Violeta Marković

Synthesis, characterization and antitumor activity of polymeric copper(II) complexes with thiosemicarbazones of 3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-4-carboxaldehyde and 5-oxo-3-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-4-carboxaldehyde.

New polymeric copper(II) complexes with two tridentate ONS thiosemicarbazone ligands containing substituted pyrazolone moiety were synthesized and characterized by means of spectroscopic, electrochemical and crystallographic techniques. While both ligands exist as different tautomers in the solid state and DMSO-d(6) solution, Cu(II) ion coordinates the ligands from the same tautomeric form with square-pyramidal geometry around each Cu atom. In the crystal structures, the copper(II) complex cation forms polymeric chains {[Cu(L)Cl](+)}(n) with a bridging chlorine atom. One of the complexes was found to have a significantly higher cytotoxic potential in comparison with cisplatin in inhibition of several cell lines (HL60, REH, C6, L929 and B16). The results obtained on the basis of flow cytometry indicated that apoptosis could be possible mechanism of cell death.

Novel anthraquinone based chalcone analogues containing an imine fragment: synthesis, cytotoxicity and anti-angiogenic activity.

A new class of imine derivatives of hybrid chalcone analogues containing anthraquinone scaffold was synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against HeLa, LS174, and A549 cancer cells. The compound 5n with furan ring linked to imino group showed potent activity against all target cells with IC50 values ranging from 1.76 to 6.11μM. A mode of action study suggested that compounds induced changes typical for apoptosis in HeLa cells. The most active compounds inhibited tubulogenesis and 5h was found to exhibit a strong anti-angiogenic effect.

Anthraquinone–chalcone hybrids: Synthesis, preliminary antiproliferative evaluation and DNA-interaction studies

Novel anthraquinone based chalcone compounds were synthesized starting from 1-acetylanthraquinone in a Claisen-Schmidt reaction and evaluated for their anticancer potential against three human cancer cell lines. Compounds 4a, 4b and 4j showed promising activity in inhibition of HeLa cells with IC50 values ranging from 2.36 to 2.73 μM and low cytotoxicity against healthy MRC-5 cell lines. The effects that compounds produces on the cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometry. It was found that 4a, 4b and 4j cause the accumulation of cells in the S and G2/M phases in a dose-dependent manner and induce caspase-dependent apoptosis. All of three compounds exhibit calf thymus DNA-binding activity. The determined binding constants by absorption titrations (2.65 × 10(3) M(-1), 1.36 × 10(3) M(-1)and 2.51 × 10(3) M(-1) of 4a/CT-DNA, 4b/CT-DNA and 4j/CT-DNA, respectively) together with fluorescence displacement analysis designate 4a, 4b and 4j as strong minor groove binders, but no cleavage of plasmid DNA was observed.

Antiproliferative activity and QSAR studies of a series of new 4-aminomethylidene derivatives of some pyrazol-5-ones.

Twenty five 4-aminomethylidene derivatives obtained from 3-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one and 1,3-diphenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one were synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer MDA-MB-361 and MDA-MB-453 cell lines. The compounds derived from 1,3-diphenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one exhibited the most remarkable activity in the treatment of both cell lines. In vitro antiproliferative activities were accompanied by an important apoptotic fraction of both cell lines; also, compounds inhibited key endothelial cell functions implicated in invasion and angiogenesis. QSAR methods were performed in order to analyze the influence of structural features of the compounds investigated on the antiproliferative potential on MDA-MB-361 and MDA-MB-453 cancer cells. One-parameter heuristic analysis was performed and different whole molecule and fragmental descriptors were considered for rationalization of mechanism of interaction of these compounds with active place of hypothetical target included in tumorigenesis.

Synthesis, cytotoxic activity and DNA-interaction studies of novel anthraquinone-thiosemicarbazones with tautomerizable methylene group.

A series of novel anthraquinone-thiosemicarbazone derivatives in a tautomerizable keto-imine form was synthesized and tested for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells (HeLa, MDA-MB-361, MDA-MB-453, K562, A549) and human normal MRC-5 cells. Several compounds efficiently inhibited cancer cell growth at micromolar concentrations, especially against K562 and HeLa cells. As determined by flow cytometric analysis, anthraquinone-thiosemicarbazone caused significant increase in the number of sub-G1 phase of HeLa cells and apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, inhibition of caspase-3, -8, and -9 with specific caspase inhibitors reduced the apoptosis mediated by the tested compounds in HeLa cells. All anthraquinone-thiosemicarbazones exhibit calf thymus DNA-binding activity, but no cleavage of plasmid DNA was observed.

