Muthyala Murali Krishna Kumar

Rubrolide R: a new furanone metabolite from the ascidian Synoicum of the Indian Ocean

A new furanone metabolite of the rubrolide family, rubrolide R as diacetate (1), was isolated from a new species of the ascidian Synoicum, besides the known compounds rubrolide A (as diacetate), cadiolide B and prunolide A. The structure of the new rubrolide was elucidated by a study of spectral data. The crude extract and isolated compounds (prunolide A and cadiolide B) showed antiviral activity against the Japanese encephalitis virus. Prunolide A showed cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cell lines at a concentration of < 1 μM.

Denigrins A–C: new antitubercular 3,4-diarylpyrrole alkaloids from Dendrilla nigra

Chemical diversity is vital to antitubercular drug discovery as it ensures a novel bioactivity profile. Marine sponges have so far provided more than 1000 new bioactive molecules. Ethyl acetate extract of the marine sponge Dendrilla nigra on bioactivity-guided screening yielded three new compounds denigrins A–C, with potent antitubercular activity. Spectral and chemical analyses confirmed that these three compounds belong to the 3,4-diaryl pyrrole alkaloid category. The presence of monohydroxy substitution on benzene rings is not very common in lamellarin and related 3,4-diaryl pyrrole alkaloids isolated from marine invertebrates. Among these, denigrin C showed highest potency (minimum inhibitory concentration 4 μg/mL) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

Design, synthesis, and preliminary in vitro and in vivo pharmacological evaluation of 4-{4-[2-(4-(2-substitutedquinoxalin-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl]phenyl}thiazoles as atypical antipsychotic agents

A series of 4-{4-[2-(4-(2-substitutedquinoxalin-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl] phenyl} thiazoles were synthesized in an effort to prepare novel atypical antipsychotic agents. The compounds were designed, synthesized, and characterized by spectral data (IR, 1H NMR, and MS) and the purity was ascertained by microanalysis. The D2 and 5-HT2A affinity of the synthesized compounds was screened in vitro by radioligand displacement assays on membrane homogenates isolated from rat striatum and rat cortex, respectively. Furthermore, all the synthesized final compounds (10a–g; 11a–g; 12a–g) were screened for their in vivo pharmacological activity in Swiss albino mice. D2 antagonism studies were performed using climbing mouse assay model and 5-HT2A antagonism studies were performed using quipazine-induced head twitches in mice. It was observed that none of the new chemical entities exhibited catalepsy and 12d, 11f, and 10a were found to be the most active compounds with 5-HT2A/D2 ratio of 1.23077, 1.14286, and 1.12857, respectively, while the standard drug risperidone exhibited 5-HT2A/D2 ratio of 1.0989. Among the twenty one new chemical entities, three compounds (12d, 11f, and 10a) were found to exhibit better atypical antipsychotic activity as they were found to have higher Meltzer index than the standard drug risperidone.

Synthesis, screening and docking analysis of hispolon analogs as potential antitubercular agents

A series of 20 hispolons/dihydrohispolons were synthesized and characterized by spectral data. These compounds were subjected to in vitro antitubercular activity screening against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv) strain. The synthesized compounds showed varied antitubercular activity ranging from 100 to 1.6μg/mL. Among the screened compounds, four compounds (H1, H2, H3 and H15) have shown moderate activity with MIC 25μg/mL. Potent activities were observed for the dihydrohispolon derivative H14 (MIC 1.6μg/mL) followed by H13 (6.25μg/mL) and H17 (12.5μg/mL), H19 (3.125μg/ML). Docking simulations gave good insights on the possible interactions between the tested compounds and β-keto acyl synthase enzyme (mtbFabH). Drug-inhibitor combination studies showed no synergism with the drugs targeting mycolic acid biosynthesis (isoniazid, ethambutol and thiolactomycin, a specific inhibitor of KAS-B enzyme) but showed significant synergism with other drugs including rifampicin and ciprofloxacin ascertaining the drug target for hispolons as inhibition of mycolic acid biosynthesis, probably via mtbFabH.

Synthesis, screening and docking analysis of novel benzimidazolium compounds as potent anti microbial agents targeting FtsZ protein

The dominance of multi drug resistance in the clinically significant bacteria led to urgency in the development of new antibiotics with novel mechanism of action. Among the biochemical targets explored for selective toxicity, molecular mechanisms involving cell division remained focal point for novel antimicrobial drug discovery. For this purpose we have performed in-silico studies of FtsZ protein and obtained benzimidazolium compounds as potential hits. These molecules obtained in the dock results were synthesized via reacting benzimidazoles with appropriate benzyl halides. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by their 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and mass spectral data. These were evaluated for anti-microbial activity. Among the tested compounds B14, B15 and B20 have shown highest activity (MIC 5 μg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus, Macrococcus caseolyticus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. . Microscopic examination of drug-treated cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed rod-shaped filamentous growth of the dividing cells, which is a characteristic feature of FtsZ inhibition.

Synthesis of new analogs of AKBA and evaluation of their anti-inflammatory activities

A new series of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid and 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid analogs (5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 18a-d, 27a-c, 28a-d) were synthesized by modification of hydroxyl and acid functional moieties of boswellic acids. The structures of these analogs were confirmed by spectral data analysis (1H, 13C NMR and mass). Compounds 18b, 27a and 8 showed potent 5-lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory activity (IC50: 19.53, 20.31 and 44.14μg/mL). The computational studies revealed that selectivity of AKBA is due to its fitment into the 5-LOX receptor, which is missing for the other enzymes like 12-LOX, COX-1 and COX-2. Our study found potentiating effects of 2-formyl and 3-keto substituents in reviving inactive AKBA analogues possessing essential COOH group at 4th position.

3D QSAR Analysis of 2-(Substituted Aryl)-Thiazolidine-4-Carboxamides as Potent Antitubercular Agents

Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives were recognized recently for their potent antitubercular activity. A total of sixty four thiazolidine derivatives published in the recent times were collected and 3D QSAR models were developed, using CoMFA and COMSIA with high predictability. Later, we selected three new molecules, recently synthesized in our lab and evaluated them using the developed QSAR models. The in vitro antitubercular activity (MIC) obtained for these new molecules is in agreement with the predicted values (pMIC).