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The search for novel drugs to address the medical needs of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an ongoing process relying on the discovery of disease-modifying agents. Given the complexity of the disease, such an aim can be pursued by developing so-called multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) that will impact the disease pathophysiology more comprehensively. Herewith, we contemplated the therapeutic efficacy of an amiridine drug acting as a cholinesterase inhibitor by converting it into a novel class of novel MTDLs. Applying the linking approach, we have paired amiridine as a core building block with memantine/adamantylamine, trolox, and substituted benzothiazole moieties to generate novel MTDLs endowed with additional properties like N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor affinity, antioxidant capacity, and anti-amyloid properties, respectively. The top-ranked amiridine-based compound 5d was also inspected by in silico to reveal the butyrylcholinesterase binding differences with its close structural analogue 5b. Our study provides insight into the discovery of novel amiridine-based drugs by broadening their target-engaged profile from cholinesterase inhibitors towards MTDLs with potential implications in AD therapy.

Kynurenic acid is a neuroprotective metabolite of tryptophan formed by kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) catalyzed transformation of kynurenine. However, its high brain levels are associated with cognitive deficit and with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Although several classes of KAT inhibitors have been published, the search for new inhibitor chemotypes is crucial for the process of finding suitable clinical candidates. Therefore, we used pharmacophore modeling and molecular docking, which predicted derivatives of heterocyclic amino ketones as new potential irreversible inhibitors of kynurenine aminotransferase II. Thiazole and triazole-based amino ketones were synthesized within a SAR study and their inhibitory activities were evaluated in vitro. The observed activities confirmed our computational model and, moreover, the best compounds showed sub-micromolar inhibitory activity with 2-alaninoyl-5-(4-fluorophenyl)thiazole having IC50 = 0.097 µM.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative condition of the central nervous system (CNS) that is currently treated by cholinesterase inhibitors and the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, memantine. Emerging evidence strongly supports the relevance of targeting butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in the more advanced stages of AD. Within this study, we have generated a pilot series of compounds (1–20) structurally inspired from belladine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, namely carltonine A and B, and evaluated their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and BuChE inhibition properties. Some of the compounds exhibited intriguing inhibition activity for human BuChE (hBuChE), with a preference for BuChE over AChE. Seven compounds were found to possess a hBuChE inhibition profile, with IC50 values below 1 µM. The most potent one, compound 6, showed nanomolar range activity with an IC50 value of 72 nM and an excellent selectivity pattern over AChE, reaching a selectivity index of almost 1400. Compound 6 was further studied by enzyme kinetics, along with in-silico techniques, to reveal the mode of inhibition. The prediction of CNS availability estimates that all the compounds in this survey can pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), as disclosed by the BBB score.

Thirteen known (1–12 and 16) and three previously undescribed Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of belladine structural type, named carltonine A-C (13–15), were isolated from bulbs of Narcissus pseudonarcissus cv. Carlton (Amaryllidaceae) by standard chromatographic methods. Compounds isolated in sufficient amounts, and not tested previously, were evaluated for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE; E.C. 3.1.1.7), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE; E.C. 3.1.1.8) and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP; E.C. 3.4.21.26) inhibition activities. Significant human BuChE (hBUChE) inhibitory activity was demonstrated by newly described alkaloids carltonine A (13) and carltonine B (14) with IC50 values of 913 ± 20 nM and 31 ± 1 nM, respectively. Both compounds displayed a selective inhibition pattern for hBuChE with an outstanding selectivity profile over AChE inhibition, higher than 100. The in vitro data were further supported by in silico studies of the active alkaloids 13 and 14 in the active site of hBuChE.

