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Since their discovery from natural sources, the potent cytotoxic effects of combretastatins were widely studied for the application in antitumor therapy. However, major pharmacokinetic issues as low water solubility and chemical instability of the double bond configuration prevented their use in therapy. A lot of efforts have been directed towards the search of novel strategies, allowing a safer use of combretastatins as anticancer agents. This review analyses the recent landscape in combretastatin research, characterized by the identification of hybrids, prodrugs, and novel combination treatments. Interestingly, the potent cytotoxic agent combretastatin A4 (CA4) was recently proposed as payload in the construction of novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), allowing an efficient targeting of the cytotoxic agent to specific tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Cognitive deficits are enduring and disabling symptoms for many patients with severe mental illness, and these impairments are inadequately addressed by current medications. In this study, we reported the synthesis of β-arylchalcogeno amines bearing sulfurated, selenated, and tellurated moieties (2-4) which are structurally related to amphetamine with good activation properties for Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs) isoforms present in the cortical and hippocampal brain structures (hCA IV and hCA XIV). In addition, these compounds showed selective inhibition against the Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A isoform. In vivo evaluation of two derivatives (2a and 3a) revealed procognitive effects in the object recognition and social discrimination tests. Interestingly, these compounds, despite having a similar structure to amphetamine, did not caused hypophagia or hyperlocomotion, two effects often observed following the administration of amphetamine-like drugs. In this context, β-arylchalcogeno amines may have utility for improving the symptoms of cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases such as attention deficit disorder, Parkinson's disease-related cognitive dysfunction and cognitive disorders associated with depression., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

With an aim to develop novel potential antitumor agents, two series of benzene- and benzothiazole-sulfonamide derivatives, acting as effective human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors, have been developed using the tail approach. The synthesized compounds (XS-1 to XS-22) were assayed for the inhibition of physiologically relevant isoforms of hCA, the cytosolic CA I and II, the membrane-bound CA IV and tumor-associated CA IX. It was found the compounds of both series displayed low to medium nanomolar range inhibition against CA I, II and IX, and weak inhibition against CA IV. Some of the derivatives displayed selective inhibition towards tumor-associated CA IX isoform, within the nanomolar range. These potent compounds were also screened for their selective toxicity to evaluate their in vitro anti-proliferative effects on Human Gingival Fibroblasts (HGFs) and breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF7). Lastly, molecular docking studies were carried out to explain those structural requirements that were liable for the discrimination among selected human carbonic anhydrase isoforms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by gradual and progressive loss of selectively vulnerable populations of neurons, including death of neurons in different regions, leading to nervous system dysfunction. However, pharmacological treatments are only symptomatic, because the exact causes of the disease are not yet known. For this reason, in recent years, the research has been focused on the discovery of new molecules able to target neuropathological pathways involved in NDs. A great deal of attention has been paid to natural polyphenols due to their many biological effects and resveratrol has attracted special interest since its ability to interact simultaneously with the multiple targets implicated in NDs. Moreover, the structural simplicity of the stilbene core, the broad spectrum of possible modifications, and the improved synthetic strategies, made resveratrol an attractive chemical starting point for the search of new entities with extended therapeutic uses in NDs. In this review, a systematic update of the resveratrol-based compounds, and Structure-Activity Relationship analysis were provided as promising drug candidates for the treatment of NDs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Platinum-based chemotherapy is widely used for the treatment of different tumors but is associated with serious side effects, among which neuropathic pain. Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors have recently been validated as therapeutic agents in neuropathic pain and as antitumor agents. We report the synthesis of new organochalcogenides bearing the benzensulfonamide moiety acting as potent inhibitors of several human CA isoforms and, in particular, against hCA II and VII endowed with potent neuropathic pain attenuating effects. Moreover, in combination with cisplatin or doxorubicin, some of the new CA inhibitors enhanced the effects of the anticancer drugs capability in counteracting breast cancer MCF7 cell viability. The concomitant anti-neuropathic pain and antiproliferative effects of the new chalcogenide-based CA inhibitors represent an innovative approach for the counteraction and management of side effects associated with clinically platinum drugs as antitumor agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Given the wide spectrum of biological activities, benzothiazoles represent privileged scaffolds in medicinal chemistry, useful in drug discovery programs to modulate biological activities of lead compounds. A large body of knowledge about benzothiazoles has been reported in scientific literature, describing their antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects. This