Drug Repositioning: A Unique Approach to Refurbish Drug Discovery.

For a decade, it has been observed that there is a remarkable decrease in the quantum of novel clinically approved drugs, in spite of modernization in the research and development process. We have highlighted repositioning of drugs as a methodology that has found new therapeutic implications for clinically approved drugs but with different indications. This can be considered as an upbringing strategy to deliver timely and cost-effective solutions, which still need exploration for getting over the shortage of novel drugs reaching the market.

Molecular Modeling Studies on Some Important Anticancer Heterocycles: An Overview.

There has been a rapid surge in the research and exchange of ideas in various areas of chemistry such as organic, pharmaceutical, analytical, and medicinal chemistry. It is well recognized that heterocycles are vital components of many biochemical processes. Pharma industry comprises more than 75% of top selling drugs that are of heterocyclic origin.

Marker assisted accelerated introgression of null allele of kunitz trypsin inhibitor in soybean.

Development of kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI)-free soybean is crucial for soy-food industry as the heat inactivation employed to inactivate the anti-nutritional factor in regular soybean incurs extra cost and affects protein solubility. In the presented work, a null allele of KTI from PI542044 was introgressed into cultivar 'JS97-52' (recurrent parent) through marker assisted backcrossing. Foreground selection in BC1F2, BC2F2 and BC3F2 was carried out using the null allele-specific marker in tandem with SSR marker Satt228, tightly linked with a trypsin inhibitor Ti locus.

Survivability of parthenogenetic embryos following in vivo transfer in naturally synchronized Capra hircus.

The present study was conducted to see the in vivo developmental potency of caprine parthenogenetic embryos generated in a modified way. The good quality caprine oocytes were matured in presence of cytochalasin B (CCB) and then activated by 7% ethanol followed by 2 mM 6-dimethyl amino purine (6-DMAP) and embryo development was recorded. Early stage parthenogenetic embryos (two to four cells) were surgically transferred in recipients (10).

Solubility Prediction of Satranidazole in Aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide Mixtures Using Extended Hildebrand Solubility Approach.

The solubility of satranidazole in several water-N,N-dimethylformamide mixtures was analysed in terms of solute-solvent interactions and data were treated on the basis of extended Hildebrand solubility approach. The solubility profile of satranidazole in water-N,N-dimethylformamide mixtures shows a curve with a solubility maxima well above the ideal solubility of drug. This is attributed to solvation of the drug with the water-N,N-dimethylformamide mixture, and indicates that the solute-solvent interaction energy (W) is larger than the geometric mean (δ(1)δ(2)) of regular solution theory.

Qsar study of some substituted 4-quinolinyl and 9-acridinyl hydrazones as antimalarial agents.

The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis of some synthesized substituted 4-quinolinyl and 9-acridinyl hydrazone derivatives were performed to find out the structural requirements of their antimalarial activities. Various 2D descriptors were calculated and used in the present analysis. The 2D-QSAR studies were performed using three statistical methods: the multiple linear regressions, giving square of correlation coefficient (r(2)) = 0.

Extended hildebrand solubility approach: satranidazole in mixtures of dioxane and water.

The extended Hildebrand solubility parameter approach is used to estimate the solubility of satranidazole in binary solvent systems. The solubility of satranidazole in various dioxane-water mixtures was analyzed in terms of solute-solvent interactions using a modified version of Hildebrand-Scatchard treatment for regular solutions. The solubility of satranidazole in the binary solvent, dioxane-water shows a bell-shaped profile with a solubility maximum well above the ideal solubility of the drug.

Modulated release of 5-fluorouracil from pH-sensitive and colon targeted pellets: an industrially feasible approach.

Pellets, reliant on pH-sensitivity and time-dependency for drug delivery, provide one of the most versatile opportunities for targeting colon. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded pellets were prepared by extrusion-spheronization using Avicel(®) PH101 as a spheronization aid and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K4M (HPMC K4M) solution as a binder. A 3(2) full factorial design was employed to optimize spheronization speed and time.