In recent studies, several alkaloids acting as cholinesterase inhibitors were isolated from Corydalis cava (Papaveraceae). Inhibitory activities of (+)-thalictricavine (1) and (+)-canadine (2) on human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE) were evaluated with the Ellman’s spectrophotometric method. Molecular modeling was used to inspect the binding mode of compounds into the active site pocket of hAChE. The possible permeability of 1 and 2 through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) was predicted by the parallel artificial permeation assay (PAMPA) and logBB calculation. In vitro, 1 and 2 were found to be selective hAChE inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.38 ± 0.05 µM and 0.70 ± 0.07 µM, respectively, but against hBChE were considered inactive (IC50 values > 100 µM). Furthermore, both alkaloids demonstrated a competitive-type pattern of hAChE inhibition and bind, most probably, in the same AChE sub-site as its substrate. In silico docking experiments allowed us to confirm their binding poses into the active center of hAChE. Based on the PAMPA and logBB calculation, 2 is potentially centrally active, but for 1 BBB crossing is limited. In conclusion, 1 and 2 appear as potential lead compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related, neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by cognitive impairment and restrictions in activities of daily living. This disease is the most common form of dementia with complex multifactorial pathological mechanisms. Many therapeutic approaches have been proposed. Among them, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and prolyl oligopeptidase can be beneficial targets in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Roots, along with aerial parts of Argemone platyceras, were extracted with ethanol and fractionated on an alumina column using light petrol, chloroform and ethanol. Subsequently, repeated preparative thin-layer chromatography led to the isolation of (+)-laudanosine, protopine, (–)-argemonine, allocryptopine, (–)-platycerine, (–)-munitagine, and (–)-norargemonine belonging to pavine, protopine and benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline structural types. Chemical structures of the isolated alkaloids were elucidated by optical rotation, spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis (NMR, MS), and comparison with literature data. (+)-Laudanosine was isolated from A. platyceras for the first time. Isolated compounds were tested for human blood acetylcholinesterase, human plasma butyrylcholinesterase and recombinant prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitory activity. The alkaloids inhibited the enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. The most active compound (–)-munitagine, a pavine alkaloid, inhibited both acetylcholinesterase and prolyl oligopeptidase with IC50 values of 62.3 ± 5.8 µM and 277.0 ± 31.3 µM, respectively.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex disease with an unknown etiology. Available treatments, limited to cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, provide symptomatic relief only. As single-target therapies have not proven effective, rational specific-targeted combination into a single molecule represents a more promising approach for treating AD, and is expected to yield greater benefits in alleviating symptoms and slowing disease progression. In the present study, we designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated 24 novel N-methylpropargylamino-quinazoline derivatives. Initially, compounds were thoroughly inspected by in silico techniques determining their oral and CNS availabilities. We tested, in vitro, the compounds’ effects on cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase A/B (MAO-A/B), as well as their impacts on NMDAR antagonism, dehydrogenase activity, and glutathione levels. In addition, we inspected selected compounds for their cytotoxicity on undifferentiated and differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. We collectively highlighted II-6h as the best candidate endowed with a selective MAO-B inhibition profile, NMDAR antagonism, an acceptable cytotoxicity profile, and the potential to permeate through BBB. The structure-guided drug design strategy applied in this study imposed a novel concept for rational drug discovery and enhances our understanding on the development of novel therapeutic agents for treating AD.

Abstract Background Based on in vitro and in vivo rat experiments, the newly developed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) reactivator, K203, appears to be much more effective in the treatment of tabun poisonings than currently fielded oximes. Methods To determine if this reactivating efficacy would extend to humans, studies were conducted in vitro using human brain homogenate as the source of AChE. The efficacy of K203 was compared with commercially available oximes; pralidoxime, obidoxime and asoxime (HI-6). Results Reactivation studies showed that K203 was the most effective reactivator with a second order kinetic constant (k r) of 2142 min− 1. M− 1, which was 51 times higher than that obtained for obidoxime (k r = 42 min− 1. M− 1). Both pralidoxime and asoxime (HI-6) failed to significantly reactivate tabun-inhibited human AChE. Discussion According to these results and previous studies, using K203, it appears that oxime K203 is the most effective reactivator of tabun-inhibited cholinesterase in several species including humans and should be considered as a possible medical countermeasure to tabun exposure.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex disorder with unknown etiology. Currently, only symptomatic therapy of AD is available, comprising cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists. Drugs targeting only one pathological condition have generated only limited efficacy. Thus, combining two or more therapeutic interventions into one molecule is believed to provide higher benefit for the treatment of AD. In the presented study, we designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated 15 novel fluoren-9-amine derivatives. The in silico prediction suggested both the oral availability and permeation through the blood–brain barrier (BBB). An initial assessment of the biological profile included determination of the cholinesterase inhibition and NMDA receptor antagonism at the GluN1/GluN2A and GluN1/GluN2B subunits, along with a low cytotoxicity profile in the CHO-K1 cell line. Interestingly, compounds revealed a selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition pattern with antagonistic activity on the NMDARs. Their interaction with butyrylcholinesterase was elucidated by studying enzyme kinetics for compound 3c in tandem with the in silico docking simulation. The docking study showed the interaction of the tricyclic core of new derivatives with Trp82 within the anionic site of the enzyme in a similar way as the template drug tacrine. From the kinetic analysis, it is apparent that 3c is a competitive inhibitor of BChE.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating progressive neurodegenerative disorder that ultimately leads to the patient’s death. Despite the fact that novel pharmacological approaches endeavoring to block the neurodegenerative process are still emerging, none of them have reached use in clinical practice yet. Thus, palliative treatment represented by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and memantine are still the only therapeutics used. Following the multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) strategy, herein we describe the synthesis, biological evaluation and docking studies for novel 7-methoxytacrine-p-anisidine hybrids designed to purposely target both cholinesterases and the amyloid cascade. Indeed, the novel derivatives proved to be effective non-specific cholinesterase inhibitors showing non-competitive AChE inhibition patterns. This compounds’ behavior was confirmed in the subsequent molecular modeling studies.