review summarizes the results obtained in the structure-activity relationship studies on antiproliferative benzothiazoles, focusing on 2-substituted derivatives and on mechanism of action responsible for the antitumor effects of this class of compounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In the last years the continuous efforts in the development of novel and effective inhibitors of human monoamine oxidases (hMAOs) promoted the discovery of new agents able to effectively and selectively bound one of the two isoforms (hMAO-A and hMAO-B). However, the parent chalcone scaffold still covers an important role in hMAOs inhibition. In the present work, we focused our attention on the researches performed in the last five years, involving chalcones or compounds that can be correlated to them. We classified the chalcones into different groups depending on their structural characteristics or common molecular properties. In this regard, we also considered chalcones based on heterocycles and compounds endowed with scaffolds containing a masked chalcone motif. When structural attributes could not be used, we took advantage of enzymatic activity to arrange compounds in a group. We followed this approach for the multitarget agents. Finally, we also analysed the naturally occurring chalcones. All the sections were discussed exhaustively and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses were sustained by means of detailed images describing the effects related to the substituents or structural changes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The thiadiazole scaffold is an important core moiety in a variety of clinical drug candidates targeting a range of diseases. For example, the 2,4,5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole scaffold is present in a lead compound and at least two clinical candidates targeting the human motor protein Eg5, against neoplastic diseases. An inhibitor named K858 has in vivo activity in various mouse xenografts whereas the clinical candidates (S)-ARRY-520 and (R)-Litronesib have entered clinical trials with the former one in phase III clinical trials either alone or in combination with a proteasome inhibitor against relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Astonishingly, structural data are lacking for all thiadiazole-containing Eg5 inhibitors. Here we report the structure determination of two crystal forms of the ternary Eg5-ADP-K858 complex, locking the motor in the so-called final inhibitor bound state, thus blocking ADP release, a crucial stage for Eg5 activity. K858 acts at the established allosteric inhibitor-binding pocket formed of helix α2, loop L5 and helix α3. The structure of the complex has far reaching consequences for thiadiazole containing Eg5 inhibitors. For example, we could rationalise the structure-activity relationship in the crucial 5-position of the thiadiazole scaffold and the complex will serve in the future as a basis for strucutre-based drug design., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

New 4-(3-nitrophenyl)thiazol-2-ylhydrazone derivatives are proposed as dual-target-directed monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, as well as antioxidant agents, for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Rational molecular design, target recognition and predicted pharmacokinetic properties have been evaluated by means of molecular modelling. Based on these properties, compounds were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as MAO-B and AChE inhibitors, and compared to the activities at their corresponding isozymes, monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), respectively. Anti-oxidant properties, potentially useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, have been also investigated in vitro. Among the evaluated compounds, three inhibitors may be considered as promising dual inhibitors of MAO-B and AChE, in vitro. MAO-B inhibition was also shown to be competitive and reversible for compound 19., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

With reference to recent studies reporting on the various biological properties of the thiazolidinone scaffold, we synthesized more than a hundred compounds characterized by a 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one nucleus derivatised at the C2 with a hydrazine bridge linked to (cyclo)aliphatic or hetero(aryl) moieties, and their N-benzylated derivatives. These molecules were assayed as potential anti-Candida agents and they were shown to possess comparable, and in some cases higher biological activity than well-established topical and systemic antimycotic drugs (i.e. clotrimazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, tioconazole, amphotericin B). Compounds endowed with the lowest MICs underwent further testing in order to assess their cytotoxic effect (CC 50 ) on Hep2 cells, which demonstrated their relative safety. Finally, QSAR and 3-D QSAR models were used to predict putative chemical modifications of the 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one scaffold in order to design new and potential more active compounds against Candida spp., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Pursuing our recent outcomes regarding the antifungal activity of N-substituted 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones, we synthesized thirty-six new derivatives introducing aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and heteroaromatic moieties at N1-hydrazine connected with C2 position of the thiazolidinone nucleus and functionalizing the lactam nitrogen with differently substituted (NO2, NH2, Cl and F) benzyl groups. These compounds were tested to evaluate their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against several clinical Candida spp. with respect to topical and systemic reference drugs (clotrimazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, tioconazole, amphotericin B). Moreover, anti-oxidant properties were also evaluated by using different protocols including free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), metal chelating and phosphomolybdenum assays. Moreover, for the most active derivatives we assessed the toxicity (CC50) against Hep2 human cells in order to characterize them as multi-target agents for fungal infections., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

