Salvatore Plescia

Synthesis and pharmacological study of ethyl 1-methyl-5-(substituted 3,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinazolin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-acetates.

Several new ethyl 1-methyl-5-(substituted 3,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinazolin-3-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-acetates 2, substituted at 2 and, alternatively at, 6, 7 or 8 positions of the quinazolinone nucleus, were synthesised. The compounds were screened for their analgesic and antiinflammatory activities, acute toxicity and ulcerogenic effect. Substitution in the benzene moiety of the quinazolinone ring did not show any advantage for the analgesic activity, whereas it improved in some cases the antiinflammatory activity. Some compounds showed appreciable antiinflammatory activity and, at the same time, very low ulcerogenic index.

Synthesis, anti-inflammatory activity, and in vitro antitumor effect of a novel class of cyclooxygenase inhibitors: 4-(aryloyl)phenyl methyl sulfones.

Following our previous research on anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), we report on the design and synthesis of 4-(aryloyl)phenyl methyl sulfones. These substances were characterized for their capacity to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) isoenzymes. Molecular modeling studies showed that the methylsulfone group of these compounds was inserted deep in the pocket of the human COX-2 binding site, in an orientation that precludes hydrogen bonding with Arg120, Ser353, and Tyr355 through their oxygen atoms. The N-arylindole 33 was the most potent inhibitor of COX-2 and also the most selective (COX-1/COX-2 IC(50) ratio was 262). The indole derivative 33 was further tested in vivo for its anti-inflammatory activity in rats. This compound showed greater inhibitory activity than ibuprofen. Other compounds (20, 26, 9, and 30) showed strong activity against carrageenan-induced inflammation. The latter compounds showed a weak capacity to inhibit the proliferation of human cell lines K562, NCI-H460, and HT-29 in vitro.

Antimicrobial and antineoplastic activities of new 4-diazopyrazole derivatives

Abstract Several new 4-diazopyrazole derivatives were prepared by the reaction of 3-methyl-5(substituted-benzamido)pyrazoles with an excess of nitrous acid in acetic acid solution. The compounds were tested for antiretroviral activity in HIV-1 infected MT-4 cells and antiproliferative effects against a panel of human leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor cell lines. They were also tested for activity against representative gram-negative ( Shigella, Salmonella ) and gram-positive ( S. aureus, D group Streptococcus ) bacteria as well as fungi ( C. albicans, C. paratropicalis, C. neoformans and A. fumigatus ). Compounds were devoid of anti HIV-1 and antimicotic activities, whereas they were active against tumor cell lines, with inhibitory activity (IC 50 ) in the range 2.4–20 μM and bacteria. The highest microbial susceptibility was shown by gram-positive bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations in the range 0.8–12.5 μM.

Synthesis and pharmacological study of ethyl 1-methyl-5-[2-substituted-4-oxo-3(4H)-quinazolinyl]-1H-pyrazole-4-acetates

Abstract A number of new ethyl 1-methyl-5-[4-oxo-3(4 H )-quinazolinyl]-1 H -pyrazole-4-acetates substituted at the 2 position of the quinazolinone ring were prepared. The compounds were tested for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities, as well as for their acute toxicity and ulcerogenic effect. The 2-methyl, 2-ethyl and 2-phenyl derivatives proved to be more active than acetylsalicylic acid and phenylbutazone in the phenylbenzoquinone writhing test. The 2-methyl derivative was also as active as acetylsalicylic acid in the carrageenin paw oedema test. All the compounds showed very reduced ulcerogenic effects and systemic toxicity.

Pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine Derivatives as COX‐2 Selective Inhibitors: Synthesis and Molecular Modelling Studies

The pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine system shows a multitude of interesting pharmacological properties. Owing to the potential anti‐inflammatory activity of 5‐benzamido‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one derivatives and considering the easy synthesis of this class of compounds, a set of new 5‐benzamido‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐ones has been prepared in 42‐80% yields by reacting 5‐aminopyrazole‐4(N‐benzoyl)carbohydrazide derivatives and the opportune triethylorthoesters. Compounds 8a, b, 10a–d, and 11a, b revealed a superior inhibitory profile against COX‐2, when compared to that of reference standards NS398 and indomethacin. Molecular modelling studies confirmed the obtained biological results.

