Phenolic constituents from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alisma plantago</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">aquatica</Emphasis> Linnaeus and their anti-chronic prostatitis activity

Background

The plant Alisma plantago-aquatica Linnaeus, which is widely distributed in southwest of China, is the main material of traditional Chinese medicine “Zexie”. It was used as folk medicine for immune-modulation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Previous chemical studies on A. plantago-aquatica reported the identification of triterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, steroids, alkaloids and phenolic acid. Terpenes and phenolic acid were regard as major secondary metabolites from this medicine plant.

Results

A new phenolic acid, plantain A (1), along with four known compounds (2–5) were isolated and identified from A. plantago-aquatica by extensive chromatographic and spectrometric methods. In the present study, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, PEG2 and TGF-β1 were increased in model group rats, whereas on treatment with the isolated compound (1 and 4) at 50 mg/kg, there was a significant decrease in the cytokine levels. Therefore, the anti-CNP effect of 1 and 4 may be related to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusions

A new phenolic acid and four known phenolic compounds were isolated from A. plantago-aquatica. Moreover, compounds 1 and 4 shows significant anti-chronic prostatitis activity in rats.

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Design,synthesis and therapeutic potential of 3-(2-(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]imidazol-2-ylthio)acetamido)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(substituted phenyl)benzamide analogues

Background

The emergence of bacterial resistance is a major public health problem. It is essential to develop and synthesize new therapeutic agents with better activity. The mode of actions of certain newly developed antimicrobial agents, however, exhibited very limited effect in treating life threatening systemic infections. Therefore, the advancement of multi-potent and efficient antimicrobial agents is crucial to overcome the increased multi-drug resistance of bacteria and fungi. Cancer, which remains as one of the primary causes of deaths and is commonly treated by chemotherapeutic agents, is also in need of novel and efficacious agents to treat resistant cases. As such, a sequence of novel substituted benzamides was designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

Methodology

All synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR, Mass and elemental analysis followed by in vitro antimicrobial studies against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial and fungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) strains by the tube dilution method. The in vitro anticancer evaluation was carried out against the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), using the Sulforhodamine B assay.

Results, discussion and conclusion

Compound W6 (MIC_{sa, st, kp}?=?5.19 µM) emerged as a significant antibacterial agent against all tested bacterial strains i.e. Gram-positive (S. aureus), Gram-negative (S. typhi, K. pneumoniae) while compound W1 (MIC_{ca, an}?=?5.08 µM) was most potent against fungal strains (A. niger and C. albicans) and comparable to fluconazole (MIC?=?8.16 µM). The anticancer screening demonstrated that compound W17 (IC₅₀?=?4.12 µM) was most potent amongst the synthesized  compounds and also more potent than the standard drug 5-FU (IC₅₀?=?7.69 µM).

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Cytotoxic Benzophenanthridine and Furoquinoline Alkaloids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zanthoxylum buesgenii</Emphasis>(Rutaceae)

Background

Zanthoxylum buesgenii is a shrub used in Sierra Leone as remedy to cure venereal diseases, arthritis, and rheumatism whereas leaves and barks are employed to treat leprosy and to relieve pain. In South West Region of Cameroon, the plant locally called "Mbem" by Lewoh-Lebang community, is orally given to patients as aphrodisiac decoction and to increase sperm count. Previous chemical studies on Zanthoxylum species reported the identification of lignans, coumarins, diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, steroids, alkaloids and benzopropanoids. Besides, structurally diverse compounds belonging to these classes of secondary metabolites have been reported as trypanocidal, antileishmanial, antimycobacterial and cytotoxic metabolites.

Results

We therefore investigated the alkaloidal constituents of Z. buesgenii. In the course of the study, two benzophenanthridines [1-methoxy-12-methyl-12,13-dihydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4',5':4,5]benzo[1,2-c]phenanthridine-2,13-diol (1) and isofagaridine (2)] were identified among them one new. Alongside, three known furoquinolines [maculine (3), kokusaginine (4) and teclearverdoornine (5)] were also obtained and their structures were established on the basis of their NMR data and by comparison with those previously reported. Furthermore, the cytotoxicities of metabolites (1-4) isolated in substantial amount were evaluated against a series of multidrugs-resistant cancer cell lines. While compounds 2-4 showed selective cytotoxicities, compound 1 displayed activities against all cancer cells.

