Tomović, Katarina, Ilić, Budimir S., Smelcerović, Zaklina, Miljković, Marija, Yancheva, Denitsa, Kojić, Milan, Mavrova, Anelia Ts, Kocić, Gordana, Smelcerović, Andrija, Tomović, Katarina, Ilić, Budimir S., Smelcerović, Zaklina, Miljković, Marija, Yancheva, Denitsa, Kojić, Milan, Mavrova, Anelia Ts, Kocić, Gordana, and Smelcerović, Andrija
Multiple-targeting compounds might reduce complex polypharmacy of multifactorial diseases, such as diabetes, and contribute to the greater therapeutic success. Targeting reactive oxygen species-producing enzymes, as xanthine oxidase (XO), might suppress progression of diabetes-associated vascular complications. In this study a small series of benzimidazole derivatives (1-9) was evaluated for inhibitory activity against dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) and XO. One 1,3-disubstituted-benzimidazole-2-imine (5) and 1,3-thiazolo [3,2-a] benzimidazolone derivative (8) were shown as effective dual DPP-4 and XO inhibitors, with IC50 values lower than 200 mu M, and predicted binding modes with both target enzymes. Both selected dual inhibitors (compounds 5 and 8) did not show cytotoxicity to a greater extent on Caco-2 cells even at concentration of 250 mu M. These structures represent new non-purine scaffolds bearing two therapeutic functionalities, being DPP-4 and XO inhibitors, more favorable in comparison to DPP-4 inhibitors with DPP-4 as a single target due to pleiotropic effects of XO inhibition.