Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary

Synthesis and Biological Screening of 2-Substituted 5,6-Dihydro-5-oxo- 4H-1,3,4-oxadiazine-4-propanenitriles and of Their Intermediates

To evaluate the effect of substituents on biological activities of electron-rich N-containing heterocycles, the variably 2-substituted 5,6-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,3,4-oxadiazine-4-propanenitriles 26–33 were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, and enzyme-inhibition activities. The target compounds were obtained from alkyl 4- or 3-hydroxy benzoates 1 and 2, respectively, and from methyl indoleacetate 3. The phenolic OH group of benzoates 1 and 2 were substituted with p-toluenesulfonyl (4 and 5), benzoyl (6 and 7), and benzyl groups (8 and 9) and then converted to 5,6-dihydro-5-oxo-4H-1,3,4-oxadiazine-4-propanenitriles. To establish structure-activity relationships (SAR), a pharmacological screening of the intervening intermediates was also conducted, which revealed that the intermediate hydrazide 11 possesses significant antimicrobial and MAO-A inhibiting properties and intermediates 12, 24, 28, and 29 appreciable antifungal activities. Compound 7 inhibits α-chymotrypsin.

Syntheses, urease inhibition, and antimicrobial studies of some chiral 3-substituted-4-amino-5-thioxo-1H,4H-1,2,4-triazoles.

Chiral 3-substituted-4-amino-5-thioxo-1H,4H-1,2,4-triazoles (5a-i) were synthesized. The target molecules were prepared by cyclization of the corresponding dithiocarbazinic acids, obtained from hydrazides, in the presence of hydrazine hydrate. The chiral hydrazides were in turn synthesized form L-amino acids. The structures of all the compounds were confirmed by modern spectroscopic techniques and purity ascertained by elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds 5a-i were evaluated for urease inhibition and found to exhibit varying degrees of urease inhibition activity showing IC(50) values ranging from 22.0 +/- 0.5 to 43.8 +/- 0.3 microM. Compound 5b was found to be the most active, exhibiting IC(50) = 22.0 +/- 0.5 microM comparable to the standard, thiourea (IC(50) = 21.0 +/- 0.1 microM). Triazoles 5a-i were also screened for their antimicrobial properties and promising antibacterial activities were observed against five pathogenic bacteria. However, all the compounds were devoid of any antifungal activity.

Synthesis of Benzophenonehydrazone Schiff Bases and their In Vitro Antiglycating Activities

Benzophenonehydrazone Schiff bases 1-25 were synthesized and their in vitro antiglycation potential has been studied. Out of twenty-five compounds, thirteen showed varying degrees of antiglycation activity with IC50 values ranging between 25.7 - 305 μM, if compared with the standard rutin (IC50 = 70.5 ± 0.50 μM). Compounds 21 (2,3- dihydroxybenzaldehyde N-(diphenylmethylene)hydrazine) IC50 = 25.7 ± 0.003 μM, 14 (diphenylmethanone N-[1-(2,4- dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)ethylidene]hydrazine) IC50 = 36.6 ± 0.004 μM, 6 (3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde N- (diphenylmethylene)hydrazine) IC50 = 49.5 ± 0.001 μM, 13 (diphenylmethanone N-[1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylidene] hydrazine) IC50 = 52.6 ± 0.023 μM, and 15 (diphenylmethanone N-[1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylidene]hydrazine) IC50 = 57 ± 0.002 μM, showed showed much better antiglycation potential superior to the standard rutin. The compounds 7 (2,5- dihydroxybenzaldehyde N-(diphenylmethylene)hydrazine) IC50 = 66 ± 0.002 μM, and 25 (diphenylmethanone N-[1-(2,5- dihydroxyphenyl)propylidene] hydrazine) IC50 = 67.9 ± 0.001 μM showed compareably good antiglycation activity to standard rutin. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and gave satisfactory elemental analysis.

Bioactive 5α-Pregnane-Type Steroidal Alkaloids from Sarcococca hookeriana

The bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of Sarcococca hookeriana with respect to cholinesterase inhibitory properties has yielded two new 5alpha-pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids, hookerianamides J (1) and K (2), along with eight known compounds (3-10). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. These compounds displayed good to moderate activities in vitro against the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (IC 50 8.1-48.5 microM) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC 50 0.4-4.0 microM). Compounds 1-10 were also tested in vitro for their leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania major and for their antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas pallida.

Oxindole Derivatives: Synthesis and Antiglycation Activity

Oxindole derivatives 3-25 have been synthesized from commercially available oxindole by refluxing with different aromatic aldehydes in good yields. Their in vitro antiglycation potential has been evaluated. They showed a varying degree of antiglycation activity with IC50 values ranging between 150.4 - 856.7 µM. 3-[(3-Chlorophenyl)methylidene]- 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one (IC50 = 150.4 ± 2.5 µM) is the most active compound among the series, better than the standard rutin with an IC50 value 294.5 ± 1.50 µM. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by 1H-NMR and mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. A limited structure-activity relationship has been developed.