Conclusions

The observed activities corroborate those previously reported on similar benzophenanthridine alkaloids indicating that compounds 1 and 2 can chemically be explored to develop other chemotherapeutic agents.

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Graphical abstract Cytotoxic Benzophenanthridine and Furoquinoline Alkaloids from Zanthoxylum buesgenii (Rutaceae).

     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pf</Emphasis>TrxR inhibitors using antimalarial assays and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis>techniques

Background

The compounds 1,4-napthoquinone (1,4-NQ), bis-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)sulfide (2,4-DNPS), 4-nitrobenzothiadiazole (4-NBT), 3-dimethylaminopropiophenone (3-DAP) and menadione (MD) were tested for antimalarial activity against both chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine (CQ)-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum through an in vitro assay and also for analysis of non-covalent interactions with P. falciparum thioredoxin reductase (PfTrxR) through in silico docking studies.

Results

The inhibitors of PfTrxR namely, 1,4-NQ, 4-NBT and MD displayed significant antimalarial activity with IC₅₀ values of?<?20 μM and toxicity against 3T3 cell line. 2,4-DNPS was only moderately active. In silico docking analysis of these compounds with PfTrxR revealed that 2,4-DNPS, 4-NBT and MD interact non-covalently with the intersubunit region of the enzyme.

Conclusions

In this study, tools for the identification of PfTrxR inhibitors using phenotyphic screening and docking studies have been validated for their potential use for antimalarial drug discovery project.

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Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-(2-aminooxazol-5-yl)-2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-chromen-2-one derivatives

Background

In view of wide range of biological activities of oxazole, a new series of oxazole analogues was synthesized and its chemical structures were confirmed by spectral data (Proton/Carbon-NMR, IR, MS etc.). The synthesized oxazole derivatives were screened for their antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities.

Results and discussion

The antimicrobial activity was performed against selected fungal and bacterial strains using tube dilution method. The antiproliferative potential was evaluated against human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) and oestrogen- positive human breast carcinoma (MCF7) cancer cell lines using Sulforhodamine B assay and, results were compared to standard drugs, 5-fluorouracil and tamoxifen, respectively.

Conclusion

The performed antimicrobial activity indicated that compounds 3, 5, 6, 8 and 14 showed promising activity against selected microbial species. Antiproliferative screening found compound 14 to be the most potent compound against HCT116 (IC₅₀?=?71.8 µM), whereas Compound 6 was the most potent against MCF7 (IC₅₀?=?74.1 µM). Further, the molecular docking study has been carried to find out the interaction between active oxazole compounds with CDK8 (HCT116) and ER-α (MCF7) proteins indicated that compound 14 and 6 showed good dock score with better potency within the ATP binding pocket and may be used as a lead for rational drug designing of the anticancer molecule.

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Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artocarpus elasticus</Emphasis> stem bark extract

Background

Green approach in synthesizing metal nanoparticles has gain new interest from the researchers as metal nanoparticles were widely applied in medical equipment and household products. The use of plants in the synthesis of nanoparticles emerges as a cost effective and eco-friendly approach. A green synthetic route for the production of stable silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) by using aqueous silver nitrate as metal precursor and Artocarpus elasticus stem bark extract act both as reductant and stabilizer is being reported for the first time.

Results

The resultant Ag-NPs were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, powder X-Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR). The morphological study by TEM and SEM shows resultant Ag-NPs in spherical form with an average size of 5.81 ± 3.80, 6.95 ± 5.50, 12.39 ± 9.51, and 19.74 ± 9.70 nm at 3, 6, 24, and 48 h. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with a face-centered cubic structure. The FT-IR spectrum shows prominent peaks appeared corresponds to different functional groups involved in synthesizing Ag-NPs.

