol containing catalytic amount of acetic acid, afforded the corresponding derivative (12). The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was affirmed by their spectral and microanalytical data. We also screened for their antimicrobial potential (ZOI and MIC) and conducted a kinetic study. Additionally, the mechanism of biological action was assessed by a membrane leakage assay and SEM imaging technique. Moreover, the biological activities and the binding modes of these compounds were further supplemented by an in silico docking study against E. coli ß-carbonic anhydrase. The amount of cellular protein released by E. coli is directly correlated to the concentration of compound 9, which was found to be 177.99 µg/mL following treatment with 1.0 mg/mL of compound 9. This finding supports compound 9's antibacterial properties and explains how the formation of holes in the E. coli cell membrane results in the release of proteins from the cytoplasm. The newly synthesized compounds represent acceptable antimicrobial activities with potential action against E. coli ß-carbonic anhydrase. The docking studies and antimicrobial activity test proved that compound (9) declared a greater activity than the other synthesized compounds.

Cyclization of Chalcone Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, In Silico Docking Study, and Biological Evaluation of New Quinazolin-2,4-diones Incorporating Five-, Six-, and Seven-Membered Ring Moieties as Potent Antibacterial Inhibitors.

Four novel series of quinazolin-2,4-diones bearing five-, six-, and seven-membered heterocyclic moieties 2-14 (such as pyrazole, oxazole, pyrimidine, and azepines) through the 1,4-phenyl linkage were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in terms of their antibacterial activities. Analytical and spectral techniques (FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Mass) were utilized for the structural elucidation of all of the synthesized compounds 2-14. Furthermore, the potential antibacterial activity of the thirteen compounds was further evaluated in vitro against two different Gram-negative G-ve bacterial strains (named Escherichia coli ATCC 25955, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145) and two Gram-positive G+ve bacterial strains (named Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus NRRL B-767). Investigation of the antibacterial potential indicated that the newly synthesized compounds, especially 13, exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against pathogens, comparable to the standard drug ciprofloxacin (a known potent antibacterial agent). Additionally, compounds 2-14 and ciprofloxacin were assessed in silico using molecular docking studies against the target thymidine phosphorylase enzyme (PDB ID: 4EAD). Moreover, the structure activity relationship (SAR) for these compounds was also described to give guidance about the effective molecules that could play an important role in identifying potential antibacterial agents. Finally, the drug-likeness and physicochemical parameters of the newly synthesized molecules 2-14 were in silico investigated. Among them, we found that the compound 3-[4-(6-phenyl-6,7-dihydro-5-oxa-9-aza-benzocyclohepten-8-yl)-phenyl]-1H-quinazolin-2,4-dione 13 with the highest binding affinity showed a strong fit to the active site of the tested enzyme, indicating 13 as a promising drug candidate for designing and developing novel classes of antibiotics.

Insight into novel anti-mucormycosis therapies: investigation of new anti-mucormycosis laser-induced photodynamic therapy based on a sulphone bis-compound loaded silica nanoemulsion.

For drug delivery applications, silica nanoemulsion encapsulated with organic compounds are becoming increasingly more desirable. Therefore, the emphasis of this research was on the synthesis of a new potent antifungal drug-like candidate (1,1'-((sulfonylbis(4,1-phenylene)bis(5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-1,4-diyl))bis(3-(dimethylamino)prop-2-en-1-one), SBDMP), the chemical structure of which was confirmed on the basis of its spectral and microanalytical data. Then, silica nanoemulsion loaded with SBDMP was prepared using Pluronic F-68 as a potent surfactant. The particle shape, hydrodynamic size, and zeta potential of the produced silica nanoemulsion (with and without drug loading) were assessed. The antitumoral activity of the synthesized molecules showed the superiority of SBDMP and silica nanoemulsion with and without SBDMP loading against Rhizopus microsporous and Syncephalastrum racemosum. Subsequently, the laser-induced photodynamic inactivation (LIPDI) of Mucorales strains was determined using the tested samples. The optical properties of the samples were investigated using UV-vis optical absorption and the photoluminescence. The photosensitivity of the selected samples appeared to enhance the eradication of the tested pathogenic strains when exposed to a red (640 nm) laser light. The optical property results verified that the SBDMP-loaded silica nanoemulsion has a high depth of penetration into biological tissues due to a two-absorption photon (TAP) mechanism. Interestingly, the photosensitizing of the nanoemulsion loaded with a newly synthesized drug-like candidate, SBDMP, opens up a new route to apply new organic compounds as photosensitizers under laser-induced photodynamic therapy (LIPDT).

