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The Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) attracts ongoing attention as a validated drug target for the management of cardiovascular and ocular diseases owing to cytoprotective, anti-ischemic and anti-inflammatory properties of NHE-1 inhibitors. Herein we report novel NHE-1 inhibitors realized via functionalization of N1-alkyl quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione and quinazoline-4(3H)-one with N-acylguanidine or 3-acyl(5-amino-1,2,4-triazole) side chain. Lead compounds show activity in a nanomolar range. Their pharmacophoric features were elucidated with neural network modeling. Several compounds combine NHE-1 inhibition with antiplatelet activity. Compound 6b reduces intraocular pressure in rats and effectively inhibits the formation of glycated proteins. Compounds 3e and 3i inhibit pro-inflammatory activation of murine macrophages, LPS-induced interleukin-6 secretion and also exhibit antidepressant activity similar to amiloride. Hence, novel compounds represent an interesting starting point for the development of agents against cardiovascular diseases, thrombotic events, excessive inflammation, long-term diabetic complications and glaucoma.

A series of A-ring modified oleanolic and ursolic acid derivatives including C28 amides (3-oxo-C2-nicotinoylidene/furfurylidene, 3β-hydroxy-C2-nicotinoylidene, 3β-nicotinoyloxy-, 2-cyano-3,4-seco-4(23)-ene, indolo-, lactame and azepane) were synthesized and screened for their cytotoxic activity against the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel. The results of the first assay of thirty-two tested compounds showed that eleven derivatives exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cells, and six of them were selected for complete dose–response studies. A systematic study of local SARs has been carried out by comparative analysis of potency distributions and similarity relationships among the synthesized compounds using network-like similarity graphs. Among the oleanane type triterpenoids, C2-[4-pyridinylidene]-oleanonic C28-morpholinyl amide exhibited sub-micromolar potencies against 15 different tumor cell lines and revealed particular selectivity for non-small cell lung cancer (HOP-92) with a GI50 value of 0.0347 μM. On the other hand, superior results were observed for C2-[3-pyridinylidene]-ursonic N-methyl-piperazinyl amide 29, which exhibited a broad-spectrum inhibition activity with GI50 &lt, 1 μM against 33 tumor cell lines and &lt, 2 μM against all 60 cell lines. This compound has been further evaluated for cell cycle analysis to decipher the mechanism of action. The data indicate that compound 29 could exhibit both cytostatic and cytotoxic activity, depending on the cell line evaluated. The cytostatic activity appears to be determined by induction of the cell cycle arrest at the S (MCF-7, SH-SY5Y cells) or G0/G1 phases (A549 cells), whereas cytotoxicity of the compound against normal cells is nonspecific and arises from apoptosis without significant alterations in cell cycle distribution (HEK293 cells). Our results suggest that the antiproliferative effect of compound 29 is mediated through ROS-triggered apoptosis that involves mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and caspase activation.

A series of two new and twenty earlier synthesized branched extra-amino-triterpenoids obtained by the direct coupling of betulinic/betulonic acids with polymethylenpolyamines, or by the cyanoethylation of lupane type alcohols, oximes, amines, and amides with the following reduction were evaluated for cytotoxicity toward the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel, &alpha, glucosidase inhibitory, and antimicrobial activities. Lupane carboxamides, conjugates with diaminopropane, triethylenetetramine, and branched C3-cyanoethylated polyamine methyl betulonate showed high cytotoxic activity against most of the tested cancer cell lines with GI50 that ranged from 1.09 to 54.40 &micro, M. Betulonic acid C28-conjugate with triethylenetetramine and C3,C28-bis-aminopropoxy-betulin were found to be potent micromolar inhibitors of yeast &alpha, glucosidase and to simultaneously inhibit the endosomal reticulum &alpha, glucosidase, rendering them as potentially capable to suppress tumor invasiveness and neovascularization, in addition to the direct cytotoxicity. Plausible mechanisms of cytotoxic action and underlying disrupted molecular pathways were elucidated with CellMinner pattern analysis and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, according to which the lead compounds exert multi-target antiproliferative activity associated with oxidative stress induction and chromatin structure alteration. The betulonic acid diethylentriamine conjugate showed partial activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus and the fungi C. neoformans. These results show that triterpenic polyamines, being analogs of steroidal squalamine and trodusquemine, are important substances for the search of new drugs with anticancer, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities.

Guanidine derivatives are widely used antidiabetic drugs. Metformin (biguanide) is the first-line therapy for the type 2 diabetes mellitus due to its multi-target and pleiotropic effects. Compounds that comprise guanidine moiety integrated in a heterocycle, i.e. cyclic guanidines, represent an increasing area of interest. We have synthesized and studied hypoglycemic effects of a range of cyclic guanidines, namely 2-aminobenzimidazoles and structurally related imidazo[1,2-a]-, pyrimido[1,2-a]-, pyrrolo[1,2-a]-, triazolo[1,5-a]benzimidazole tricyclic derivatives. We have determined the potential of these scaffolds using molecular modeling and QSAR analysis. Experimental studies have shown that N 9-(diethylamino)ethyl-2,3-dihydro-imidazo[1,2-a]benzimidazole (RU-254, diabenol) exhibits potent antidiabetic effects along with a low toxicity. We have found that diabenol exerts long-term glucose-lowering effects in prediabetic and diabetic animals, stimulates the first phase of insulin secretion and reduces the rate of liver glycogenolysis. Additionally, diabenol has been shown to exhibit antiplatelet, geroprotective and antitumor activities in animals. Clinical trials confirm that diabenol produces a range of antidiabetogenic effects such as improved glycemia, reduced HbA1c, stimulation of insulin secretion, decreased thrombogenic potential of blood and ameliorated hemorheology.

