Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening - Volume 21, Issue 8, 2018

Background: Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a systemic indicator of inflammatory diseases and is suggested as an oxidative stress marker. Objective: To determine the IMA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) serum levels for patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and to evaluate the impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy on serum IMA and hsCRP levels. Methods: Twenty one systemically healthy patients with CP and 15 systemically and periodontally healthy controls (C) were enrolled in the study. Periodontal pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and attachment loss (AL) were recorded at the time of diagnosis and 6 weeks after the nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Blood samples were obtained before and after treatment from all groups, and serum IMA and hsCRP levels were evaluated by ELISA method. Results: All of the clinical findings were found to be elevated in the CP group in comparison to C group (p<0.05). Levels of IMA and hsCRP were higher in the CP group (p<0.05) and decreased after non-surgical periodontal therapy (p<0.05). Positive correlations were determined between PPD, BOP and hsCRP (p<0.05) as well as between PPD, AL, BOP and IMA levels (p<0.01) before treatment. A significant positive correlation was also observed between hsCRP and IMA (p<0.01) before and after treatment. Conclusion: IMA is a marker indicating systemic inflammation during periodontal disease, and is significantly reduced as a result of non-surgical periodontal therapy. Therefore, IMA might be suggested as a useful indicator of periodontal disease.

Background: Sri Lanka offers a huge diversity of flora with a large proportion of those being endemic to the island. Both the endemic and native plants species serve as a rich bank of phytochemicals. Method: In this study, “Sri Lankan Flora” an online web-based information system of phytochemical compounds isolated from the flora of Sri Lanka was proposed. Results: The database contained 3D structures of those compounds, calculated quantitativestructure- activity relationship (QSAR) data and the GROMOS 54a7 force field parameters for each and every compound. The manually curated chemical structures, activities and force field parameters provide a possible direct avenue for computer-aided drug discovery. The present study is a continuing project with a wider goal of building up a database, not only for assisting the computeraided drug designing process, but also for other chemical applications, as the database includes structural, physical, chemical and dynamic properties of chemical compounds of the flora of Sri Lanka. The database is freely accessible at http://science.cmb.ac.lk/tools/slflora.

Background: The efflux transporter multidrug resistance associated protein-2 belongs to ATP-binding cassette superfamily which plays an important role in multidrug resistance and drugdrug interactions. Efflux transporters are considered to be important targets for increasing the efficacy of drugs and importance of computational study of efflux transporters for predicting substrates, non-substrates, inhibitors and non-inhibitors is well documented. Previous work on predictive models for inhibitors of multidrug resistance associated Protein-2 efflux transporter showed that machine learning methods produced good results. Objective: The aim of the present work was to develop a machine learning predictive model to classify inhibitors and non-inhibitors of multidrug resistance associated protein-2 transporter using a well refined dataset. Method: In this study, the various algorithms of machine learning were used to develop the predictive models i.e. support vector machine, random forest and k-nearest neighbor. The methods like variance threshold, SelectKBest, random forest, and recursive feature elimination were used to select the features generated by PyDPI. A total of 239 molecules consisting of 124 inhibitors and 115 non-inhibitors were used for model development. Results: The best multidrug resistance associated protein-2 inhibitor model showed prediction accuracies of 0.76, 0.72 and 0.79 for training, 5-fold cross-validation and external sets, respectively. Conclusion: It was observed that support vector machine model built on features selected using recursive feature elimination method shows the best performance. The developed model can be used in the early stages of drug discovery for identifying the inhibitors of multidrug resistance associated protein-2 efflux transporter.