Conclusions

Ag-NPs were synthesized using a simple and biosynthetic method by using methanolic extract of A. elasticus under room temperature, at different reaction time. The diameters of the biosynthesis Ag-NPs depended on the time of reaction. Thus, with the increase of reaction time in the room temperature the size of Ag-NPs increases. From the results obtained in this effort, one can affirm that A. elasticus can play an important role in the bioreduction and stabilization of silver ions to Ag-NPs.

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Graphical abstract: Figure illustrates stabilization of silver nanoparticles after formation by A. elasticus stem bark extract.

     

Synthesis,characterization, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-ylthio)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(substituted 4-oxothiazolidin-3-yl) acetamides

Background

A series of 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-ylthio)-N-(substituted 4-oxothiazolidin-3-yl) acetamides was synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectral means. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by tube dilution method. The in vitro cytotoxicity study of the compounds was carried out against human colorectal (HCT116) cell line. The most promising anticancer derivatives (5l, 5k, 5i and 5p) were further docked to study their binding efficacy to the active site of the cyclin-dependent kinase-8.

Results

All the compounds possessed significant antimicrobial activity with MIC in the range of 0.007 and 0.061 µM/ml. The cytotoxicity study revealed that almost all the derivatives were potent in inhibiting the growth of HCT116 cell line in comparison to the standard drug 5-fluorouracil. Compounds 5l and 5k (IC₅₀ = 0.00005 and 0.00012 µM/ml, respectively) were highly cytotoxic towards HCT116 cell line in comparison to 5-fluorouracil (IC₅₀ = 0.00615 µM/ml) taken as standard drug.

Conclusion

The molecular docking studies of potent anticancer compounds 5l, 5k, 5i and 5p showed their putative binding mode and significant interactions with cyclin-dependent kinase-8 as prospective agents for treating colon cancer.

     

Synthesis and anticancer activities of 1,4-phenylene-bis-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyl- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylpyrazoline derivatives

Novel 1,4-phenylene-bis-N-acetyl- (3a–h) and bis-N-phenylpyrazoline derivatives (4a–h) were obtained by addition of hydrazine hydrate and phenylhydrazine to bis-chalcone derivatives (1a–h) in acetic acid and acetic acid/ethanol for 4 and 8 h in reflux conditions, respectively. The structures of the obtained bis-N-acetylpyrazoline and bis-N-phenylpyrazoline derivatives were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. Compounds 3a–h and 4a–h were investigated to evaluate their anticancer activities against C6 (rat brain tumor cells) and HeLa (human uterus carcinoma) in vitro using a dose-dependent assay from 5 to 100 μM with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as standard anticancer drug. Compound 3a showed higher cell-selective activity compared with 5-FU against HeLa cells. Compounds 3a–h (except 3d) were shown to have better activities than 5-FU against both cells, particularly at high concentration. Compound 4c showed higher cell-selective activity compared with 5-FU against C6 cells. Compound 3a may be particularly promising as an anticancer drug against HeLa cells.     

Determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts of aerial parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Portulaca quadrifida</Emphasis>

Background

The extracts from the aerial parts of Portulaca quadrifida have been reported to show the total flavonoid content, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Results

Our results revealed that the total flavonoid content of methanol and chloroform extracts is 2.335?±?0.0097 and 1.7312?±?0.0082 mgQE/100 g respectively. The two extracts also showed good antioxidant activity and total phenolic content as well as weak to moderate antibacterial activity against some bacteria.

Conclusions

The extracts the aerial parts of the P. quadrifida showed good total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activity. In addition to this, the extracts also showed the presence of some important compounds by phytochemical analysis.