Investigation of novel HCV therapies: Boscia angustifalia & Boscia senegalensis extracts loaded on galactosylated chitosan nanoparticles synthesized by eco-friendly method for HCV treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of chronic liver diseases including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Treatment of HCV has evolved from early interferon monotherapy to the current all-oral regimens using direct-acting antivirals. However, antiviral resistance has become a critical issue in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C after receiving therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) with a 0.5 % chance of the hepatitis C virus recurrence, similar to other chronic viral infections. So, retreatment options following treatment failure have become crucial issues. Hence, this study aims to investigate a new promising therapy for HCV. In the field of nanomedicine, chitosan nanoparticles are well-known delivery systems that are frequently used as polymeric carriers. Galactosylated chitosan nanoparticles have been widely applied in HCV treatment. In this study, we have modified galactosylation by an eco-friendly method using l-ascorbic instead of hazardous reagents and we have loaded it with newly tested two Boscia extracts each in three different concentrations. The synthesized chitosan nanoparticles showed two dispersion peaks, at 196 ± 29 nm and 1.33 ± 0.36 µm, with a zeta potential of +3.3 ± 0.4mV with high stability in a range of 40.7 mV. The percentage of encapsulation of Boscia angustifalia extract was found to be 46.58 ± 1.33 % and for Boscia senegalensis extract was 9.77 ± 0.33 %. The release of Boscia angustifalia extract from the nanoparticles was about 40 % in acidic media after 180 min and about 60 % in normal pH. However, the release of Boscia senegalensis extract was 20 % in acidic media and 56 % in normal media after 24 h. Testing of these two newly developed composites against HCV was carried out using an in vitro system for the production of hepatitis C virus (HCV) which was established by infection of human hepatoma cells. Evidence for persistent virus production was monitored by the ELISA technique using an anti-HCV-specific antibody. Results obtained showed that all samples had an anti-HCV activity that increased by increasing concentration, and Boscia angustifalia had remarkable anti-HCV activity compared to Boscia senegalensis.

Nano-emulsion of mangosteen rind extract in a mucoadhesive patch for periodontitis regenerative treatment: An in vivo study.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic potential of nano-emulsion of mangosteen rind extract in a mucoadhesive gingival patch on periodontitis, and its effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa Β ligand (RANKL), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) expression. Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: positive control group (mucoadhesive patch with doxycycline), negative control group (mucoadhesive patch), treatment group I (mucoadhesive patch with mangosteen rind extract), and treatment group II (mucoadhesive patch with nano-emulsion of mangosteen rind extract). An experimental model of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontitis was established in rats by treatment with 0.03 mL bacteria locally (1 × 1010 colony-forming units) seven times at 2-day intervals in the gingival sulcus of mandibular anterior teeth. Treatment was 1 h/day for 3 days. On days 3, 5, and 7, five rats from each group were killed. TNF-α, IL-10, and RANKL expression was determined by dissecting the lower jaw for immunohistochemistry. Results: The mucoadhesive patch with nano-emulsion mangosteen rind extract significantly decreased TNF-α and RANKL expression and increased IL-10 expression (p < 0.05) compared to the treatment I, positive and negative control groups. Conclusion: A mucoadhesive gingival patch with nano-emulsion of mangosteen rind extract has the potential to treat periodontitis by decreasing TNF-α, RANKL, and increasing IL-10 expression.

Simultaneous removal of Pb2+ and direct red 31 dye from contaminated water using N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxamide loaded chitosan nanoparticles.

