Potent and Selective Monoamine Oxidase-B Inhibitory Activity: Fluoro- vs. Trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxylated Chalcone Derivatives

For various neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, selective and reversible MAO-B inhibitors have a great therapeutic value. In our previous study, we have shown that a series of methoxylated chalcones with F functional group exhibited high binding affinity toward human monoamine oxidase-B (hMAO-B). In continuation of our earlier study and to extend the understanding of the structure-activity relationships, a series of five new chalcones were studied for their inhibition of hMAO. The results demonstrated that these compounds are reversible and selective hMAO-B inhibitors with a competitive mode of inhibition. The most active compound, (2E)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-en-1-one, exhibited a K-i value of 0.33 +/- 0.01 m toward hMAO-B with a selectivity index of 26.36. A molecular docking study revealed that the presence of a H-bond network in hydroxylated chalcone with the N(5) atom of FAD is crucial for MAO-B selectivity and potency.