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Synthesis and structure of silicon-containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyland <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-benzoylamides of diisopropylphosphoric acid

Diisopropyl N-benzoyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)phosphoramidate reacts with ClCH₂SiMe₂Cl under mild conditions to form diisopropyl N-benzoyl-N-[(chlorodimethylsilyl)methyl]phosphoramidate (III). Diisopropyl N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)phosphoramidate with ClCH₂SiMe₂Cl affords an N-transsilylation product which does not rearrange into diisopropyl N-[(chlorodimethylsilyl)methyl]-N-methylphosphoramidate (XV) even under severe conditions (4 h, 130°C). Compound XV was prepared by the reaction of diisopropyl phosphorochloridate with N-[(methoxydimethylsilyl)methyl]-N-methylamine followed by treatment of diisopropyl N-[(methoxydimethylsilyl)methyl]-N-methylphosphoramidate with boron trichloride. Analysis of experimental and calculated ²⁹Si chemical shifts points to a five-coordinate silicon atom in compound III and a fourcoordinate silicon atom in compound XV. According to B3LYP calculations with due regard to solvent effects, compound III is an isomer with a C=O→Si bond. By variation of substituents at silicon, phosphorus, and carbonyl carbon atoms, chelate structures with either C=O→Si or P=O→Si dative bonds can be obtained.     

Heterospin biradicals based on new piperidineoxyl-substituted 3,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

A nucleophilic addition reaction of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (OH-TEMPO) to 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone was used to obtain a new sterically hindered o-benzoquinone (1) containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidineoxyl functional group, which was characterized by IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction. A one-electron reduction of 1 with potassium and thallium is an efficient method for the generation of earlier unknown heterospin biradicals 5a and 5b, respectively, containing nitroxide and o-semiquinone radical centers. Analysis of the hyperfine structure of the ESR spectra of biradicals 5a and 5b in solution showed that they belong to the group of heterospin biradicals with strong (J >> a) and fast exchange interaction between the radical centers.     

Structure of methyl-7-methoxy-7-phenyl-6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">endo</Emphasis>-halobicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">exo</Emphasis>-carboxylate diastereomers in single crystals

The structure of diastereomeric methyl-7-anti-methoxy-7-syn-phenyl-and methyl-7-syn-methoxy-7-anti-phenyl-6-endo-bromobicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-6-exo-carboxylates 2a and 3a and their chlorine-and iodine-substituted analogs 2b and 3c was studied by XRD. The diastereomers differ in the geometrical parameters of the carbon framework of the molecules. The C(1)-C(2)-C(3)-C(4)-C(5)-C(6) six-membered ring is in the intermediate conformation between envelope and chair in structures 2 and envelope in structures 3. In compound 2a, the cyclobutane fragment has a higher degree of folding than in 3a; one of the possible reasons for that is the donor-acceptor interaction between the 6-methoxycarboxylic and 7-methoxy groups in molecule 2a.     

Bioactive compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Smilax excelsa</Emphasis> L.

Phytochemical investigation of EtOAc extract of Smilax excelsa has led to isolation and structure elucidation of five compounds. The structures of these compounds are established by different spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D-NMR, HRMS and ECD spectroscopy. The compounds were: solanesol (1), violasterol A (2), trans-resveratrol (3), 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid (4) and 6-O-caffeoyl-β-d-fructofuranosyl-(2-1)-α-d-glucopyranoside (5). The configuration of compound 2 was established by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. Meanwhile the cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of the compounds were evaluated by MTT and MIC assays. Compounds 1 and 2 showed promising inhibition on MCF-7 cell line with IC₅₀ of 161.6 and 190.0 µM, respectively. Also compounds 2 and 3 illustrated activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 142.5 and 136.9 µM, respectively.     

Features of self-organization of highly dilute solutions of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-, (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-, and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">SR</Emphasis>)-methionines and related carbamides and glycolurils