This study reports the preparation of a new material that can remove synthetic dyes and trace metals simultaneously. A new coumarin derivative was synthesized and its chemical structure was inferred from spectral data (FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). Meanwhile, chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) were prepared then used as a carrier for two different concentrations of the coumarin derivative (C1@CsNPs and C2@CsNPs). The TEM, SEM and DLS findings illustrated that the prepared nanocomposites exhibited spherical shape and small size (less than 200 nm). The performance of the prepared material for the removal of an anionic dye (direct red 31, DR31) and cationic trace metal (Pb2+) was evaluated in unary and binary systems. The results revealed that complete removal of 10 mg L-1 of DR31 and Pb2+ in unary system was achieved at pHo 3.0 and 5.5 using 0.5 and 2.0 g L-1, respectively, of C2@CsNPs. The adsorption of DR31 and Pb2+ followed different mechanisms as deduced from the effect of pHo, kinetic, isotherm and binary adsorption studies. The adsorption of DR31 followed the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. While, the adsorption of Pb2+ followed Freundlich isotherm model and Elovich kinetic model. In the binary system, the co-presence of DR31 and Pb2+ did not affect the adsorption of each other's. Overall, the prepared material showed promising results for the removal of anionic dyes and cations trace metals from contaminated water.

Novel Thiadiazole-Based Molecules as Promising Inhibitors of Black Fungi and Pathogenic Bacteria: In Vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies.

Novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives were synthesized through the reaction of methyl 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazine-1-carbodithioate and the appropriate hydrazonoyl halides in the presence of a few drops of diisopropylethylamine. The chemical structure of the newly fabricated compounds was inferred from their microanalytical and spectral data. With the increase in microbial diseases, fungi remain a devastating threat to human health because of the resistance of microorganisms to antifungal drugs. COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) have higher mortality rates in many populations. The present study aimed to find new antifungal agents using the disc diffusion method, and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were estimated by the microdilution assay. An in vitro experiment of six synthesized chemical compounds exhibited antifungal activity against Rhizopus oryzae; compounds with an imidazole moiety, such as the compound 7, were documented to have energetic antibacterial, antifungal properties. As a result of these findings, this research suggests that the synthesized compounds could be an excellent choice for controlling black fungus diseases. Furthermore, a molecular docking study was achieved on the synthesized compounds, of which compounds 2, 6, and 7 showed the best interactions with the selected protein targets.

A dual-functional sulfone biscompound containing 1,2,3-triazole moiety for decolorization and disinfection of contaminated water.

Water decontamination from toxic dyes and pathogenic microorganisms is critical for life on Earth. Herein, we report the synthesis of sulfone biscompound containing 1,2,3-triazole moiety and evaluation of its dye decolorization and biocidal and disinfection efficiencies. The decolorization efficiency was tested under different experimental conditions, while the biocidal action was examined against various types of waterborne pathogens, and the disinfection of some pathogenic microbes was executed in artificially contaminated water. The findindgs illustrated that the solution initial pH (pHi) affected the decolorization efficiency significantly. About complete removal of 10 mg/L malachite green (MG) dye was achieved after 10 min using 3 g/L of the sulfone biscompound at pHi 6. The pseudo-second-order equation suited the adsorption kinetics accurately, while the equilibrium data was suited by Langmuir isotherm model. Electrostatic, n-π, and π-π interactions brought about the adsorption of MG onto the sulfone biscompound. The biocidal results indicated that the sulfone biscompound had a powerful antibacterial potential against the tested bacterial species. Likewise, the distinction trail revealed that after 70-90 min of direct contact with an effective dose, the tested pathogens could be completely eliminated (6-log reduction). Overall, the newly synthesized sulfone biscompound can efficiently remove cationic dyes and disinfect contaminated water.

In silico study to identify novel potential thiadiazole-based molecules as anti-Covid-19 candidates by hierarchical virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations.

