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The synthesis of biologically active 1,4-dihyripyridine derivatives using a Calotropis gigantea leaf powder and ZnO NPs used as catalyst under solvent-free conditions at room temperature via grinding method has been established in a single-stage, mild, and environmentally friendly green process. The procedure is fast and effective and produces high yields. Three cancer cell lines were used to assess the cytotoxic activity of 1,4-dihyropyridine derivatives. The cytotoxicity of 1,4-dihyropyridine compound 1f (HepG2, LC50-0.50 μM, MCF-7, LC50-0.64 μM, and HeLa, LC50-0.52 μM) was found to be highly active. The synthesized derivatives demonstrated their safety by causing substantially less cytotoxicity in normal cell lines HEK-293, LO2, and MRC5 with IC 50 > 100 g/mL. As a result, compound 1f could serve as a high-impact molecule for the production of anticancer drugs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse pharmacological role of dihydropyrimidinone scaffold has made it to be an interesting drug target. Because of the high incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer, there is a dire need of discovering new pharmacotherapeutic agents in managing this disease. A series of twenty-two derivatives of 6-(chloromethyl)-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate (3a-3k) and ethyl 6-(chloromethyl)-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate (4a-4k) synthesized in a previous study were evaluated for their anticancer potential against breast cancer cell line. Molecular docking studies were performed to analyze the binding mode and interaction pattern of these compounds against nine breast cancer target proteins. The in vitro cell proliferation assay was performed against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The structure activity relationship of these compounds was further studied using QSARINS. Among nine proteins, the docking analysis revealed efficient binding of compounds 4f, 4e, 3e, 4g, and 4h against all target proteins. The in vitro cytotoxic assay revealed significant anticancer activity of compound 4f having I C 50 of 2.15 μM. The compounds 4e, 3e, 4g, and 4h also showed anticancer activities with I C 50 of 2.401, 2.41, 2.47 and 2.33 μM, respectively. The standard tamoxifen showed I C 50 1.88 μM. The 2D qualitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis was also carried out to identify potential breast cancer targets through QSARINS. The final QSAR equation revealed good predictivity and statistical validation R 2 and Q 2 values for the model obtained from QSARINS was 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. The active compounds showed very good anticancer activities, and the binding analysis has revealed stable hydrogen bonding of these compounds with the target proteins. Moreover, the QSAR analysis has predicted useful information on the structural requirement of these compounds as anticancer agents with the importance of topological and autocorrelated descriptors in effecting the cancer activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A desktop NMR spectrometer was used to qualitatively analyze samples in drug-related cases in order to enhance the accuracy of the results and identify new drugs. Twelve known drugs and their derivatives were used to establish the parameters, conditions, and procedures for the methods and validate the feasibility and reliability of the methods. First, 1-D and 2-D NMR data for these 12 drugs and their derivatives were obtained in detail using a 600-MHz NMR spectrometer to create a data library. Next, some of these 12 drugs were analyzed using a Picospin 80 MHz desktop NMR spectrometer to set up the analytical procedure and method. With the procedure and method established, real case samples were analyzed and the data were compared to those obtained by a standard method. The results indicate that the desktop NMR spectrometer is a reliable and promising approach that can be used in criminology to quickly identify whether or not samples contain illegal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive and selective gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was developed and fully validated for the determination of vildagliptin (VIL) in pharmaceutical formulation. Prior to GC-MS analysis, VIL was efficiently derivatized with MSTFA/NH4I/β-mercaptoethanol at 60°C for 30 min. The obtained O-TMS derivative of VIL was detected by selected ion monitoring mode using the diagnostic ions m/z 223 and 252. Nandrolone was chosen as internal standard. The GC-MS method was fully validated by the following validation parameters: limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ), linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, stability, robustness, and ruggedness. LOD and LOQ were found to be 1.5 and 3.5 ng mL−1, respectively. The GC-MS method is linear in the range of 3.5–300 ng mL−1. The intra- and interday precision values were less than ≤3.62%. The intra- and interday accuracy values were found in the range of -0.26–2.06%. Finally, the GC-MS method was successfully applied to determine VIL in pharmaceutical formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some natural alkaloids from medicinal plants, such as yohimbine and its derivatives, have been reported with adrenoceptor (AR) α2 subtypes inhibiting activity. In trying to address the possible mechanism of the action, a set of homology models of AR α2 was built based on MOE. After that, docking and molecular dynamics methods were used to investigate the binding modes of yohimbine and its 2 derivatives in the active pocket of adrenoceptor al subtype A, B, and C. The key interactions between the 3 ligands and the 3 receptors were mapped. Binding mode analysis presents a strong identity in the key residues in each subtype. Only a few differences play the key role in modulating selectivity of yohimbine and its derivatives. These results can guide the design of new selective AR α2 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several Schiff bases 2 have been prepared by the condensation of various methyl ketones 1 with 1,2-ethylenediamine. Subsequent acylation of these Schiff bases with trifluoro acetic anhydride in THF yields the correspondingtrifluoroacetyl derivatives 3. However, o-hydroxy- and o-methoxy-substituted derivatives yielded substituted-trifluoromethylchroman-4-ones. Additionally, Schiff bases when reacted with acetic anhydride afforded the C-acetylated derivatives 4. The structures of the isolated compounds were fully determined by spectral methods. Preliminary biological screening of the prepared compounds revealed significant cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-(Methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC) is a major bioactive compound in wasabi (Wasabia japonica), which is a typical Japanese pungent spice. Recently, in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that 6-MSITC has several biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiplatelet, and anticancer effects. We previously reported that 6-MSITC strongly suppresses cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cytokines, which are important factors that mediate inflammatory processes. Moreover, molecular analysis demonstrated that 6-MSITC blocks the expressions of these factors by suppressing multiple signal transduction pathways to attenuate the activation of transcriptional factors. Structure-activity relationships of 6-MSITC and its analogues containing an isothiocyanate group revealed that methylsulfinyl group and the length of alkyl chain of 6-MSITC might be related to high inhibitory potency. In this paper, we review the anti-inflammatory properties of 6-MSITC and discuss potential molecular mechanisms focusing on inflammatory responses by macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]