Aqueous solutions of (S)-, (R)-, and (SR)-methionines (1–3); carbamide (4); (S)-, (R)-, and (SR)-N-carbamoylmethionines (5–7); glycoluril (8); and glycolurils containing (S)and (R)-methionine moieties (9 and 10) kept under natural and hypoelectromagnetic conditions were studied in comparison by a complex of physicochemical methods (dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, conductometry, pH-metry, and dielcometry). The process of selforganization and the properties of dilute solutions (1.0?10^–15–10^–1 mol L^–1) of compounds 1–10 was shown for the first time to depend substantially on the structure of the solute and configuration of methionine (Met) enantiomers. In the series 1–3, the greatest ability to self-organization is observed for solutions of (SR)-Met in which supramolecular domains (1.0?10^–5–1.0?10^–1 mol L^–1) and nanoassociates (1.0?10^–11–1.0?10^–8 mol L^–1) are formed. The formation of nanoassociates in a concentration range of 1.0?10^–12–1.0?10^–6 mol L^–1 can be responsible for the appearance of nonmonotonic concentration dependences of the physicochemical properties of solutions of N-carbamoylmethionines 5–7, whereas the physicochemical properties are more pronounced in solution of (S)-N-carbamoylmethionine 5 than in solutions of 6 and 7. The strongest influence of the configuration of the Met enantiomer on the ability of solution to self-organization was revealed in a series of glycolurils 9, 10: solutions of 9 with the (S)-Met moiety are disperse systems in which nanoassociates are formed in a range of 1.0?10^–15–1.0?10^–5 mol L^–1, whereas in solutions of 10 with the (R)-Met fragment the ability to self-organization in the low-concentration range is absent.     

Purification and characterization of cysteine protease from miswak <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvadora persica</Emphasis>

Background

Generally, proteases in medicinal plants had different therapeutic effects such as anti-inflammatory effect; modulate the immune response and inhibitory effect toward tumor growth. In this study, protease was purified and characterized from miswak roots, as medicinal plant and natural toothbrush.

Results

Physical and chemical characterization of cysteine protease P1 were studied such as pH optimum (6.5), optimum temperature (50?°C), thermal stability (50?°C) and Km (3.3?mg azocasein/ml). The enzyme digested some proteins in the order of caseine > haemoglobin > egg albumin >gelatin > bovine serum albumin. Hg²⁺ had strong inhibitory effect on enzyme activity compared with other metal ions. Kinetic of inhibition for determination the type of protease was studied. Iodoactamide and p-Hydroximercuribenzaoic acid (p-HMB) caused strong inhibitory effect on enzyme activity indicating the enzyme is cysteine protease.

Conclusions

The biochemical characterization of this enzyme will be display the suitable conditions for using of this enzyme in toothpaste in the future and the enzyme may be used in other applications.

     

The role of substituents in a bidentate <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chelating ligand on the substitution of aqua ligands from mononuclear Pt(II) complexes

The rate of substitution of aqua ligands from three mononuclear platinum(II) complexes, namely [Pt{2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine}(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Pt(H ₂ Py)]; [Pt{2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine}(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Pt(dCH ₃ Py)] and [Pt{2-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazoly-1-ylmethyl]pyridine}(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Pt(dCF ₃ Py)] by thiourea, N,N-dimethylthiourea and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylthiourea, was studied in aqueous perchloric acid medium of constant ionic strength. The substitution reactions were investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature using UV/Visible and stopped-flow spectrophotometries. The observed pseudo-first-order rate constants, \( k_{{{\text{obs }}\left( {1/2} \right)}} \), for the stepwise substitution of the first and second aqua ligands obeyed the rate law: \( k_{{{\text{obs}}\left( {1/2} \right)}} = k_{{2 \left( { 1 {\text{st/2nd}}} \right)}} \left[ {\text{Nu}} \right] \). The first substitution reaction takes place trans to the pyrazole ligand, while the second entering nucleophile is stabilised at the reaction site trans to the pyridine ligand. The rate of substitution of the first aqua ligand from the complexes followed the order: Pt(dCF ₃ Py) > Pt(H ₂ Py) > Pt(dCH ₃ Py), while that of the second was Pt(H ₂ Py) ≈ Pt(dCF ₃ Py) > Pt(dCH ₃ Py). Lower pK _a values were found for the deprotonation of the aqua ligand cis to the pyrazole ring. Density functional theory calculations were performed to support the interpretation of the experimental results.     