In the present study, a new category of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles was developed by submitting methyl 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazine-1-carbodithioate to react with the appropriate hydrazonoyl halides in presence of few drops of diisopropyl ethyl amine. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized derivatives were inferred by means of their micro-analytical and spectral data. Utilizing combined molecular docking and molecular dynamics techniques, the binding affinities and features of the synthesized compounds were evaluated against four SARS-CoV-2 target enzymes, namely, main protease (Mpro), papain-like protease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Compound 7 demonstrated promising binding affinities with the target enzymes Mpro, PLpro, RdRp, and RBD with docking scores of -11.4, -9.4, -8.2, and -6.8 kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, compound 7 exhibited MM-GBSA//100 ns MD docking score of -35.9 kcal/mol against Mpro. Structural and energetic analyses revealed the stability of the 7-Mpro complex over 100 ns MD simulations. In addition, compound 7 obeyed Lipinski's rule of five, as it has acceptable absorption, distribution, and oral bioavailability inside the body. Therefore, compound 7 is considered as a promising starting point for designing potential therapeutic agents against Covid-19. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11224-022-01985-1.

Solvent-Free Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Studies of Novel Potential 1,3,4-Thiadiazole-Based Molecules against Microbial Pathogens.

A new series of 1,3,4-thiadiazoles was synthesized by the reaction of methyl 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazine-1-carbodithioate (2) with selected derivatives of hydrazonoyl halide by grinding method at room temperature. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized derivatives were resolved from correct spectral and microanalytical data. Moreover, all synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities using Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. However, compounds 3 and 5 showed significant antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. The other prepared compounds exhibited either only antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria like compounds 4 and 6, or only antifungal activity like compound 7. A molecular docking study of the compounds was performed against two important microbial enzymes: tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) and N-myristoyl transferase (Nmt). The tested compounds showed variety in binding poses and interactions. However, compound 3 showed the best interactions in terms of number of hydrogen bonds, and the lowest affinity binding energy (-8.4 and -9.1 kcal/mol, respectively). From the in vitro and in silico studies, compound 3 is a good candidate for the next steps of the drug development process as an antimicrobial drug.

Design, synthetic approach, in silico molecular docking and antibacterial activity of quinazolin-2,4-dione hybrids bearing bioactive scaffolds.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of ten global public health threats facing humanity. This created the need to identify and develop effective inhibitors as antimicrobial agents. In this respect, quinazolin-2,4-dione hybrids bearing N-heterocyclic cores such as pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, pyrazole and oxadiazole and/or bioactive scaffolds such as hydrazone, amide, sulfonamide, azomethine, and thiourea linkage are described for design, synthesis, antibacterial investigation, and in silico studies. The characterization of the target compounds was accomplished by elemental analysis and various spectroscopic data like FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS. The antibacterial evaluation was achieved for the newly synthesized compounds using two G -ve bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC 25955 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145), and two G +ve bacteria (Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus NRRL B-767). Synthesized compounds exhibited various activities against the tested pathogens, the results revealed that compound 3c exhibited a characteristic antimicrobial efficacy against all the tested pathogenic strains at a concentration lower than the tested standard drug ranging from 2.5 to 10 µg ml-1. Moreover, the molecular docking study against the target S. aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (PDB ID: 1JIJ) was carried out to investigate the mechanism of action of the prepared compounds, which is in line with an in vitro study. Most new compounds exhibited zero violation of Lipinski's rule (Ro5). These candidate molecules have shown promising antibacterial activity. Among these molecules, compound 3c with di-hydroxyl groups on two phenyl rings at position-4 exhibited a promising potent antibacterial inhibitory effect. Further SAR analysis reveals that a greater number of hydroxyl groups in an organic compound might be crucial for antibacterial efficacy. These findings demonstrate the potential activity of compound 3c as an antibacterial agent.

Synthesis, Identification, Computer-Aided Docking Studies, and ADMET Prediction of Novel Benzimidazo-1,2,3-triazole Based Molecules as Potential Antimicrobial Agents.

