Kumada cross coupling reaction based synthesis,antimicrobial and computational studies of 6-aryl-2-phenyl-3-methylquinazolin-4(3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones

Nickel catalyzed Kumada cross coupling reaction, a novel synthetic method for the synthesis of 6-aryl-2-phenyl-3-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-ones (6a–6i), was carried out by condensing 6-iodo-2-phenyl-3-methyl-quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4) with various 6-aryl/heteroaryl Grignard reagents. Molecular properties of compounds 4 and 6a–6i were studied using semiempirical PM3 computational method. The optimized geometry of the product 6 indicated that the aryl group at the position 6 was not coplanar with respect to either quinazolinone ring or phenyl group at 2 position. Compounds 6a–6i were screened for their activity against bacteria and fungi.     

Biotransformation of Valdecoxib by Plant Cell Cultures

Valdecoxib is a new anti-inflammatory drug that is highly selective for inhibition of the inducible form of cyclooxygenase (COX-2). In the present study, biotransformation of valdecoxib was investigated in cell cultures of five medicinal plants, viz., Catharanthus roseus, Azadirachta indica, Capsicum annuum, Ervatamia heyneana, and Nicotiana tabacum. Identification of the biotransformed products was carried out by using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis. All the cultures transformed valdecoxib into more polar compounds, and C. roseus also produced one unknown compound that is less polar than the substrate. The reactions performed by these plant cell cultures include hydroxylation, methylation, and demethylation. Optimization studies were performed to investigate the effect of the day of extraction and substrate concentration on biotransformation.     

Biotransformation of Celecoxib Using Microbial Cultures

Microbial transformation studies can be used as models to simulate mammalian drug metabolism. In the present investigation, biotransformation of celecoxib was studied in microbial cultures. Bacterial, fungal, and yeast cultures were employed in the present study to elucidate the metabolism of celecoxib. The results indicate that a number of microorganisms metabolized celecoxib to various levels to yield eight metabolites, which were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses. HPLC analysis of biotransformed products indicated that majority of the metabolites are more polar than the substrate celecoxib. The major metabolite was found to be hydroxymethyl metabolite of celecoxib, while the remaining metabolites were produced by carboxylation, methylation, acetylation, or combination of these reactions. The methyl hydroxylation and further conversion to carboxylic acid was known to occur in metabolism by mammals. The results further support the use of microorganisms for simulating mammalian metabolism of drugs.     

Synthesis and Ameliorative Effect of Isatin–Mesalamine Conjugates on Acetic Acid‐induced Colitis in Rats

A series of new isatin–mesalamine conjugates ( 9a – g ) were synthesized via conjugation of isatin ( 3a ) and its derivatives ( 3b – 3d , 4 , 5 , and 6 ) with mesalamine ( 7 ) by using chloroacetyl chloride as a bifunctional linker. Compounds 3a – 3d were prepared by employing Sandmeyer reaction. Compounds 4 , 5 , and 6 were obtained from isatin ( 3a ) via previously reported methods. The synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, mass, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectral techniques. Synthesized compounds ( 3a – d , 4 , 5 , 6 , and 9a – g ) were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH assay method using ascorbic acid as standard. Hybrids 9b (IC₅₀ = 368.6 ± 3.5 μM) and 9f (IC₅₀ = 335.1 ± 2.9 μM) showed better antioxidant activity than its parent compounds such as 3a (IC₅₀ = 556.8 ± 2.9 μM), 5 (IC₅₀ = 511.9 ± 3.6 μM), and 7 (IC₅₀ = 768.9 ± 2.7 μM). Acetic acid‐induced ulcerative colitis in rat model was chosen to examine the antioxidant potential of the synthesized hybrids ( 9b and 9f ) in the amelioration of ulcerative colitis. Colonic myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde enzymes were used as biomarkers of anti‐ulcerative colitis activity. In the present study, hybrids 9b and 9f reduced the levels of colonic myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde enzymes significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with control (colitic), at a dose (0.03 mM/12.5 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) (50%) less than that of its parent moieties mesalamine (0.16 mM/25 mg/kg) and isatin (0.16 mM/25 mg/kg). Thus, the molecular hybridization was proved to be significant in enhancing the activity of hybrids 9b and 9f by reducing the dose.     

Predicting Drug Interaction of Clopidogrel on Microbial Metabolism of Diclofenac

Seven fungal cultures were studied for the metabolism of diclofenac in order to elucidate the nature of enzymes involved in biotransformation, as diclofenac is a specific substrate to cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 isozyme in mammals. The metabolites were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy analysis. The study included clopidogrel, a selective inhibitor of CYP2C9 isozyme, to inhibit the metabolism of diclofenac. Two-stage fermentation protocol was used to study the diclofenac metabolism and its inhibition by clopidogrel. Among the cultures studied, four have shown positive indication for drug interaction, since clopidogrel inhibited the metabolism of diclofenac in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that microbial cultures possess enzyme systems similar to mammals and they can be used to predict drug interactions in mammalian systems.