On the basis of the recent findings about the biological properties of thiazolidinones and taking into account the encouraging results about the antifungal activity of some (thiazol-2-yl)hydrazines, new N-substituted heterocyclic derivatives were designed combining the thiazolidinone nucleus with the hydrazonic portion. In details, 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones bearing (cyclo)aliphatic or (hetero)aromatic moieties linked to the N1-hydrazine at C2 were synthesized and classified into three series according to the aromatic or bicyclic rings connected to the lactam nitrogen of the thiazolidinone. These molecules were assayed for their anti-Candida effects in reference to the biological activity of the conventional topic (clotrimazole, miconazole, tioconazole) and systemic drugs (fluconazole, ketoconazole, amphotericin B). Finally, we investigated the selectivity against fungal cells by testing the compounds endowed with the best MICs on Hep2 cells in order to assess their cell toxicity (CC50) and we noticed that two derivatives were less cytotoxic than the reference drug clotrimazole. Moreover, a preliminary molecular modelling approach has been performed against lanosterol 14-α demethylase (CYP51A1) to rationalize the activity of the tested compounds and to specify the target protein or enzyme., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Antimitotic agents are widely used in cancer chemotherapy but the numerous side effects and the onset of resistance limit their clinical efficacy. Therefore, with the purpose of discovering more selective and efficient anticancer agents to be administered alone or in combination with traditional drugs, we synthesized a large library of 1,3,4-thiadiazoline analogues, maintaining the pharmacophoric structure of an antiproliferative compound known as K858: this is a new inhibitor of kinesin Eg5, able to induce the mitotic arrest in colorectal cancer cells and in xenograft ovarian cancer cells. We screened 103 compounds to assess their antiproliferative activity on PC3 prostate cancer cell line. Two derivatives, compounds 32 (corresponding to K858) and 33, have shown to be the most effective against prostate tumor cells and also towards two melanoma cell lines (SK-MEL-5 and SK-MEL-28) at low micromolar concentrations, confirming the pharmacological activity of this scaffold and revealing the potential role of 1,3,4-thiadiazolines in the management of cancer., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We designed and synthesized a large number of novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives for the evaluation of their anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity. This scaffold was functionalized at the N1-hydrazine portion with aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and (hetero)aromatic moieties. Then, a benzyl pendant was introduced at the lactamic NH of the core nucleus to evaluate the influence of this chemical modification on biological activity. The compounds were subjected to several in vitro assays to assess their anti-parasitic efficacy, cytotoxicity on fibroblasts, inhibition of tachyzoite invasion/attachment and replication after treatment. Results showed that fourteen of these thiazole-based compounds compare favorably to control compound trimethoprim in terms of parasite growth inhibition., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Carbonic anhydrase (hCA) IX and XII isoforms are over-expressed both in primary and in metastatic cell lines of hypoxic tumors and are innovative targets for cancer diagnosis and treatment. On the basis of the importance of the pharmacophoric sulfamate moiety (bioisostere of the sulfonamide group) present in the structure of recent human CA inhibitors, we designed N-alkylated and O-alkylated derivatives of acesulfame, a cyclic tertiary sulfamate, assessing the inhibitory activity against the ubiquitous isoforms hCA I and II and the cancer-related isoforms hCA IX and XII. All derivatives were nanomolar inhibitors, with some of them possessing an outstanding selectivity towards the tumor-associated hCA IX and/or hCA XII isoforms., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Although there are clinical trials and in vivo studies in literature regarding the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of the components of Crocus sativus L., their effects on the human monoamine oxidases (hMAO-A and hMAO-B), enzymes which are involved in mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, have not yet been investigated. We have thus examined the hMAO inhibitory activities of crocin and safranal (the most important active principles in saffron) and, subsequently, designed a series of safranal derivatives to evaluate which chemical modifications confer enhanced inhibition of the hMAO isoforms. Docking simulations were performed in order to identify key molecular recognitions of these inhibitors with both isoforms of hMAO. In this regard, different mechanisms of action were revealed. This study concludes that safranal and crocin represent useful leads for the discovery of novel hMAO inhibitors for the clinical management of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Recently we described some (thiazol-2-yl)hydrazones as antiprotozoal, antifungal and anti-MAO agents as well as Gcn5 HAT inhibitors. Among these last compounds, CPTH2 and CPTH6 showed HAT inhibition in cells and broad anticancer properties. With the aim to identify HAT inhibitors more potent than the two prototypes, we synthesized several new (thiazol-2-yl)hydrazones including some related thiazolidines and pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones, and we tested the whole library existing in our lab against human p300 and PCAF HAT