2-azido-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives 1a,b were reacted with a ß-ketoester such as acetylacetone in the presence of sodium ethoxide to obtain the desired molecules 2a,b. The latter acted as a key molecule for the synthesis of new carbazone derivatives 4a,b that were submitted to react with 2-oxo-N-phenyl-2-(phenylamino)acetohydrazonoyl chloride to obtain the target thiadiazole derivatives 6a,b. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were inferred from correct spectral and microanalytical data. Moreover, the newly prepared compounds were subjected to molecular docking studies with DNA gyrase B and exhibited binding energy that extended from -9.8 to -6.4 kcal/mol, which confirmed their excellent potency. The compounds 6a,b were found to be with the minimum binding energy (-9.7 and -9.8 kcal/mol) as compared to the standard drug ciprofloxacin (-7.4 kcal/mol) against the target enzyme DNA gyrase B. In addition, the newly synthesized compounds were also examined and screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Among the newly synthesized molecules, significant antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms was obtained for the compounds 6a,b. The in silico and in vitro findings showed that compounds 6a,b were the most active against bacterial strains, and could serve as potential antimicrobial agents.

Remdesivir: A Closer Look at Its Effect in COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiology of COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in significant harm to the affected countries in every aspect of life. The virus infected over 139 million patients and resulted in over 2.9 million deaths until April 16, 2021. New variants of this virus were identified that spread rapidly worldwide. SUMMARY: Remdesivir, a prodrug of adenosine nucleotide analog, is an antiviral with a broad spectrum of activity that was tested on SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome infections. In vitro studies conducted on SARS-CoV-2 revealed that remdesivir inhibited viral replication with high selectivity index in cell cultures. In vivo studies showed that remdesivir reduced viral load in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and attenuated pulmonary infiltrates in infected animals. Further, remdesivir showed promising results in terms of clinical improvement, shortening the recovery time, mortality rate, and the duration of oxygen need, despite that some clinical trials did not reveal significant effect on remdesivir use. Several studies showed positive results of remdesivir against the new variants. Key Messages: Remdesivir showed a promising beneficial effect against new variants of SARS-CoV-2, but more clinical evidence is needed to confirm this effect.

Antibacterial Activities and Molecular Docking of Novel Sulfone Biscompound Containing Bioactive 1,2,3-Triazole Moiety.

In this study, a new synthetic 1,2,3-triazole-containing disulfone compound was derived from dapsone. Its chemical structure was confirmed using microchemical and analytical data, and it was tested for its in vitro antibacterial potential. Six different pathogenic bacteria were selected. MICs values and ATP levels were determined. Further, toxicity performance was measured using MicroTox Analyzer. In addition, a molecular docking study was performed against two vital enzymes: DNA gyrase and Dihydropteroate synthase. The results of antibacterial abilities showed that the studied synthetic compound had a strong bactericidal effect against all tested bacterial strains, as Gram-negative species were more susceptible to the compound than Gram-positive species. Toxicity results showed that the compound is biocompatible and safe without toxic impact. The molecular docking of the compound showed interactions within the pocket of two enzymes, which are able to stabilize the compound and reveal its antimicrobial activity. Hence, from these results, this study recommends that the established compound could be an outstanding candidate for fighting a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacterial strains, and it might therefore be used for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Synthesis, Molecular Docking Studies and In Silico ADMET Screening of New Heterocycles Linked Thiazole Conjugates as Potent Anti-Hepatic Cancer Agents.

Thiazoles are important scaffolds in organic chemistry. Biosynthesis of thiazoles is considered to be an excellent target for the design of novel classes of therapeutic agents. In this study, a new series of 2-ethylidenehydrazono-5-arylazothiazoles 5a-d and 2-ethylidenehydrazono-5-arylazo- thiazolones 8a-d were synthesized via the cyclocondensation reaction of the appropriate hydrazonyl halides 4a-d and 7a-d with ethylidene thiosemicarbazide 3, respectively. Furthermore, the thiosemicarbazide derivative 3 was reacted with different bromoacetyl compounds 10-12 to afford the respective thiazole derivatives 13-15. Chemical composition of the novel derivatives was established on bases of their spectral data (FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectrometry) and microanalytical data. The newly synthesized derivatives were screened for their in vitro anti-hepatic cancer potency using an MTT assay. Moreover, an in silico technique was used to assess the interaction modes of the compounds with the active site of Rho6 protein. The docking studies of the target Rho6 with the newly synthesized fourteen compounds showed good docking scores with acceptable binding interactions. The presented results revealed that the newly synthesized compounds exhibited promising inhibition activity against hepatic cancer cell lines (HepG2).

