Synthesis, in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and in silico study of (E)-thiosemicarbazones and (E)-2-(2-(arylmethylene)hydrazinyl)-4-arylthiazole derivatives

This study is focused on the identification of thiazole-based inhibitors for the alpha-glucosidase enzyme. For that purpose, (E)-2-(2-(arylmethylene) hydrazinyl)-4-arylthiazole derivatives were synthesized in two steps and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. All derivatives and intermediates were evaluated for their in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Thiosemicarbazones 20 and 35, and cyclized thiazole derivatives 2, 5-11, 13, 15, 21-24, 27-31, and 36-37 showed significant inhibitory potential in the range of IC50 = 6.2 +/- 0.19-43.6 +/- 0.23 mu M as compared to standard acarbose (IC50 = 37.7 +/- 0.19 mu M). A molecular modeling study was carried out to understand the binding interactions of compounds with the active site of enzyme.