Synthesis, antitumor activity and QSAR studies of some 4-aminomethylidene derivatives of edaravone.

A series of aminomethylidene derivatives obtained from 4-formyledaravone were synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR and elemental analysis. All the compounds were screened for their antitumor activity. The compound containing 5-phenylpyrazole moiety (3q) exhibited remarkable antitumor activity in in vitro assays, especially against human breast cancer MDA-MB-361 and MDA-MB-453 cell lines. The most important whole-molecule descriptors for antitumor activity on MDA-MB-453 cells belong to the group of quantum-chemical descriptors.

“On water” synthesis of N-unsubstituted pyrazoles: semicarbazide hydrochloride as an alternative to hydrazine for preparation of pyrazole-3-carboxylate derivatives and 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles

A green, simple and highly efficient method for the synthesis of pyrazole-3-carboxylates and 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles by cyclization of 4-aryl(hetaryl, alkyl)-2,4-diketoesters and 1,3-diketones with semicarbazide hydrochloride under “on water” conditions has been developed. This method also does not require toxic hydrazine and product purification, eliminating the use of toxic liquid chemicals.

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and their diacylhydrazine precursors derived from phenolic acids

Eight 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives containing phenolic acid moieties (7a–h) and eight of their diacylhydrazine precursors (6a–h) were synthesized, characterized using spectroscopic methods and examined by scavenging of stable DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals. The most potent phenolic 1,3,4-oxadiazoles showed better DPPH scavenging activity in comparison with their corresponding diacylhydrazine precursors as a result of participation of both aromatic rings and a 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety in resonance stabilization of the formed phenoxyl radical. Four diacylhydrazines (6d, 6e, 6g, and 6h) and four 1,3,4-oxadiazoles (7d, 7e, 7g and 7h) with the best DPPH scavenging activity, were chosen for further evaluation of their antioxidant potential through various assays. The investigated compounds exerted pronounced ABTS radical scavenging capacity, moderate to good H2O2 scavenging properties and strong ferric ion reducing capacity. Further in vitro evaluation of the antioxidant properties of the most active compounds demonstrated their protective effects in normal lung fibroblasts MRC-5 against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress. Diacylhydrazine 6h increased two times the activity of glutathione peroxidase in treated cells in comparison with a control sample and did not affect the superoxide dismutase activity.

Debromination of endo-(+)-3-bromocamphor with primary amines

Reductive debromination of endo-(+)-3-bromocamphor with different primary amines followed by imine formation was investigated. This reaction requires simple experimental procedure without any organic solvent, metal or conventional reducing agent. A strong influence of amine polarity on the efficacy of debromination process was observed, and ethanolamine and ethylene diamine having sufficiently high boiling points can debrominate 3-bromocamphor giving corresponding camphanimines in good isolated yields. The mechanisms of debromination of 3-bromocamphor with ethanolamine and n-hexylamine were investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The radical mechanism was revealed, and it was shown that the reaction with more polar ethanolamine is energetically more favorable.

Mannich bases of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione containing adamantane moiety: Synthesis, preliminary anticancer evaluation, and molecular modeling studies

A series of 18 novel N‐Mannich bases derived from 5‐adamantyl‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione was synthesized and characterized using NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction technique. All derivatives were evaluated for their anticancer potential against four human cancer cell lines. Several tested compounds exerted good cytotoxic activities on K562 and HL‐60 cell lines, along with pronounced selectivity, showing lower cytotoxicity against normal fibroblasts MRC‐5 compared to cancer cells. The effects of compounds 5b, 5e, and 5j on the cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometric analysis. It was found that these compounds cause the accumulation of cells in the subG1 and G1 phases of the cell cycle and induce caspase‐dependent apoptosis, while the anti‐angiogenic effects of 5b, 5e, and 5j have been confirmed in EA.hy926 cells using a tube formation assay. Further, the interaction of Bax protein with compound 5b was investigated by means of molecular modeling, applying the combined molecular docking/molecular dynamics approach.