A series of nineteen nitrogen-containing lupane triterpenoids was obtained by modification of C2, C3, C20 and C28 positions of betulonic acid and their α-glucosidase inhibiting activity was investigated. Being a leader compound from our previous study, 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid was used as the main template for different modifications at C-(28)-carboxyl group to obtain cyano-, methylcyanoethoxy-, propargyloxy- and carboxamide derivatives. 20-Oxo- and 29-hydroxy-20-oxo-30-nor-analogues of 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid were synthesized by ozonolysis of betulonic acid followed by Fischer indolization reaction. To compare the influence of the fused indole or the seven-membered A-ring on the inhibitory activity, lupane A-azepanones with different substituents at C28 were synthesized. The structure-activity relationships revealed that the enzyme inhibition activity dramatically increased (up to 4730 times) when the carboxylic group of 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid was converted to the corresponding amide. Thus, the IC50 values for glycine amide and L-phenylalanine amides were 0.04 and 0.05 μM, respectively. This study also revealed that 2,3-indolo-platanic acid is 4.5 times more active than the parent triterpenoid with IC50 of 0.4 μM. Molecular modeling suggested that improved potency is due to additional polar interactions formed between C28 side chain and a sub-pocket of the α-glucosidase allosteric site.

Graphical abstract, The need for novel therapeutic options to fight herpesvirus infections still persists. Herein we report the design, synthesis and antiviral evaluation of a new family of non-nucleoside antivirals, derived from 1-[ω-(4-bromophenoxy)alkyl]uracil derivatives – previously reported inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Introduction of the N-(4-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide side chain at N3 increased their potency and widened activity spectrum. The most active compounds in the series exhibit submicromolar activity against different viral strains of HCMV and varicella zoster virus (VZV) replication in HEL cell cultures. Inactivity against other DNA and RNA viruses, including herpes simplex virus 1/2, points to a novel mechanism of antiviral action.

Glucokinase is one of the promising targets for glucose-lowering agents, and the development of GK activators are now considered as one of the most promising strategies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this work, a series of novel symmetric molecular constructs, in which two pyridoxine moieties are connected via sulfur-containing linkers, have been synthesized and tested in vitro for glucokinase activation potential. The enzyme activation rates by two most active compounds at 100 μM (~150% and 130%) were comparable to that of the reference agent PF-04937319 (~154%). Both leading compounds demonstrated low cytotoxicity and excellent safety profile in acute toxicity experiment in rats after oral administration with LD50 exceeding 2000 mg/kg of body weight. Binding mode of the active compounds in comparison with the reference agent was studied using molecular docking. The leading compounds represent viable preclinical candidates for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as a promising starting point for the design of structural analogs with improved activity.

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Several 5-aminouracil derivatives that have previously been shown to inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth at concentrations of 5-40 g/mL are demonstrated to act also as noncompetitive non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase without causing toxicity in vitro (МT-4 cells) and ex vivo (human tonsillar tissue).

Graphical abstract, HCMV infection represents a life-threatening condition for immunocompromised patients and newborn infants and novel anti-HCMV agents are clearly needed. In this regard, a series of 1-[ω-(phenoxy)alkyl]uracil derivatives were synthesized and examined for antiviral properties. Compounds 17, 20, 24 and 28 were found to exhibit highly specific and promising inhibitory activity against HCMV replication in HEL cell cultures with EC50 values within 5.5–12 μM range. Further studies should be undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of action of these compounds and the structure–activity relationship for the linker region.

Graphical abstract, A series of phenyloxyethyl and cinnamyl derivatives of substituted uracils were synthesized and found to exhibit potent activity against HIV-RT and HIV replication in cell culture. In general, the cinnamyl derivatives proved superior to the phenyloxyethyl derivatives, however 1-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl]-3-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil (19) exhibited the highest activity (EC50 = 0.27 μM) thus confirming that the 3-benzyluracil fragment in the NNRTI structure can be regarded as a functional analogue of the benzophenone pharmacophore typically found in NNRTIs.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex heterogeneous disease linked with genetic conditions and lifestyle, especially dietary component. Development of the accessible experimental animal model of T2DM is indispensable for elucidation of its pathogenesis and identification of novel antidiabetic agents. Methods: Modeling of experimental T2DM were performed on male Wistar rats aged 9-12 weeks with 2 weeks of dietary manipulation (58% of calories from fats) followed with 35 mg·kg-1 i.p. streptozotocin injection. To evaluate the model, we used intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance test and determined fasting blood concentration of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and insulin. Additional evaluation of the model was performed by administration of pioglitazone (10 mg/kg-1 p.o.) for 7 days. Student’s t-test was used for single variable comparison between two groups. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett post hoc test was used for multiple comparisons versus the control group. Results: T2DM model obtained reproduced key metabolic disorders of the disease, including hyperglycemia (p

Graphical abstract, A series of heterocyclic compounds were designed as potential nonnucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Although the compounds ultimately proved inactive against HIV, during the course of the synthesis, a new and highly facile method to realize N-phenylacetamides was developed. Notably, the new route avoids the intractable workups and byproducts previously reported procedures have been associated with, thereby making this approach highly attractive to adaptation with other heterocyclics.

A series of novel uracil derivatives, bearing N-(4-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide moiety at N3 of a pyrimidine ring, has been synthesized. Their antiviral activity has been evaluated. It has been found that the novel compounds possess high inhibitory activity against replication of human cytomegalovirus (AD-169 and Davis strains) in HEL cell cultures. In addition, some of the derivatives proved to be inhibitory against varicella zoster virus. ispartof: Acta Naturae vol:7 issue:4 pages:142-5 ispartof: location:Russia (Federation) status: published