Synthesis of Thieno[2,3-b]thiophene Containing Bis-Heterocycles-Novel Pharmacophores

Thioenethiophene derivatives represent an important class of compounds with diverse biological activities. We describe here the synthesis of a new series of thieno[2,3-b]thiophene containing bis-heterocyclic compounds 3–7. All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant potential, α-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase inhibiton and anticancer activity against PC-3 cell lines. Compounds 2b (IC50 = 1.3 ± 0.2 μM), 5a (IC50 = 2.3 ± 0.4 μM) and 5b (IC50 = 8.7 ± 0.1 μM) showed a potent inhibition of β-glucuronidase enzyme, more active than the standard d-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone (IC50 = 45.8 ± 2.5 μM). Compounds 5a (IC50 = 22.0 ± 0.3 μM) and 5b (IC50 = 58.4 ± 1.2 μM) were also found to be potent α-glucosidase inhibitors as compared to standard drug (acarbose, IC50 = 841 ± 1.7 μM).

Enzyme inhibition and radical scavenging activities of aerial parts of Paeonia emodi Wall (Paeoniaceae).

The ethanolic extract derived from aerial parts of an indigenous medicinal plant Paeonia emodi was screened for enzyme inhibition activities against Urease (jack bean and Bacillus pasteurii) and α-Chymotrypsin. The extract was also investigated for its radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay. The crude extract was found to possess significant enzyme inhibition activities against jack bean (74%) and Bacillus pasteurii (80%) urease and a moderate activity (54%) against α-Chymotrypsin. The extract also displayed excellent (83%) radical scavenging activity. On the basis of these results, the crude extract was subsequently fractionated into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions and tested independently for the aforesaid activities. Significant inhibitory activity against urease enzyme was observed for the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions while the n-hexane and chloroform fractions were devoid of any such activity. In the α-Chymotrypsin enzyme inhibition studies the activity was concentrated into the ethyl acetate fraction. All the fractions displayed potent radical scavenging activity. The crude extract and fractions thereof were also subjected to total phenolic content determination. A correlation between radical scavenging capacities of extracts and total phenolic content was observed in the majority of cases.

Inhibitory effect of macabarterin, a polyoxygenated ellagitannin from Macaranga barteri, on human neutrophil respiratory burst activity.

An ellagitannin with a 2,4-acyl group, named macabarterin (1), and a new ellagic acid glycoside, 3-O-methylellagic acid 4-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (2), were isolated from the stem bark extract of Macaranga barteri along with five known phenolic compounds, ellagic acid (3), 3-O-methylellagic acid (4), gallic acid (5), methyl gallate (6), and scopoletin (7). The structures of 1 and 2, as well as those of the known compounds, were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and by comparison with reported data. Compounds 1-5 and 7 were tested for their anti-inflammatory potential in a cell-based respiratory burst assay, compound 1 being found an inhibitor of the superoxides produced in the cellular system.

Plasma Metabolite Profiling and Chemometric Analyses of Lung Cancer along with Three Controls through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Lung cancer has been the most common death causing cancer in the world for several decades. This study is focused on the metabolite profiling of plasma from lung cancer (LC) patients with three control groups including healthy non-smoker (NS), smokers (S) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (COPD) samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in order to identify the comparative and distinguishing metabolite pattern for lung cancer. Metabolites obtained were identified through National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mass spectral (Wiley registry) and Fiehn Retention Time Lock (RTL) libraries. Mass Profiler Professional (MPP) Software was used for the alignment and for all the statistical analysis. 32 out of 1,877 aligned metabolites were significantly distinguished among three controls and lung cancer using p-value ≤ 0.001. Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA) model was generated using statistically significant metabolites which on external validation provide high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (78.6%). Elevated level of fatty acids, glucose and acids were observed in lung cancer in comparison with control groups apparently due to enhanced glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and acidosis, indicating the metabolic signature for lung cancer.

Diterpenoids Including a Novel Dimeric Conjugate from Salvia leriaefolia

Salvialeriafone (1), a novel diterpene-norditerpene conjugate, was isolated from Salvia leriaefolia. Additionally, two new abietane-type diterpenoids, salvialerial (2) and salvialerione (3), as well as four known compounds, sugiol (4), salvicanaric acid (5), dehydroroyleanone (6), and cariocal (7), were isolated and identified. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analyses. Known compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 7 exhibited IN VITRO antiproliferative activity against the human cervical cancer cell line (Hela), while 6 showed cytotoxicity against the human prostate cancer cell line (PC3).