Aim and Objective: The benzimidazole derivatives have been obtained via weightreducing aid (L-Carnitine) as a cheap catalyst. A wide range of aromatic aldehydes easily undergo condensations with substituted o-phenylendiamine under mild condition to afford the target molecular in excellent yields. Materials and Methods: Melting points were measured on an Electrothemal X6 microscopy digital melting point apparatus. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were recorded in DMSO-d6 on a Bruker AVANCE 400 (400 MHz) instrument with the TMS at d 0.00 ppm as an internal standard. C, H and N analysis were performed by a Perkin-Elmer 2400 CHN elemental analyzer. Chemicals used were of commercial grade without further purification. An equimloar (1.0 mmol) mixture of o-phenylenediamine 1, aromatic aldehyde 2, and L-Carnitine (10 mol%) was vigorously stirred at 60°C in EtOH (3 mL) for the specific time indicated by TLC (petroleum: ethyl acetate ether = 4:1). After completion of the reaction, the mixture was quenched by adding H2O (20 mL), extracted with EtOAc (3 x 10 mL), and the combined extracts were dried by anhydrous MgSO4. The filtrate was evaporated and the corresponding benzimidazole was obtained as the only product. The products 3a–3r were obtained in 82–95% yields. The structures of the products 3 were identified by their IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis spectra. Results: The products were obtained in 82–95% yields in 30–80 min. The method has several advantages such as simple, clean and environmentally process, excellent yield and avoiding use of inconvenient preparation of catalyst. Meanwhile, the catalyst L-Carnitine is a kind of weightreducing aid, which might be applied to broad green catalyzed system. Conclusion: A facile synthesis of benzimidazoles comprising the reaction of various aldehydes with substituted o-phenylendiamine in good to excellent yield is provided using L-Carnitine as an efficient catalyst. The protocol overcomes the earlier disadvantages like harsh reaction conditions, tedious work-up, expensive process, wastes generation and the use of metallic oxide, which might be applied to the synthesis of benzimidazoles pharmaceticals in order to meet friendly environmental demands.

Aim & Objectives: Curcuminoids are characteristic constituents in Curcuma, displaying obviously neuroprotective activities against oxidative stress. As one of the Traditional Chinese Medicines from Curcuma, the radix of Curcuma aromatica is also rich in those chemicals, but its neuroprotective activity and mechanism remain unknown. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of extracts from the radix of C. aromatica (ECAs) on H2O2-damaged PC12 cells. Material and Methods: The model of oxidative stress damage was established by treatment of 400 μM H2O2 on PC12 to induce cell damage. After the treatment of ECWs for 24 h, the cell viability, LDH, SOD, CAT and GSH were measured to evaluate the neuroprotection of ECAs on that model. The potential action mechanism was studied by measurement of level of ROS, cell apoptosis rate, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), morphologic change, the intracellular Ca2+ content (F340/F380) and the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3. Additionally, the constituents from tested extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-Q-TOF-MS method. Results: Compared with a positive control, Vitamin E, 10 μg/ml of 95% EtOH extract (HCECA) and 75% EtOH extract (MCECA) can markedly increase the rate of cell survival and enhance the antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD, CAT, increase the levels of GSH, decrease LDH release and the level of ROS, attenuate the intracellular Ca2+ overloading, reduce the cell apoptotic rate and stabilize MMP, down-regulate Bcl-2 expression, up-regulate Bax and caspase-3 expression, and improve the change of cell morphology. The chemical analysis showed that diarylheptanoids and sesquiterpenoids are the major chemicals in tested extracts and the former were richer in HCECA and MCECA than others. Conclusions: These findings indicated that the effects of HCECA and MCECA on inhibiting the cells damage induced by H2O2 in PC12 are better than other extracts from the radix of C. aromatica, and the active constituents with neuroprotective effects consisting in those two active extracts are diarylheptanoids.

Objective: In this research, a novel magnetite titanium dioxide nanocomposite functionalized by amine groups (Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2-NH2) was synthesized and its ability for efficient removal of Acid Fuchsine as an anionic dye from aqueous solutions was investigated. Method: The core-shell structure of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2 was prepared using Fe3O4 as magnetic core, tetra ethyl orthosilicate as silica and tetra butyl titanate as titanium source for shell. The synthesized nanocomposites (particle size lower than 44 nm) were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, DRS, SEM and TGA instruments. The various experimental parameters affecting dye removal efficiency were investigated and optimized using Taguchi fractional factorial design. Results: The synthesized adsorbent showed the highest removal efficiency of Acid Fuchsine (99 %) at pH= 3.5, without salt addition and during stirring at contact times less than 10 minutes. The study of kinetic models at two concentration levels showed the fast dye sorption on the surface of proposed nanocomposites with pseudo second order kinetic model (R2=1). Also, the fitting of Acid Fuchsine sorption data to Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin isotherms suggested that Freundlich model gave a better fitting than other models (R2=0.9936, n=2). Conclusion: Good chemical stability, excellent magnetic properties, very fast adsorption kinetics and high removal efficiency make the synthesized nanocomposite as a proper recoverable sorbent for removal of Acid Fuchsine dye from wastewaters.