Synthesis,anti-angiogenic and DNA cleavage studies of novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(4-methyl-3-((4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)phenyl)piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives

A series of novel N-(4-methyl-3-((4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)phenyl)piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives 10(a–f), 12(a–c) and 14(a–c) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, mass spectral and elemental analysis. The efficacy of these derivatives to inhibit in vivo angiogenesis was evaluated using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and their DNA cleavage abilities were evaluated after incubating with calf thymus DNA followed by gel electrophoresis. These novel piperidine analogues efficiently blocked the formation of blood vessels in vivo in CAM model and exhibited differential migration and band intensities in DNA binding/cleavage assays. Among the tested compounds 10a, 10b, 10c, 12b, 14b and 14c showed significant anti-angiogenic and DNA cleavage activities compared to their respective controls and the other derivatives used in this study. These observations suggest that the presence of electron donating and withdrawing groups at positions 2, 3 and 4 of the phenyl ring of the side chain may determine their potency and as anticancer agents by exerting both anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic effects

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.

     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of 6-(4-nitrophenoxy)-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives as novel antitubercular agents: future DprE1 inhibitors

Tuberculosis is an air-borne disease, mostly affecting young adults in their productive years. Here, Ligand-based drug design approach yielded a series of 23 novel 6-(4-nitrophenoxy)-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives. The required building block of imidazopyridine was synthesized from commercially available 5,5-diaminopyridine-3-ol followed by four step sequence. Derivatives were prepared using various substituted aromatic aldehydes. All the synthesized analogues were characterized using NMR, Mass analysis and also screened for in vitro antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H₃₇Rv). Four compounds, 5c (MIC-0.6 μmol/L); 5g (MIC-0.5 μmol/L); 5i (MIC-0.8 μmol/L); and 5u (MIC-0.7 μmol/L) were identified as potent analogues. Drug receptor interactions were studied with the help of ligand docking using maestro molecular modeling interphase, Schrodinger. Here, computational studies showed promising interaction with other residues with good score, which is novel finding than previously reported. So, these compounds may exhibit in vivo DprE1 inhibitory activity.

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<Emphasis Type="Italic">CrMAPK3</Emphasis> regulates the expression of iron-deficiency-responsive genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</Emphasis>

Background

Under iron-deficient conditions, Chlamydomonas exhibits high affinity for iron absorption. Nevertheless, the response, transmission, and regulation of downstream gene expression in algae cells have not to be investigated. Considering that the MAPK pathway is essential for abiotic stress responses, we determined whether this pathway is involved in iron deficiency signal transduction in Chlamydomonas.

Results

Arabidopsis MAPK gene sequences were used as entry data to search for homologous genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genome database to investigate the functions of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene family in C. reinhardtii under iron-free conditions. Results revealed 16 C. reinhardtii MAPK genes labeled CrMAPK2–CrMAPK17 with TXY conserved domains and low homology to MAPK in yeast, Arabidopsis, and humans. The expression levels of these genes were then analyzed through qRT-PCR and exposure to high salt (150 mM NaCl), low nitrogen, or iron-free conditions. The expression levels of these genes were also subjected to adverse stress conditions. The mRNA levels of CrMAPK2, CrMAPK3, CrMAPK4, CrMAPK5, CrMAPK6, CrMAPK8, CrMAPK9, and CrMAPK11 were remarkably upregulated under iron-deficient stress. The increase in CrMAPK3 expression was 43-fold greater than that in the control. An RNA interference vector was constructed and transformed into C. reinhardtii 2A38, an algal strain with an exogenous FOX1:ARS chimeric gene, to silence CrMAPK3. After this gene was silenced, the mRNA levels and ARS activities of FOX1:ARS chimeric gene and endogenous CrFOX1 were decreased. The mRNA levels of iron-responsive genes, such as CrNRAMP2, CrATX1, CrFTR1, and CrFEA1, were also remarkably reduced.

Conclusion

CrMAPK3 regulates the expression of iron-deficiency-responsive genes in C. reinhardtii.

     

Synthesis of novel 2-phenoxybenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]quinazoline and its derivatives starting with diphenyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-cyanoimidocarbonate

Cyclocondensation reaction of 3-hydrazinyl-2-naphthoic acid with diphenyl-N-cyanoimidocarbonate furnished the target 2-phenoxy-benzo[g][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-one (1) in high yield. Alkylation, thionation and chlorination of the lactam group in the compound 1 produced a variety of derivatives 2–17. Their structures were characterized by NMR and HREI-MS analyses.