Design and pharmacophoric identification of flavonoid scaffold-based aromatase inhibitors

Aromatase is a crucial enzyme for the catalysis of aromatization reaction at the last and rate-limiting step involved in the conversion of androgenic substrates to an estrogenic substrate. A hormone-dependent breast cancer in postmenopausal woman can be cured by inhibition of estrogen biosynthesis by the help of aromatase inhibitors (AIs). The mode of interactions of flavonones with the active site of aromatase has been studied in search of potent and selective AIs as a substitute of the natural steroidal ligand. Structure-based computational approach namely, molecular docking simulations were performed to investigate the structural features of the docked complex of aromatase and flavonoid ligands. A nonsteroidal flavonoid pharmacophore showing electrostatic and steric features for selective binding within the main pocket of the catalytic active site of aromatase has been identified as an outcome of the study. The binding affinity of quercetin and isoflavone were predicted within aromatase. Isoflavone was used as a negative control to compare its binding affinities with the selected dataset. The predicted binding affinity of negative control isoflavone was in accordance with its in vitro AI efficacy. Isoflavone showed poor binding affinity and ranked last in terms of MolDock score (−86.309 kcal/molÅ) compared to dataset molecules. The generated pharmacophoric information will be helpful for the synthetic chemist to design and synthesize selective AIs with comparable binding affinity to the natural steroidal ligand.     

Synthesis,characterization, and hypoglycemic efficacy of nitro and amino acridines and 4-phenylquinoline on starch hydrolyzing compounds: an in silico and in vitro study

α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase are important therapeutic targets for type II diabetes. The present focus of our study is to elucidate the hypoglycemic activity of novel compounds through in vitro and in silico studies. Here, we synthesized the nitro acridines (3a–3c), amino acridines (4a–4c), and nitro phenylquinoline (3d) and amino phenylquinoline (4d) using a multi-step reaction protocol in good yields. All the above derivatives were screened for molecular docking, α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase inhibitory activities utilizing acarbose as standard drug. In silico studies were performed to explore the binding ability of compounds with the active site of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase enzymes. The in vitro antihyperglycemic report of 3c exhibits the maximum inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 200.61?±?9.71 μmol/mL and 197.76?±?8.22 μmol/mL against α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase, respectively. Similarly, the compound 3a exhibits IC₅₀ values of 243.78?±?13.25 μmol/mL and 296.57?±?10.66 μmol/mL, and 4c exhibits IC₅₀ values of 304.28?±?3.51 μmol/mL and 278.86?±?3.24 μmol/mL with a significant p?<?0.05 in both enzyme inhibitions. In addition, the presence of diverse functional moieties in synthesized compounds may provide a strong inhibitory action against the abovementioned enzymes compared with standard acarbose inhibition (IC₅₀, 58.74?±?3.68 μmol/mL and 49.39?±?4.94 μmol/mL). Also, the docking studies provided an excellent support for our in vitro studies. The outcome of these studies recommends that the tested compounds might be treated as potential inhibitors for the starch hydrolyzing enzymes in type II diabetes.

     

Solidification of semicrystalline polymers using a variable interface temperature model

Solidification of semicrystalline materials often occurs in significantly undercooled melts. The crystal growth process in such melts is convoluted due to the fact that the interface between the solid and liquid domains of the microscopic crystals is at an unknown temperature. However, it is possible to let the temperature of this interface be unspecified and solve the problem with a semianalytical method if the growth velocity is prescribed. Solutions for the temperature profiles in both solid and liquid phases are presented in this work, along with the interface temperature, for phase change processes controlled by the kinetics of crystallization rather than diffusion processes, which is typical for polymers. The method is used for one-dimensional problems in cartesian, cylindrical, and spherical geometries that correspond to commonly found microstructures. It is found that the temperature of the interface is significantly below the equilibrium melting point and a quasi steady-state regime is reached rapidly. Comparison with the classical Neumann's solution shows that the temperature profiles are similar but the position of the interface differs considerably. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Extreme and critical transition events in the memristor based Liénard system

The European Physical Journal Special Topics - We study extreme and critical events in the forced Liénard systems with charge control memristor. It has been found that the system exhibits...     