Aim and Objective: Results of pharmacological studies have revealed that chromenes (2H-1-benzopyran derivatives) and xanthenes (dibenzopyrans) constitute major classes of heterocyclic compounds, due to their useful biological activities. Moreover, during the last decade, the use of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) as heterogeneous catalysts has been extensively studied due to their high physical and chemical abilities. The aim of the ongoing research was to prove the catalytic efficiency of the synthesized TiO2 NPs supported by carbon nanotubes (TiO2-CNTs) for the preparation of these heterocyclic scaffolds. Materials and Methods: The present work is focused on a green and efficient synthesis of [1]benzopyrano[b][1]benzopyran-6-ones and xanthenols via a pseudo three-component reaction of salicylaldehydes with active methylene compounds including 4-hydroxycoumarin (4-hydroxy-2H-1- benzopyran-2-one) or 3,4-methylenedioxyphenol, in a molar ratio of 1:2. The reaction was carried out in the presence of the synthesized TiO2-CNTs as a catalyst in aqueous media at room temperature. The synthesized catalyst was fully characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX) techniques. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analyses. Results: Sixteen target compounds containing [1]benzopyrano[b][1]benzopyran-6-ones and xanthenols were successfully synthesized in high yields (92-98%) within short reaction times (1.5-3 h). Conclusion: In this research, TiO2-CNTs were used as an efficient recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of [1]benzopyrano[b][1]benzopyran-6-ones and xanthenols by the pseudo three-component reaction of salicylaldehydes with active methylene compounds including 4-hydroxycoumarin (4- hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one) or 3,4-methylenedioxyphenol. The introduced method is mild, environmentally benign and effective to give the products in high yields and in short reaction times.

Aim and Objective: In the present work, 1, 1’-sulfinyldiethylammonium bis (hydrogen sulfate) as a novel room temperature dicationic ionic liquid was synthesized and used as a catalyst for xanthenediones synthesis. Material and Method: The dicationic ionic liquid has been synthesized using ethylamine and thionyl chloride as precursors. Then, by the reaction of [(EtNH2)2SO]Cl2 with H2SO4, [(EtNH2)2SO][HSO4]2 was prepared and after that, it was characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR as well as Hammett acidity function. This dicationic ionic liquid was used as a catalyst for the synthesis of xanthenediones via condensation of structurally diverse aldehydes and dimedone under solvent-free conditions. The progress of the reaction was monitored by thin layer chromatography (ethyl acetate/n-hexane = 3/7). Results: An efficient solvent-free method for the synthesis of xanthenediones has been developed in the presence of [(EtNH2)2SO][HSO4]2 as a powerful catalyst with high to excellent yields, and short reaction times. Additionally, recycling studies have demonstrated that the dicationic ionic liquid can be readily recovered and reused at least four times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. Conclusion: This new dicationic ionic liquid can act as a highly efficient catalyst for xanthenediones synthesis under solvent-free conditions.

Aim and Objective: A wide variety of synthesized amidine derivatives are bioactive compounds. They show a vast range of medical properties. Therefore, a simple route for synthesis of novel class of amidine derivatives called amidino carboxylic acids and their use as catalysts in Strecker reaction has been reported in the current work. The stability, local charge density and hydrogen bond parameters were calculated for eight derivatives with different substituents. Materials and Methods: In order to synthesize these amidino carboxylic acids, we initially prepared Knovenogel condensation products via the reaction of isatin derivatives with malonitrile. When the reaction was performed in water, the resulting nitrile groups of malonitrile derivatives was hydrolyzed with HOAC/ H2SO4 to generate the desired amide groups. The amide groups in resulting compound converted to amine groups with two Hoffman rearrangements in the presence of NaOH/Br2. Further neutralization led to the final zwitterionic α-amidino carboxylic acids. In the next step, the catalytic activity of these compounds as H-bond donor catalyst was investigated in Strecker reaction. Results: The overall yields of the derivatives with substituent on the aromatic ring of starting isatins are higher than that for the overall yields of nitrogen-substituted isatins. The reaction of 5-nitro isatin with the next reagent gives lower yield in aryl-substituted products. An increase of catalytic activity is observed by rising the electron-withdrawing power of the aromatic ring substituents., The presence of nitro group in the structure of catalyst caused a large increase of catalytic activity in Strecker reaction. DFT calculations at B3LYP/6-31++g(d,p) and Lanl2dz level of theory showed that these compounds act as single H-bond catalysts and higher yields were obtained for complexes with stronger hydrogen bond. Conclusion: A simple and efficient method for synthesis of #145;-amidino carboxylic acids was developed in this research. These compounds have been used as a single H-bond donor catalyst in the Strecker reaction. DFT calculations were carried out to confirm the experimental results. The obtained data from computations are in good agreement with experimental results.