Human 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 is a multifunctional protein involved in many enzymatic and structural processes within mitochondria. This enzyme was suggested to be involved in several neurological diseases, e.g., mental retardation, Parkinson’s disease, or Alzheimer’s disease, in which it was shown to interact with the amyloid-beta peptide. We prepared approximately 60 new compounds based on a benzothiazolyl scaffold and evaluated their inhibitory ability and mechanism of action. The most potent inhibitors contained 3-chloro and 4-hydroxy substitution on the phenyl ring moiety, a small substituent at position 6 on the benzothiazole moiety, and the two moieties were connected via a urea linker (4at, 4bb, and 4bg). These compounds exhibited IC50 values of 1−2 μM and showed an uncompetitive mechanism of action with respect to the substrate, acetoacetyl-CoA. These uncompetitive benzothiazolyl inhibitors of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 are promising compounds for potential drugs for neurodegenerative diseases that warrant further research and development.

Tacrine was the first drug to be approved for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment, acting as a cholinesterase inhibitor. The neuropathological hallmarks of AD are amyloid-rich senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal degeneration. The portfolio of currently approved drugs for AD includes acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. Squaric acid is a versatile structural scaffold capable to be easily transformed into amide-bearing compounds that feature both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups with the possibility to create multiple interactions with complementary sites. Considering the relatively simple synthesis approach and other interesting properties (rigidity, aromatic character, H-bond formation) of squaramide motif, we combined this scaffold with different tacrine-based derivatives. In this study, we developed 21 novel dimers amalgamating squaric acid with either tacrine, 6-chlorotacrine or 7-methoxytacrine representing various AChEIs. All new derivatives were evaluated for their anti-cholinesterase activities, cytotoxicity using HepG2 cell line and screened to predict their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In this contribution, we also report in silico studies of the most potent AChE and BChE inhibitors in the active site of these enzymes.

Twelve derivatives 1a–1m of the β-crinane-type alkaloid haemanthamine were developed. All the semisynthetic derivatives were studied for their inhibitory potential against both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. In addition, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) inhibition potency was evaluated in the active derivatives. In order to reveal the availability of the drugs to the CNS, we elucidated the potential of selected derivatives to penetrate through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Two compounds, namely 11-O-(2-methylbenzoyl)-haemanthamine (1j) and 11-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)-haemanthamine (1m), revealed the most intriguing profile, both being acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) inhibitors on a micromolar scale, with GSK-3β inhibition properties, and predicted permeation through the BBB. In vitro data were further corroborated by detailed inspection of the compounds’ plausible binding modes in the active sites of hAChE and hBuChE, which led us to provide the structural determinants responsible for the activity towards these enzymes.

Nerve agents and oxon forms of organophosphorus pesticides act as strong irreversible inhibitors of two cholinesterases in the human body: acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8), and are therefore highly toxic compounds. For the recovery of inhibited AChE, antidotes from the group of pyridinium or bispyridinium aldoxime reactivators (pralidoxime, obidoxime, HI-6) are used in combination with anticholinergics and anticonvulsives. Therapeutic efficacy of reactivators (called “oximes”) depends on their chemical structure and also the type of organophosphorus inhibitor. Three novel oximes (K131, K142, K153) with an oxime group in position four of the pyridinium ring were designed and then tested for their potency to reactivate human (Homo sapiens sapiens) AChE (HssACHE) and BChE (HssBChE) inhibited by the pesticide paraoxon (diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate). According to the obtained results, none of the prepared oximes were able to satisfactorily reactivate paraoxon-inhibited cholinesterases. On the contrary, extraordinary activity of obidoxime in the case of paraoxon-inhibited HssAChE reactivation was confirmed. Additional docking studies pointed to possible explanations for these results.

Tacrine (THA), the first clinically effective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor and the first approved drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), was withdrawn from the market due to its side effects, particularly its hepatotoxicity. Nowadays, THA serves as a valuable scaffold for the design of novel agents potentially applicable for AD treatment. One such compound, namely 7-methoxytacrine (7-MEOTA), exhibits an intriguing profile, having suppressed hepatotoxicity and concomitantly retaining AChE inhibition properties. Another interesting class of AChE inhibitors represents Huprines, designed by merging two fragments of the known AChE inhibitors—THA and (−)-huperzine A. Several members of this compound family are more potent human AChE inhibitors than the parent compounds. The most promising are so-called huprines X and Y. Here, we report the design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and in silico studies of 2-methoxyhuprine that amalgamates structural features of 7-MEOTA and huprine Y in one molecule.