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New quinoline/1,2,4-triazole hybrids as dual inhibitors of COX-2/5-LOX and inflammatory cytokines: Design, synthesis, and docking study

Research Authors
Aliaa M. Mohassab, Heba A. Hassan, Dalia Abdelhamid, Ahmed M. Gouda, Hesham A.M. Gomaa, Bahaa G.M. Youssif, Mohamed O. Radwan, Mikako Fujita, Masami Otsuka, Mohamed Abdel-Aziz
Research Date
Research Journal
Journal of Molecular Structure
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
Q2
Research Vol
1244
Research Website
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130948
Research Year
2021
Research_Pages
130948
Research Abstract

A novel series of 19 quinoline/1,2,4-triazole hybrid 6a-i and 7a-j was synthesized and evaluated in vitro as dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors. Compounds 6e, 6i , and 7e displayed the highest potency and selectivity for inhibiting COX-2 activity (IC 50 = 7.25, 8.13, and 8.48 nM, respectively; selectivity index (COX-1/COX- 2) = 44.89, 30.30, and 33.47, respectively) in comparison to celecoxib (COX-2 IC 50 = 42.60 nM; selectivity index (SI) = 8.05). The anti-inflammatory activity of the newly synthesized compounds was further examined in vivo using a carrageenan induced paw edema assay. Interestingly, the in vitro findings of the COX inhibitory assay were consistent with the in vivo assay. Moreover, 6e, 6i , and 7e showed a substantial reduction in serum concentrations of PGE 2 , TNF- α, IL-6. Molecular docking analysis of compounds 6e , 6 f, 6i, 7e , and 7f revealed high binding affinities toward COX-2 compared to COX-1, which was matched with the experimental results. In addition, these compounds exhibited different binding orientations into the active site of COX-2, which were dependent on the type of substitutions on N4 of the triazole ring. Among the tested derivatives, compounds 6e, 6i and 7e which showed high selectivity to COX-2, exhibited hydrogen bonding interactions with key amino acids in COX-2 such as Arg120, Arg513, and/or Glu524. In addition, the tested compounds also showed multiple hydrogen bonds with the Arg101, Val110, Arg138 or His130 in 5-LOX. These findings show, taken together, that those derivatives are good leads to potential anti-inflammatory agents with lowest gastric damage.