Mixed micelle formation with hydrophobic and hydrophilic Pluronic block copolymers: implications for controlled and targeted drug delivery.

Pluronic block copolymers offer affluent phase behavioral characteristics and are extensively investigated for drug delivery applications. Hydrophobic Pluronics produce larger aggregates whereas hydrophilic Pluronics often generate small-sized micelles in aqueous milieu. To overcome the limitations and combine the advantages of different kinds of Pluronics the mixing of such two types of Pluronics is studied here, especially for hydrophobic Pluronic L81 and relatively hydrophilic Pluronic P123.

Prediction of HIV-1 protease inhibitory activity of 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones: QSAR study.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) protease is an important strategy for the treatment of HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Therefore, HIV-1 protease inhibitory activity of dihydropyranone derivatives has been analyzed with different physico-chemical parameters. In the present work, QSAR studies were performed on a series of 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones to explore the physico-chemical parameters responsible for their HIV-1 protease inhibitory activity.

Trimethyl chitosan and its applications in drug delivery.

Chitosan, a polymer obtained by deacetylation of chitin is widely studied for its pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical applications. Recommendations about uses of this polymer although could not be always realized due to limited solubility. Chitosan, for example, has been extensively evaluated for its mucoadhesive and absorption enhancement properties.

Prediction of caspase-3 inhibitory activity of 1,3-dioxo-4-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1h-pyrrolo[3,4-c] quinolines: QSAR study.

Neurodegenerative disorders are consequences of progressive and irreversible loss of neurons due to unwanted apoptosis which involves caspases, a group of cysteine proteases that cleave other proteins and inactivate them. Among several different groups of caspase enzymes, caspases-3 plays a key role in apoptosis and are a therapeutic target for their inhibition. In pursuit of better caspase-3 inhibitors, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis was performed on a series of 1,3-dioxo-4-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c] quinolines as caspase-3 inhibitors using WIN CAChe 6.

Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins: a cause for complications in diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases, and is the fifth leading cause of death in most of the developed countries. It can affect nearly every organ and system in the body and may result in blindness, end stage renal disease, lower extremity amputation and increase risk of stroke, ischaemic heart diseases and peripheral vascular disease. Hyperglycemia in diabetes causes non-enzymatic glycation of free amino groups of proteins (of lysine residues) and leads to their structural and functional changes, resulting in complications of the diabetes.

Inhibitory mode of 2-acetoxyphenyl alkyl sulfides against COX-1 and COX-2: QSAR analyses.

Selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors is an important strategy in design of potent anti-inflammatory compounds with significantly reduced side effects. Therefore, QSAR studies of 2-acetoxyphenyl alkyl sulfides were performed using Bioloom, CAChe 6.1, and Dragon 3.

A QSAR approach for the prediction of stability of benzoglycolamide ester prodrugs.

A method consisting of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) (MLR) was developed to predict the hydrolytic rate constant of 37 benzoglycolamide ester prodrugs. The regression method was used as a calibration model for calculating the hydrolytic rate constant and investigating their linear characteristics. The QSAR study indicated the importance of the descriptors charge on amide nitrogen (AN), lipophilic parameter (log P) and nucleophilic frontal density (NUFD) in contribution to the ester hydrolysis with the correlation coefficient value of 0.

Design, synthesis, antibacterial, and QSAR studies of myristic acid derivatives.

A series of esters and amides of myristic acid was synthesized and tested in vitro for antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. All the compounds showed activity comparable to that of the standard drug, ciprofloxacin. The structural characteristics governing antibacterial activity of myristic acid derivatives was studied using QSAR methodology.

Esters, amides and substituted derivatives of cinnamic acid: synthesis, antimicrobial activity and QSAR investigations.

A series of esters (I(a-k)), substituted derivatives (II(a-d)) and amides (III(a-q)) of cinnamic acid were synthesized and evaluated as antibacterial and antifungal agents. All the derivatives belonging to the series I, II and III showed antimicrobial activity comparable to the standard. Compounds I(f) and II(c) proved to be the most effective compounds.