Cardopatine and isocardopatine, two novel cyclobutane substances from Cardopatium corymbosum

Abstract Two new natural substances containing a cyclobutane unit, cardopatine and isocardopatine, the trans and cis isomers respectively of 5,5″ (cyclobut-1,2-ylene-diethynylene) bis 2,2′-bithiophene), together with the known α-terthienyl and 5-(but-3-en-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithienyl, have been isolated from the roots of Cardopatium corymbosum. Evidence is given that the novel cyclobutane substances are not the products of a spontaneous dimerization of a bithienyl monomeric unit. Structure determination and conformational analysis are reported.

Synthesis, antiproliferative activity, and mechanism of action of a series of 2-{[(2E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoyl]amino}benzamides

Several new 2-{[(2E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoyl]amino}benzamides 12a-s and 17t-v were synthesized by stirring in pyridine the (E)-3-(2-R1-3-R2-4-R3-phenyl)acrylic acid chlorides 11c-k and 11t-v with the appropriate anthranilamide derivatives 10a-c or the 5-iodoanthranilic acid 13. Some of the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against the full NCI tumor cell line panel derived from nine clinically isolated cancer types (leukemia, non-small cell lung, colon, CNS, melanoma, ovarian, renal, prostate and breast). COMPARE analysis, effects on tubulin polymerization in cells and with purified tubulin, and effects on cell cycle distribution for 17t, the most active of the series, indicate that these new antiproliferative compounds act as antitubulin agents.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 1-methyl-5- [substituted-4(3H)-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl]-1H-pyrazole-4-acetic acid derivatives

Several new 1-methyl-5-[substituted-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl] -1H-pyrazole-4-acetic acids and their ethyl ester derivatives were prepared. The compounds were tested for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities, acute toxicity, ulcerogenic effect, and as in vitro inhibitors of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD), since it is claimed that the inhibition of such an enzyme predicts in vivo antiinflammatory activity. Some compounds were more active than phenylbutazone in the phenylbenzoquinone and acetic acid peritonitis tests, and equiactive to the same drug in the carrageenin paw edema test. All the compounds inhibited the 3 alpha-HSD, but no correlation was observed with the paw edema inhibition values. The compounds proved to possess marginal or no ulcerogenic effect, as well as low systemic toxicity.

SYNTHESIS AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF 3-AMINO-N-PHENYL-1H-INDAZOLE-1-CARBOXAMIDES

A series of new 3-amino-N-phenyl-1H-indazole-1-carboxamides 10 have been prepared from commercially available phenyl isocyanate precursors 8 and 3-aminoindazole 9. Some of the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antineoplastic activity against 60 human cell lines derived from seven clinically isolated cancer types (lung, colon, melanoma, renal, ovarian, brain, and leukemia) according to the NCI standard protocol. The test results indicated that 3-amino-1H-indazole-1-carboxamides 10 were endowed with an interesting antiproliferative activity. The most active compounds of this series, 10d,e, were able to inhibit cell growth of many neoplastic cell lines at concentrations lower than 1 microM (0.0153 microM in SR leukemia) causing a block in G0-G1 phase of cell cycle. Analysis of pRb expression showed that these two compounds increased the ratio between underphosphorylated pRb and total pRb. The X-ray structure of 10w, confirmed the 3-amino-N-phenyl-1H-indazole-1-carboxamide structure of compounds 10.

N-(Indazolyl)benzamido Derivatives as CDK1 Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, Biological Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies

A series of N‐1H‐indazole‐1‐carboxamides has been synthesized and their effects on both CDK1 / cyclin B and the K‐562 (human chronic myelogenus leukemia) cell line were evaluated. Using a computational model, we have observed that all the most active compounds 9e, f, i–n exhibited the same binding mode of purvanalol A in the ATP‐binding cleft. Although they were able to moderately inhibit the leukemic cell line K‐562 and to show inhibitory activity against the Cdc2‐Cyclin B kinase in the low micromolar range, they turned out to be non‐cytotoxic against HuDe (IZSL) primary cell cultures from human derm. These preliminary results are quite encouraging in view of the low toxicity demonstrated by the above‐mentioned compounds.