ABSTRACT
As a continuous research for discovery of new COX-2 inhibitors, chemical synthesis, in vitro biological activity and molecular docking study of a new group of 1, 4-dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives were presented. Novel synthesized compounds possessing a COX-2 SO2Me pharmacophore at the para position of C-4 phenyl ring, different hydrophobic groups (R1) at C-2 position and alkoxycarbonyl groups (COOR2) at C-3 position of 1, 4-dihydropyridine, displayed selective inhibitory activity against COX-2 isozyme. Among them, compound 5e was identified as the most potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor with IC50 value of 0.30 µM and COX-2 selectivity index of 92. Molecular docking study was performed to determine probable binding models of compound 5e. The study showed that the p-SO2Me-phenyl fragment of 5e inserted inside secondary COX-2 binding site (Arg(513), Phe(518), Gly(519), and His(90)). The structure-activity relationships acquired reveal that compound 5e with methyl and ethoxycarbonyl as R1 and COOR2 substitutions has the necessary geometry to provide selective inhibition of the COX-2 isozyme and it can be a good basis for the development of new hits.
ABSTRACT
A group of regioisomeric 5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8 hexahydroquinoline derivatives possessing a COX-2 SO2Me pharmacophore at the para position of the C-2 or C-4 phenyl ring, in conjunction with a C-4 or C-2 phenyl (4-H) or substituted-phenyl ring (4-F,4-Cl,4-Br,4-OMe,4-Me, 4-NO2), were designed for evaluation as selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. These target 5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8 hexahydroquinolines were synthesized via a Hansch condensation reaction. In vitro COX-1/COX-2 isozyme inhibition structure-activity studies identified 7,8-dihydro- 7,7-dimethyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)quinolin-5(1H,4H,6H)- one (9c) as a potent COX-2 inhibitor (IC50 = 0.17 M) with a high COX-2 selectivity index (S.I. = 97.6) comparable to the reference drug celecoxib (COX-2 IC50 = 0.05 mM; COX-2 S.I= 405). A molecular modeling study where 9c was docked in active site of COX-2 showed that the p-SO2Me substituent on the C-2 phenyl ring is inserted into the secondary COX-2 binding site. The structure activity data acquired indicate that the position of the COX-2 SO2Me pharmacophore and type of substituent are important for COX-2 inhibitory activity.
ABSTRACT
Our goal was to design, synthesize, and evaluate new cholinesterase inhibitors. Fourteen dehydroamino acids esterified to choline and to its ternary analog were synthesized by a new method that gave a yield of 84-93%. The potency of the amino acid ester derivatives was tested by measuring K(i) values for inhibition of human red cell acetylcholinesterase and human plasma butyrylcholinesterase. The most potent compound was a choline ester of dehydrophenylalanine where the amine group of the amino acid was derivatized with a benzoyl group containing a methoxy in the 2-position, CH(3)O(C(6)H(4))CONHC(CHC(6)H(5))COOCH(2)CH(2)N(+)(CH(3))(3). This compound was a strong inhibitor of both human acetylcholinesterase and human butyrylcholinesterase, with K(i) values of 10 microM and 0.08 microM, respectively. These K(i) values are comparable to that of Rivastigmine. Docking of the most potent compound into the active site of human butyrylcholinesterase showed that the lowest energy model had two benzene rings oriented towards Trp 82 and Tyr 332 whereas the positively charged nitrogen group was stabilized by Trp 231. This orientation placed the ester group 3.89 A from the active site Ser 198, a distance too far for covalent bonding, explaining why the esters are inhibitors rather than substrates. This class of anticholinesterase agents has the potential for therapeutic utility in the treatment of disorders of the cholinergic system.
