Design,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Quinazoline Derivatives as Anti‐inflammatory Agents against Lipopolysaccharide‐induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats

Quinazoline has been reported to exhibit multiple bioactivities. The aim of this study was to discover new quinazoline derivatives with preventive effect on lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury via anti‐inflammatory actions. Thirty‐three 4‐amino quinazolin derivatives were synthesized and screened for anti‐inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide‐induced macrophages. The most potent four compounds, 6h, 6m, 6p , and 6q , were shown dose‐dependent inhibition against lipopolysaccharide‐induced TNF‐α and IL‐6 release. Then, the preliminary structure–activity relationship and quantitative structure–activity relationship analyses were conducted. To further determine the effects of quinazolines on acute lung injury treatment, lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury model was employed. Male Sprague Dawley rats were pretreated with 6m or 6q before instillation of lipopolysaccharide. The results showed that 6m and 6q, especially 6q , obviously alleviated lung histopathological changes, inflammatory cells infiltration, and cytokines mRNA expression initiated by lipopolysaccharide. Taken together, this work suggests that 6m and 6q suppressed the lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury through inhibition of the inflammatory response in vivo and in vitro, indicating that quinazolines might serve as potential agents for the treatment of acute lung injury and deserve the continuing drug development and research.     

Synthesis of Novel Substituted Thiourea and Benzimidazole Derivatives Containing a Pyrazolone Ring as Anti‐Inflammatory Agents

Two series of new 1‐(alkyl/aryl)‐3‐{2‐[(5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl)amino]phenyl}thioureas 2a – h and 5‐[2‐(substituted amino)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl]‐4H‐pyrazol‐3‐ols 3a – i were designed and synthesized as anti‐inflammatory agents. The cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity of the newly synthesized compounds was investigated. All the compounds showed non‐selective inhibition of COX‐1 and COX‐2 enzymes which was consistent with their docking results. Compounds 2c , 2f , 2g , 3b , and 3g that showed the highest COX‐2 inhibitory activity were selected for further in vivo testing as anti‐inflammatory agents using diclofenac as a reference drug. Two of the test compounds ( 2c and 3b ) showed potent anti‐inflammatory activity comparable to that of diclofenac with lower ulcerogenic effect relative to indomethacin. SAR study of the two series as cyclooxygenase inhibitors and anti‐inflammatory agents was also provided.     

Design,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Pyrazole Derivatives

In this in vitro study, a series of novel pyrazole derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated against five human cancer cell lines (PC3, A549, HL60, HCT116, and SW620) for their antiproliferative and p53‐MDM2 binding inhibitory activities. Although biological evaluations showed that this series of compounds possessed weak p53‐MDM2 inhibitory activities, most of them displayed moderate to potent antiproliferative activities against the tested cells lines. Compound 11c exhibited the best potency for MDM2 (FP‐IC₅₀ = 29.22 μm ) and demonstrated antiproliferative activities in response to the five tested cell lines (IC₅₀ = 4.09–16.82 μm ). Compared with the positive control Nutlin‐1, there was enhanced antiproliferative activity to p53‐mutated or p53‐deficient cell lines (SW620, HL60, and PC3).     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 4‐Arylphthalazones Bearing Benzenesulfonamide as Anti‐Inflammatory and Anti‐Cancer Agents

Nine 4‐arylphthalazones bearing benzenesulfonamide (2a – i ) were synthesized by the condensation of the appropriate 2‐aroylbenzoic acid ( 1a – i ) and 4‐hydrazinobenzenesulfonamide in ethanol. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and MS spectroscopy. Two compounds, 2b and 2i , showed significant anti‐inflammatory activity comparable to that of the standard drug celecoxib in the carrageenan‐induced rat paw edema model. These compounds ( 2b and 2i ) had selective inhibitory activity towards the COX‐2 enzyme. Compound 2b had a better selectivity ratio (COX‐1/COX‐2) compared to that of celecoxib and can be used as a novel template for the design of selective COX‐2 inhibitors. Compounds 2d and 2i were screened for their antiproliferative activity toward 60 human cancer cell lines by the National Cancer Institute (USA). The compounds 2d and 2i displayed mild activity toward the renal cancer cell line UO‐31.     

Design,Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Pazopanib Derivatives as Antitumor Agents

A novel series of pazopanib derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against a series of kinases including VEGFR‐2, EGFR, AKT1, ALK1, and ABL1. The anti‐angiogenic activities ex vivo of some compounds were also investigated. Compounds P2d and P2e demonstrated outstanding inhibitory activity against VEGFR‐2 and ABL1 and higher anti‐angiogenic activity compared with Pazopanib, the reference standard. These two compounds ( P2d and P2e ) could be used as novel lead compounds for further development of anticancer agents.     

Design and Synthesis of 2‐Phenoxynicotinic Acid Hydrazides as Anti‐inflammatory and Analgesic Agents

A series of 2‐phenoxynicotinic acid hydrazides were synthesized and evaluated for their analgesic and anti‐inflammatory activities. Several compounds having an unsubstituted phenyl/4‐pyridyl or C‐4 methoxy substituent on the terminal phenyl ring showed moderate to high analgesic or anti‐inflammatory activity in comparison to mefenamic acid as the reference drug. The compounds with highest anti‐inflammatory activity were subjected to in vitro COX‐1/COX‐2 inhibition assays and showed moderate to good COX‐1 and weak COX‐2 inhibition activities.     