Synthesis, Anticancer Evaluation, Computer-Aided Docking Studies, and ADMET Prediction of 1,2,3-Triazolyl-Pyridine Hybrids as Human Aurora B Kinase Inhibitors.

A novel series of 1,2,3-triazolyl-pyridine hybrids were prepared through the reaction of the triazole derivative (1) with the appropriate aldehyde (2a-g) and malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate in the presence of ammonium acetate in refluxed acetic acid. The chemical composition of the products was established on the basis of spectral and elemental analyses. Aurora B kinase is a protein with diverse biological actions in controlling tumorigenesis by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting proliferation and metastasis, making it an emerging target for diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alteration in the target protein expression causes unequal distribution of genetic information, causing HCC. The new compounds were tested for their antihepatic cancer activity, and some of them had strong efficacy against human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cell lines.

Effect of E-Cigarette aerosol exposure on airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The popularity of electronic cigarettes (E-Cigs) smoking is increasing worldwide including patients with asthma. In this study, the effects of E-Cigs aerosol exposure on airway inflammation in an allergen-driven murine model of asthma were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balb/c mice were randomly assigned to; control group (received fresh air, Ovalbumin (Ova) sensitization and saline challenge), E-Cig group (received E-Cig aerosol, Ova sensitization, and saline challenge), Ova S/C group (received fresh air, Ova sensitization and Ova challenge) and E-Cig + Ova S/C group. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were evaluated for inflammatory cells and inflammatory mediators, respectively. RESULTS: Exposure to E-Cig aerosol significantly increased the number of all types of inflammatory cells in BALF (p < 0.05). Further, E-Cig aerosol reduced levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in lung tissue homogenate (p < 0.05). Combined E-Cig aerosol and Ova S/C increased the airway recruitment of inflammatory cells, especially neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes (p < 0.05), increased the level of interleukin (IL)-13, and reduced the level of TGF-ß1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: E-Cig aerosol exposure induced airway inflammation in both control mice and allergen-driven murine model of asthma. The inflammatory response induced by E-Cig was slightly higher in allergen-driven murine model of asthma than in healthy animals.

Synthesis, Molecular Docking Screening and Anti-Proliferative Potency Evaluation of Some New Imidazo[2,1-b]Thiazole Linked Thiadiazole Conjugates.

BACKGROUND: Imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole scaffolds were reported to possess various pharmaceutical activities. RESULTS: The novel compound named methyl-2-(1-(3-methyl-6-(p-tolyl)imidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carbodithioate 3 acted as a predecessor molecule for the synthesis of new thiadiazole derivatives incorporating imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole moiety. The reaction of 3 with the appropriate hydrazonoyl halide derivatives 4a-j and 7-9 had produced the respective 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives 6a-j and 10-12. The chemical composition of all the newly synthesized derivatives were confirmed by their microanalytical and spectral data (FT-IR, mass spectrometry, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR). All the produced novel compounds were screened for their anti-proliferative efficacy on hepatic cancer cell lines (HepG2). In addition, a computational molecular docking study was carried out to determine the ability of the synthesized thiadiazole molecules to interact with active site of the target Glypican-3 protein (GPC-3). Moreover, the physiochemical properties of the synthesized compounds were derived to determine the viability of the compounds as drug candidates for hepatic cancer. CONCLUSION: All the tested compounds had exhibited good anti-proliferative efficacy against hepatic cancer cell lines. In addition, the molecular docking results showed strong binding interactions of the synthesized compounds with the target GPC-3 protein with lower energy scores. Thus, such novel compounds may act as promising candidates as drugs against hepatocellular carcinoma.