Glyoxylic acid in the reaction of isatoic anhydride with amines: a rapid synthesis of 3-(un)substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones leading to rutaecarpine and evodiamine

A dual reactant/catalyst role of glyoxylic acid in the reaction of isatoic anhydride with various amines afforded a novel, robust and rapid synthesis of 3-(un)substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones. This metal catalyst-free reaction proceeds via an unusual and unexpected cleavage of C–C bond. A shorter and common route to two alkaloids, that is, rutaecarpine and evodiamine is also accomplished.     

Aqueous-phase ion solvation and the selectivity of anion exchange resins for monovalent ions

This research examines and quantifies the influence of ion solvation parameters on the affinity of monovalent anions for strong-base anion resins. A data set comprising resin selectivity coefficients and solvation parameters from the literature is statistically analyzed using correlation and multiple regression techniques. The affinity of monovalent anions for the resin phase correlated well to ionic radii. Solvation parameters such as the hydration number, and entropy, enthalpy and free energy of hydration are also strongly correlated to selectivity. Using the stepwise regression procedure on subsets of independent variables, the entropy of hydration, which characterizes the structure-influencing nature of ions in solution, is incorporated as the sole parameter in the predictive model for resin selectivity. The data are best correlated by the exponential form of the regression equation, and the physical meaning of the correlation is shown to be reasonable. A simple rule for categorizing ions as structure-makers and structure-breakers is proposed, and the results are consistent with conventional classifications.     

A green route for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazole derivatives catalyzed by Al-exchanged K10 clay

A new, simple, and efficient protocol is developed for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazole derivatives through N–C–O bond formation using Al³⁺-exchanged K10 clay (Al³⁺-K10) as catalyst. A wide range of benzoxazole derivatives are synthesized in high yields without affecting many functional groups. Hot filtration experiments showed the absence of metal leaching and catalyst can be reused for five times with only a slight decrease in yield.     

Correlation of soft magnetic properties with free volume and medium range ordering in metallic glasses probed by fluctuation microscopy and positron annihilation technique

Amorphous ribbons of different thicknesses of Co_64.5Fe_3.5Si₁₆B₁₄Ni₂ alloy were synthesized using the melt spinning technique by varying wheel speed. The effect of cooling rate on the ribbon thickness and their soft magnetic properties have been studied. The amorphous structure has been characterized in terms of structural free volume and medium range order (MRO) by positron annihilation spectroscopy and fluctuation electron microscopy techniques. Positron lifetime spectra of amorphous samples showed two lifetime components. The first component was found to be correlated with MRO whereas, the second lifetime component was found to be associated with nanovoid type of defects, and the second component was strongly dependent on processing conditions. It could be established that the coercivity of the amorphous samples produced by the rapid solidification technique mainly depends on the defects formed during processing rather than change induced in MRO.     

Quantifying the electronic effect of substituted phosphine ligands via molecular electrostatic potential

Values of the molecular electrostatic potential minimum (V(min)) corresponding to the lone pair region of several substituted phosphine ligands (PR(3)) have been determined at the DFT level. The V(min) value is proposed as a quantitative measure of the electronic effect of the PR(3) ligands. Good linear correlation between V(min) and Tolman electronic parameter of PR(3) has been obtained. V(min) is also proportional to the pK(a) values of the conjugate acids of PR(3), viz., [PR(3)H](+). Further, the DeltaE values of the reaction Ni(CO)(3) + PR(3) --> Ni(CO)(3)PR(3) and ScH(3) + PR(3) --> ScH(3)PR(3) are also linearly proportional to the V(min) values. However, if there is a strong metal to phosphorus pi-back-bonding, the DeltaE and V(min) do not fit to a line. It is also found that the standard reduction potential as well as the enthalpy change corresponding to the electrochemical couple eta-Cp(CO)(PR(3))(COMe)Fe(+)/eta-Cp(CO)(PR(3))(COMe)Fe(0) is linearly proportional to the V(min) values of PR(3). These correlations suggest that V(min) is a quantitative measure of the sigma-donating ability of the phosphine. It is hoped that, in phosphine-metal coordination chemistry, the V(min) based electronic parameter could be more advantageous than nu-CO and pK(a) based electronic parameters as it solely represents the inherent electronic property of the ligand.