Discovery of Novel 2‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole Derivatives as Potential Anti‐Inflammatory Agents

A novel 2‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole derivative 5 with good anti‐inflammatory activity was identified from our in‐house library. Based on hit compound 5 , two series of 2‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole derivative 6a – g and 7a – h were designed and synthesized as novel anti‐inflammatory agents. Most of synthesized compounds exhibited good inhibitory activity on NO and TNF‐α production in LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, in which the compound 6e showed most potent inhibitory activity on NO (IC₅₀ = 0.86 μm ) and TNF‐α (IC₅₀ = 1.87 μm ) production. Further evaluation revealed that compound 6e displayed more potent in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity than ibuprofen did on xylene‐induced ear oedema in mice. Additionally, Western blot analysis revealed that compound 6e could restore phosphorylation level of IκBα and protein expression of p65 NF‐κB in LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.     

Synthesis,Cytotoxicity, and Pro‐Apoptosis Activity of Etodolac Hydrazide Derivatives as Anticancer Agents

Etodolac hydrazide and a novel series of etodolac hydrazide‐hydrazones 3 – 15 and etodolac 4‐thiazolidinones 16 – 26 were synthesized in this study. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectral (FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HREI‐MS) methods. Some selected compounds were determined at one dose toward the full panel of 60 human cancer cell lines by the National Cancer Institute (NCI, Bethesda, USA). 2‐(1,8‐Diethyl‐1,3,4,9‐tetrahydropyrano[3,4‐b]indole‐1‐yl)acetic acid[(4‐chlorophenyl)methylene]hydrazide 9 demonstrated the most marked effect on the prostate cancer cell line PC‐3, with 58.24% growth inhibition at 10^?5 M (10 µM). Using the MTT colorimetric method, compound 9 was evaluated in vitro against the prostate cell line PC‐3 and the rat fibroblast cell line L‐929, for cell viability and growth inhibition at different doses. Compound 9 exhibited anticancer activity with an IC₅₀ value of 54 µM (22.842 µg/mL) against the PC‐3 cells and did not display any cytotoxicity toward the L‐929 rat fibroblasts, compared to etodolac. In addition, this compound was evaluated for caspase‐3 and Bcl‐2 activation in the apoptosis pathway, which plays a key role in the treatment of cancer.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 2‐Substituted‐quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones as Potent Analgesic and Anti‐inflammatory Agents

A novel series of 2‐substituted‐quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones were synthesized by reacting 3,5‐disubstituted‐anthranilic acid with acetic anhydride/benzoyl chloride, which were further reacted with different primary amines to obtain 2,6,8‐substituted‐quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones 6a–f , 7 , 8 . All the synthesized compounds were characterized and screened for analgesic and anti‐inflammatory activities. Compounds 6,8‐dibromo‐2‐phenyl‐3‐(4′‐carboxyl phenyl)quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 7 and 6,8‐dibromo‐2‐phenyl‐3‐(2′‐phenylethanoic acid)quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one 8 displayed good analgesic and anti‐inflammatory activity in comparison to the reference standards acetyl salicylic acid and indomethacin, respectively.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 3, 8‐dimethyl‐5‐isopropylazulene Derivatives as Anti‐gastric Ulcer Agent

Recent studies showed that Guaiazulene (GA) and Sodium guaiazulene sulfonate (GAS‐Na) have good anti‐gastric ulcer effect. Here, two series of GA derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti‐gastric ulcer activity. The data obtained from in vivo testing of these compounds in a rodent ethanol‐induced stomach injury model are discussed. Among the tested compounds, A1 , A4 , and A9 (ulcer index: 1.125 ± 1.246**, 1.714 ± 0.756*, 1.875 ± 1.126*) exhibited better anti‐gastric ulcer activity than the positive control Omeprazole (2.005 ± 1.011*). The information got from these studies and the results of 3D‐SAR investigation may be useful in the design of novel anti‐gastric ulcer agents.     

Design and Synthesis of Butenolide‐based Novel Benzyl Pyrrolones: Their TNF‐α based Molecular Docking with In vivo and In vitro Anti‐inflammatory Activity

A focused library of novel benzyl pyrrolones has been synthesized and their in silico molecular docking studies carried out against TNF‐α target. Among all the docked molecules, compound 3f showed best glide score of ?6.89. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vivo anti‐inflammatory activity by carrageenan‐induced paw edema model. Compounds showing significant anti‐inflammatory activity were further tested for their in vitro TNF α expression. Compounds 3b and 2b were found to show significant inhibition of 76.22% and 71.47%, respectively after 5 h in comparison with standard drug indomethacin, which showed 80.98% inhibition of inflammation. Compounds 3b and 2b also suppressed TNF α level by 65.03% and 60.90% as compared indomethacin, which showed 68.84% of inhibition. Compound 3b showed significant analgesic activity of 60.04%, and its activity was comparable with indomethacin (64.04%). Compounds 3b and 2b were also tested for their effect on protein expression of COX‐2 and NF‐κB in the liver tissues. Compounds 3b and 2b were further evaluated for their gastric risk and lipid peroxidation action and showed superior GI safety along with reduction of LPO as compared to indomethacin. Hepatotoxicity study showed that these two compounds did not cause any damage to liver.     

Synthesis and Biologic Evaluation of Substituted 5‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐3(2H)‐one Derivatives as Selective COX‐2 Inhibitors: Molecular Docking Study

The present study reported the synthesis and biologic evaluation of new pyrazolone derivatives for COX‐2 inhibitory activities and investigated in vivo for their anti‐inflammatory activities using carrageenan‐induced rat paw edema model as well as in vitro using HRBC membrane stabilization and protein denaturation method. Eight derivatives showed pronounced COX‐2 inhibition, and 5a, 5d, and 5f exhibited the highest COX‐2 inhibition. The derivatives were further evaluated for antioxidant activity wherein 5a and 5b showed potent free radical‐scavenging activity against DPPH, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. Molecular docking study revealed the binding orientations of pyrazolone derivatives into the active sites of COX‐2 and thereby helps to design the potent inhibitors.