enzymes. Some compounds (1x, 1c', 1d', 1i' and 2m) were more efficient than CPTH2 and CPTH6 in inhibiting the p300 HAT enzyme. When tested in human leukemia U937 and colon carcinoma HCT116 cells (100 μM, 30 h), 1x, 1i' and 2m gave higher (U937 cells) or similar (HCT116 cells) apoptosis than CPTH6, and were more potent than CPTH6 in inducing cytodifferentiation (U937 cells)., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A series of 4-substituted-2-thiazolylhydrazone derivatives have been synthesized and tested in vitro for their human monoamine oxidase (hMAO) A and B inhibitory activity. Our findings confirmed that the substitution at C4 of the thiazole ring was important to obtain highly potent and selective hMAO-B inhibitors with IC50 values in the nanomolar range. Moreover, these derivatives were endowed with a reversible mechanism of enzyme inhibition. Molecular modelling studies were performed to rationalize the recognition of all inhibitors with respect to hMAO-A and -B isoforms., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Thirty-eight new (4-(4-substituted-phenyl/2,4-disubstituted-phenyl)-thiazol-2-yl)hydrazine derivatives were synthesized in good yield and assayed for their in vitro anti-Candida activity, compared to topical and systemic antifungal drugs, against twenty-two clinical isolates of Candida spp. The concurrent presence of aliphatic chains or cycloaliphatic rings at N1-hydrazine and a 4-methyl/4-methoxyphenyl at C4 position of the thiazole nucleus exhibited an interesting anti-Candida inhibitory activity. Moreover, some of the most active compounds showed synergistic antifungal effects and lower cell toxicity when combined with clotrimazole., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A large series of (4-substituted-thiazol-2-yl)hydrazine derivatives was synthesized in good yield and assayed for their in vitro human monoamine oxidase (hMAO) inhibitory activity and selectivity. Most of them showed inhibitory activity in the nanomolar range and hMAO-B selective inhibition higher than reference drugs, demonstrating our interest in this privileged scaffold. The structure-activity relationship of the different rings on the N1-hydrazine position indicated that a pyridine ring was preferred with the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents on the aryl group at C4 of the thiazole nucleus. The substituent on the α-carbon to the N1-hydrazine moiety (methyl or hydrogen) had a great influence on the activity and hMAO-B selectivity. Moreover, the reversibility of the enzyme inhibition for the best active compound was reported., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Novel (4-(4-iodophenyl)-thiazol-2-yl)hydrazine derivatives were assayed for their in vitro anti-Candida activity, compared to topical and systemic antifungal drugs, against twenty-seven clinical isolates. The presence of aliphatic chains or specific heteroaromatic rings on hydrazone moiety at position C2 and a 4-iodophenyl at C4 of the thiazole ring gave a promising inhibitory activity especially against Candida albicans and Candida krusei. The most active compounds have been also evaluated for their cytotoxicity and in association with clotrimazole for anti-Candida activity., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Several 3-carbonyl (1-26), 3-acyl (27-52), and 3-carboxyhydrazido (53-58) coumarins have been synthesized in high yields (72-99%) and tested in vitro for their human monoamine oxidase A and B (hMAO-A and hMAO-B) inhibitory activity. Different substituents on the coumarin nucleus were evaluated for their effect on biological activity and isoform selectivity. Substitution at position C7 of the 3-ethyl ester coumarin ring, or the introduction of a hydrazido substituent at C3, were important to obtain highly potent and selective hMAO-B inhibitors with IC(50) values in the nanomolar range. Some derivatives were also submitted to a stability test and showed no chemical cleavage in vitro., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A new series of [4-(4'-substituted-phenyl)thiazol-2-yl]hydrazine derivatives were synthesized in good yield (86-99%) and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR, and mass spectral studies. The compounds were assayed for their in vitro broad-spectrum antifungal activity, compared to clotrimazole and fluconazole, against 20 clinical isolates of pathogenic Candida spp., representing five different species. The results showed that the presence of heterocyclic or bicyclic rings on hydrazone moiety in position C2 of thiazole revealed a promising selective inhibitory activity especially against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A series of N1-thiocarbamoyl-3,5-di(hetero)aryl-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazole derivatives has been synthesized and assayed for their ability to inhibit the activity of the A and B isoforms of human monoamine oxidase (hMAO). Some of these compounds were endowed with a selective inhibitory activity against hMAO-B in the micromolar range. The most active of the series is the compound 13, N1-thiocarbamoyl-3-(fur-2'-yl)-5-(4'-fluoro-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazole, with IC(50) 2.75+/-0.81muM value and selectivity ratio of 25, which is the best candidate for further investigations., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In order to develop new anti-Helicobacter pylori agents, five new and three already known N-substituted-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxamides (coumarin-3-carboxamides) were prepared and evaluated for their antibacterial activity. All synthesized compounds showed little or no activity against different species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria of clinical relevance and against various strains of pathogenic fungi. Among the prepared compounds those with a 4-acyl-phenyl group showed the best activity against H. pylori metronidazole resistant strains in the 0.25-1 microg/ml MIC range, indicating the presence of an acyl function as an important feature for activity.