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Olesoxime, a cholesterol derivative with an oxime group, possesses the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and has demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability properties in clinical research. These characteristics indicate it may serve as a centrally active ligand of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), whose disruption of activity with organophosphate compounds (OP) leads to uncontrolled excitation and potentially life-threatening symptoms. To evaluate olesoxime as a binding ligand and reactivator of human AChE and BChE, we conducted in vitro kinetic studies with the active metabolite of insecticide parathion, paraoxon, and the warfare nerve agents sarin, cyclosarin, tabun, and VX. Our results showed that both enzymes possessed a binding affinity for olesoxime in the mid-micromolar range, higher than the antidotes in use (i.e., 2-PAM, HI-6, etc.). While olesoxime showed a weak ability to reactivate AChE, cyclosarin-inhibited BChE was reactivated with an overall reactivation rate constant comparable to that of standard oxime HI-6. Moreover, in combination with the oxime 2-PAM, the reactivation maximum increased by 10-30% for cyclosarin- and sarin-inhibited BChE. Molecular modeling revealed productive interactions between olesoxime and BChE, highlighting olesoxime as a potentially BChE-targeted therapy. Moreover, it might be added to OP poisoning treatment to increase the efficacy of BChE reactivation, and its cholesterol scaffold could provide a basis for the development of novel oxime antidotes.

Notwithstanding the combination of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition and calcium channel blockade within a multitarget therapeutic approach is envisaged as potentially beneficial to confront Alzheimer's disease (AD), this strategy has been scarcely investigated. To explore this promising line, a series of 5-amino-4-aryl-3,4,6,7,8,9-hexahydropyrimido [4,5-b]quinoline-2(1H)-thiones (tacripyrimidines) (4a-l) were designed by juxtaposition of tacrine, a ChE inhibitor (ChEI), and 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thiones, as efficient calcium channel blockers (CCBs). In agreement with their design, all tacripyrimidines, except the unsubstituted parent compound and its p-methoxy derivative, acted as moderate to potent CCBs with activities generally similar or higher than the reference CCB drug nimodipine and were modest-to-good ChEIs. Most interestingly, the 3'-methoxy derivative (4e) emerged as the first well balanced ChEI/CCB agent, acting as low micromolar hChEI (3.05 μM and 3.19 μM on hAChE and hBuChE, respectively) and moderate CCB (30.4% at 1 μM) with no significant hepatotoxicity toward HepG2 cells and good predicted oral absorption and blood brain barrier permeability., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Due to the complex nature of Alzheimer's disease, there is a renewed search for multitarget directed drugs., Results: This paper describes the synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of six racemic 13-aryl-2,3,4,13-tetrahydro-1H,12H-benzo[6,7]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-7,12,14-triones (1a-6a), and six racemic 15-aryl-8,9,10,11,12,15-hexahydro-14H-benzo[6',7']chromeno[2',3:4,5] pyr-imido [1,2-a]azepine-5,14,16-triones (1b-6b), showing antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory capacity. Among these compounds, 13-phenyl-2,3,4,13-tetrahydro-1H,12H-benzo[6,7]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-7,12,14-trione (1a) is a nonhepatotoxic at 300 μmol/l dose concentration, and a selective EeAChE inhibitor showing good antioxidant power., Conclusion: A new family of racemic benzochromenopyrimidinetriones has been investigated for their potential use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Aim: Due to the multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's disease, there is an urgent search for new more efficient, multitarget-directed drugs., Results: This paper describes the synthesis, antioxidant and in vitro biological evaluation of ten (benz)imidazopyridino tacrines (7-16), showing less toxicity than tacrine at high doses, and potent cholinesterase inhibitory capacity, in the low micromolar range. Among them, compound 10 is a nonhepatotoxic tacrine at 1000 mM, showing moderate, but totally selective electric eel acetylcholinesterase inhibition, whereas molecule 16 is twofold less toxic than tacrine at 1000 μM, showing moderate and almost equipotent inhibition for electric eel acetylcholinesterase and equine butyrylcholinesterase., Conclusion: (Benz)imidazopyridino tacrines (7-16) have been identified as a new and promising type of tacrines for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The synthesis, biological assessment and molecular modeling of new pyridonepezils1-8, able to inhibit human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (hBuChE), are described. The new compounds have been designed as hybrids resulting from a conjunctive approach that combines the N-benzylpiperidine moiety, present in donepezil, and the 2-amino-6-chloropyridine heterocyclic ring system, connected by an appropriate polymethylene linker. Compounds 1-8 were prepared by reaction of 2-amino-6-chloro-4-phenylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (13) [or 2-amino-6-chloropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (14)] with 2-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)alkylamines (9-12). The biological evaluation of molecules 1-8 showed that compounds 1-6 are potent AChE inhibitors, in the submicromolar, while compounds 7 and 8 are on the nanomolar range, the most potent, 2-amino-6-((3-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)propyl)amino)pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (7), showing a IC(50) (hAChE) = 9.4 ± 0.4 nM. Inhibitors 2-8 are permeable as determined in the PAMPA assay. Compared to donepezil, compound 7 is in the same range of inhibitory activity for hAChE, and 703-fold more selective for hAChE than for hBuChE. Molecular modeling investigation on pyridonepezil7 supports its dual AChE inhibitory profile, binding simultaneously at the catalytic active and at peripheral anionic sites of the enzyme. The theoretical ADME analysis of pyridonepezils1-8 has been carried out. Overall, compound 7, a potent and selective dual AChEI, can be considered as a candidate with potential impact for further pharmacological development in Alzheimer's therapy., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In silico analysis of ethyl 5-amino-2-methyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzo[b][1,8]naphthyridine-3-carboxylate (2) predicts that this molecule should be successfully docked in the PAS, and easily accommodated in the CAS of AChE. The synthesis and the AChE/BuChE inhibition studies are reported, confirming that compound 2 is a potent and selective AChE inhibitor, and consequently, a new lead compound for further development into new dual CAS/PAS cholinergic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease., (2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)