The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Cell Wall: An Alluring Drug Target for Developing Newer Anti-TB Drugs-A Perspective.

The Mycobacterium cell wall is a capsule-like structure comprising of various layers of biomolecules such as mycolic acid, peptidoglycans, and arabinogalactans, which provide the Mycobacteria a sort of cellular shield. Drugs like isoniazid, ethambutol, cycloserine, delamanid, and pretomanid inhibit cell wall synthesis by inhibiting one or the other enzymes involved in cell wall synthesis. Many enzymes present across these layers serve as potential targets for the design and development of newer anti-TB drugs.

Novel quinolinepiperazinyl-aryltetrazoles targeting the blood stage of .

The emergence of drug resistance against the frontline antimalarials is a major challenge in the treatment of malaria. In view of emerging reports on drug-resistant strains of against artemisinin combination therapy, a dire need is felt for the discovery of novel compounds acting against novel targets in the parasite. In this study, we identified a novel series of quinolinepiperazinyl-aryltetrazoles (QPTs) targeting the blood stage of .

An efficient one-pot synthesis and docking studies of bioactive new antiproliferative dispiro[oxindole/acenaphthylenone‒benzofuranone] pyrrolidine scaffolds.

A new and efficient method has been developed to synthesize dispiro[oxindole/acenaphthylenone-benzofuranone]pyrrolidine compounds. This is done by triggering the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides by reacting isatin/acenaphthoquinone with L-picolinic acid/L-proline/sarcosine/L-thioproline/tetrahydroisoquinolines, in a highly regioselective manner in an ionic liquid [DBU][Ac] with 4'-chloro-auron[2-(4-chlorobenzylidene)benzofuran-3(2H)-one]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data support the proposed structures of the new compounds.

Selection of Suitable Protein Structure from Protein Data Bank: An Important Step in Structure-based Drug Design Studies.

The selection of a protein structure is an important step for the success of the drug discovery process using structure-based design. Selection of the right crystal structure is critical as multiple crystal structures are available for the same protein in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). In this communication, we have discussed a systematic approach for selecting the right type of protein structure.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of 4,7-disubstituted 8-methoxyquinazoline derivatives as potential cytotoxic agents targeting β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway.

Overactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by accumulated β-catenin in the nucleus has been shown to play a crucial role in the etiology of cancer. Interaction of β-catenin with Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) is a key step for the activation of Wnt genes in response to upstream signals of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Hence, down regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling or targeting downstream events by selective β-catenin/TCF4 protein-protein interaction inhibitors could be a potential therapeutic strategy against such cancers.

Further Studies on Cationic Gemini Amphiphiles as Carriers for Gene Delivery-The Effect of Linkers in the Structure and Other Factors Affecting the Transfection Efficacy of These Amphiphiles.

Gene therapy has the therapeutic potential to address a multitude of health problems, and it also has utility in different domains of science. However, its applications are plagued due to the absence of a suitable, safe, efficient, selective, and universal vector, which could help in delivering the desired nucleic acid cargo to the site of action. Though viral vectors are efficient, they pose various health risks.

Design and synthesis of novel N-[3-(benzimidazol-2-ylamino)phenyl]amine and N-[3-(benzoxazol-2-ylamino)phenyl]amine derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

In this contribution, we report the design, synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of a series of N-[3-(benzimidazol-2-yl-amino)phenyl]amine and N-[3-(benzoxazol-2-ylamino)phenyl]amine derivatives. In vitro cytotoxicity assay of 26 selected compounds was carried out at National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA. Out of them, compounds 10e (NSC D-762842/1) and 11s (NSC D-764942/1) have shown remarkable cytotoxicity with GI values ranging between "0.

Recent developments and strategies for the discovery of TACE inhibitors.

Introduction: TNF-α plays a central role in certain autoimmune diseases as well as in inflammation. The current strategy for excluding TNF-α from circulation is to selectively inhibit TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE), an enzyme that cleaves mTNF-α to active TNF-α. Various TACE inhibitors have been discovered by using different strategies to control inflammatory diseases, cancer, and cardiac hypertrophy.

