Activity of 1-aryl-4-(naphthalimidoalkyl) piperazine derivatives against Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana.

A series of 1-aryl-4-(phthalimidoalkyl) piperazines and 1-aryl-4-(naphthalimidoalkyl) piperazines were retrieved from a proprietary library based on their high structural similarity to haloperidol, an antipsychotic with antiparasitic activity, and assessed as potential antileishmanial scaffolds. Selected compounds were tested for antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana in dose-response assays. Two of the 1-aryl-4-(naphthalimidoalkyl) piperazines (compounds 10 and 11) were active against promastigotes of both Leishmania species without being toxic to human fibroblasts.

GABAA receptor agonist cinazepam and its active metabolite 3-hydroxyphenazepam act differently at the presynaptic site.

Cinazepam CHBrClNO, ("Levana ІC") a partial GABA receptor agonist, and its active metabolite 3-hydroxyphenazepam CHBrClNO were comparatively assessed in vitro using nerve terminals isolated from rat cortex (synaptosomes). At the presynaptic site, cinazepam (100 and 200 µM) facilitated synaptosomal transporter-mediated [H]GABA uptake by enhancing both the initial rate and accumulation, and decreased the ambient level and transporter-mediated release of [H]GABA. Whereas, 3-hydroxyphenazepam decreased the uptake and did not change the ambient synaptosomal level and transporter-mediated release of [H]GABA.

Effect of 3-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones on bradykinin-induced smooth muscle contraction.

Biochemical properties of 3-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepine determined by the characteristics of their chemical structure. Influence of 3-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones on maximal normalized rate and amplitudes of isometric smooth muscle contraction in rats was investigated. Compounds MX-1775 and MX-1828 demonstrated the similar inhibition effect on bradykinin-induced contraction of smooth muscle like competitive inhibitor des-arg9-bradykinin-acetate to bradykinin B2-receptors.

Virtual screening, synthesis and biological evaluation of DNA intercalating antiviral agents.

This paper describes computer-aided design of new anti-viral agents against Vaccinia virus (VACV) potentially acting as nucleic acid intercalators. Earlier obtained experimental data for DNA intercalation affinities and activities against Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) have been used to build, respectively, pharmacophore and QSAR models. These models were used for virtual screening of a database of 245 molecules generated around typical scaffolds of known DNA intercalators.