Novel propargylamine-based inhibitors of cholinesterases and monoamine oxidases: Synthesis, biological evaluation and docking study

A combination of several pharmacophores in one molecule has been successfully used for multi-target-directed ligands (MTDL) design. New propargylamine substituted derivatives combined with salicylic and cinnamic scaffolds were designed and synthesized as potential cholinesterases and monoamine oxidases (MAOs) inhibitors. They were evaluated in vitro for inhibition of acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) using Ellman's method. All the compounds act as dual inhibitors. Most of the derivatives are stronger inhibitors of AChE, the best activity showed 5-bromo-N-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)salicylamide 1e (IC50 = 8.05 mu M). Carbamates (4-bromo-2[(prop-2-yn-1-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl ethyl(methyl)carbamate 2d and 2,4-dibromo-6-[(prop-2-yn-1-yl)carbamoyl] phenyl ethyl(methyl)carbamate 2e were selective and the most active for BuChE (25.10 and 26.09 mu M). 4-Bromo2-[(prop-2-yn-1-ylimino)methyl]phenol 4a was the most potent inhibitor of MAOs (IC50 of 3.95 and approximate to 10 mu M for MAO-B and MAO-A, respectively) along with a balanced inhibition of both cholinesterases being a real MTDL. The mechanism of action was proposed, and binding modes of the hits were studied by molecular docking on human enzymes. Some of the derivatives also exhibited antioxidant properties. In silico prediction of physicochemical parameters affirm that the molecules would be active after oral administration and able to reach brain tissue.

Automated summary

In this study, a series of compounds with potential cholinesterases and monoamine oxidases inhibitory activity were synthesized. Some compounds exhibited good dual inhibition, demonstrating their potential in multi-target-directed ligand design.