Novel Multitarget Directed Triazinoindole Derivatives as Anti-Alzheimer Agents.

The multifaceted nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) demands treatment with multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) to confront the key pathological aberrations. A novel series of triazinoindole derivatives were designed and synthesized. In vitro studies revealed that all the compounds showed moderate to good anticholinesterase activity; the most active compound showed an IC value of 0.

New pyrazolyl-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepinones: room temperature one-pot synthesis and biological evaluation.

Several new (5-aryloxy-pyrazolyl)- and (5-aryl/olefin-sulfanyl-pyrazolyl)-dibenzo[b,e] [1,4] diazepinone scaffolds have been synthesized, by assembling 5-substituted 3-methyl-1-phenyl-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes of varied nature with different cyclic diketones and aromatic diamines successfully in the presence of indium chloride in acetonitrile, at room temperature. Desired products are excellent in the purity and isolated without chromatography. All new structures are confirmed, on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of representative 29e.

Gemini Amphiphile-Based Lipoplexes for Efficient Gene Delivery: Synthesis, Formulation Development, Characterization, Gene Transfection, and Biodistribution Studies.

Some quaternary gemini amphiphiles (GAs) were synthesized as nonviral gene delivery carriers. The critical miceller concentration values of these amphiphiles are indicative of their superior surface-active properties. All of the synthesized GAs, alone or along with lipids like cholesterol and/or dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), were formulated as liposomes.

Drug-fortified liposomes as carriers for sustained release of NSAIDs: The concept and its validation in the animal model for the treatment of arthritis.

Drug-fortified cationic liposomes of 6‑methoxy‑2‑naphthylacetic acid (6‑MNA) were prepared and characterized by various techniques. The residence time of drug-fortified liposomes in joint cavity was evaluated by intra-articular (IA) administration of the radio-labeled (Tc) liposomal formulation in the inflamed joints in rats. The cationic liposomal formulation composed of 6‑MNA (3) as an active agent, its double salt (4) with the lipid 1,2‑distearoyl‑sn‑glycero‑3‑phosphoethanolamine (DSPE), and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as hydrogenated soyabean phospatidylcholine (HSPC) and 1,2‑dioleyloxy‑3‑trimethylammoniumpropane chloride (DOTAP) were developed using thin film hydration technique.

Overview of the Development of DprE1 Inhibitors for Combating the Menace of Tuberculosis.

Decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-ribose 2'-epimerase (DprE1), a vital enzyme for cell wall synthesis, plays a crucial role in the formation of lipoarabinomannan and arabinogalactan. It was first reported as a druggable target on the basis of inhibitors discovered in high throughput screening of a drug library. Since then, inhibitors with different types of chemical scaffolds have been reported for their activity against this enzyme.

Advances in the Development of Novel Factor Xa Inhibitors: A Patent Review.

Development of new anticoagulants has been in constant demand throughout the world due to increasing rate of morbidity and mortality caused by thrombotic diseases. Factor Xa (FXa), one of the enzymes and validated target for anticoagulation, regulates the production of thrombin in the coagulation cascade. The importance of oral FXa inhibitors like rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban in thromboembolic conditions is well supported by increasing number of patents and research publications during the recent years.

Vicinal diaryl azole-based urea derivatives as potential cholesterol lowering agents acting through inhibition of SOAT enzymes.

A novel series of vicinal diaryl azole-urea derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their potential to inhibit SOAT enzyme. Among the reported compounds, compound (12d) emerged as the most potent compound with an IC value of 2.43 μM.

Contemporary developments in the discovery of selective factor Xa inhibitors: A review.

Thrombosis is a leading cause of death in cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the industrialized world. Venous thromboembolism is observed in about 1 million people every year in United States causing significant morbidity and mortality. Conventional antithrombotic therapy has been reported to have several disadvantages and limitations like inconvenience in oral administration, bleeding risks (heparin analogs), narrow therapeutic window and undesirable interactions with food and drugs (vitamin K antagonist-warfarin).

