3,5-Bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones as potential dengue protease inhibitors.

Dengue is a severe mosquito-borne viral infection causing half a million deaths annually. Dengue virus NS2B/NS3 protease is a validated target for anti-dengue drug design. A series of hitherto unreported 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones analogues - were synthesized and screened against DENV2 NS2B/NS3 protease to elucidate their binding mechanism and orientation around the active sites.