Medicinal Chemistry Perspective of Fused Isoxazole Derivatives.

Nitrogen containing heterocyclic rings with an oxygen atom is considered as one of the best combination in medicinal chemistry due to their diversified biological activities. Isoxazole, a five membered heterocyclic azole ring is found in naturally occuring ibetonic acid along with some of the marketed drugs such as valdecoxib, flucloxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, and danazol. It is also significant for showing antipsychotic activity in risperidone and anticonvulsant activity in zonisamide, the marketed drugs.

One-pot synthesis, biological evaluation, and docking study of new chromeno-annulated thiopyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles.

A one-pot synthesis of new chromeno-annulated thiopyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles has been achieved through a domino-Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction after combining various pyrazol-5-thiones with O-alkenyloxy/alkynyloxy-salicylaldehydes/naphthaldehydes in a Brønsted acidic ionic liquid, [Hmim]HSO[Formula: see text], methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate, under microwave irradiation. The method is simple and in many cases the isolated products did not require further purification. The central pyranothiopyranyl cis-fusion was confirmed by 2D NMR NOESY and single-crystal X-ray analysis suggesting that the endo-E-Syn transition state would be the most favored pathway of the reaction.

Developing steroidal aromatase inhibitors-an effective armament to win the battle against breast cancer.

Breast cancer, an emerging disease among the women population, occurs due to overexpression of estrogens. The enzyme aromatase plays a key rate limiting role in the biosynthesis of estrogens. Certain clinical advantages of the use of exemestane, a steroidal aromatase inhibitor over non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors have drawn the attention of researchers for the development of novel steroidal aromatase inhibitors.

Exploring structural requirements for peripherally acting 1,5-diaryl pyrazole-containing cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonists for the treatment of obesity.

Peripherally acting cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonists are considered as potential therapeutics for the treatment of obesity with desired efficacy and reduced central nervous system side effects. A dataset of 72 compounds containing the 1,5-diaryl pyrazole basic skeleton having peripheral CB1 receptor antagonistic activity was utilized for three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship studies. Compounds of the series exhibited high variations in the biological activity and chemical structures.

A comprehensive patents review on cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonists as antiobesity agents.

Introduction: Obesity is a rapidly expanding worldwide health problem. Various targets are investigated presently for the treatment of obesity, but there remains an unmet need for an effective drug therapy with acceptable efficacy levels and reduced side effects. Targeting peripherally located cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors is an attractive strategy as these receptors play a vital role in energy homeostasis.

Discovery of anti-malarial agents through application of in silico studies.

Among the various parasitic diseases, malaria is the deadliest one. Due to the emergence of high drug resistance to the existing drug candidates there is a global need for development of new drug candidates which will be effective against resistant strains of malaria parasite. In silico molecular modeling approaches have been playing an important role in the discovery of novel lead molecules having antimalarial activity.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some novel pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones as antimalarial agents.

Novel pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones have been synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial activity by SYBR Green I assay against erythrocytic stages of chloroquine (CQ) sensitive Pf 3D7 strain. The antimalarial screening of 42 different compounds revealed that 3-Fluorobenzyl(4-oxo-4H-pyrido [1,2-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)carbamate (21, IC50 value 33 μM) and 4-Oxo-N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxamide (37, IC50 value 37 μM) showed moderate antimalarial activity. Cytotoxicity study was performed against mammalian cell line (Huh-7) by using the MTT assay for the moderately active compounds.

Prospective therapeutic agents for obesity: molecular modification approaches of centrally and peripherally acting selective cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonists.

Presently, obesity is one of the major health problems in the developed as well as developing countries due to lack of physical work and increasing sedentary life style. Endocannabinoid system (ECS) and especially cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor play a key role in energy homeostasis. Food intake and energy storage is enhanced due to the stimulation of ECS hence, inhibition of ECS by blocking CB1 receptors could be a promising approach in the treatment of obesity.