Browsing by Author "Malan, Sarel F."
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Item 3D-QSAR and docking studies of pentacycloundecylamines at the sigma-1 (σ1) receptor(Elsevier, 2013) Geldenhuys, Werner J.; Novotny, Nicholas; Malan, Sarel F.; Van der Schyf, Cornelis J.Pentacycloundecylamine (PCU) derived compounds have been shown to be promising lead structures for the development of novel drug candidates aimed at a variety of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Here we show for the first time a 3D quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR) for a series of aza-PCU-derived compounds with activity at the sigma-1 (r1) receptor. A comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) model was developed with a partial least squares cross validated (q2) regression value of 0.6, and a non-cross validatedr2 of 0.9. The CoMFA model was effective at predicting the sigma-1 activities of atest set with an r2 >0.7. We also describe here the docking of the PCU-derivedcompounds into a homology model of the sigma-1 (r1) receptor, which was developed to gain insight into binding of these cage compounds to the receptor. Based on docking studies we evaluated in a [3H]pentazocine binding assay anoxa-PCU, NGP1-01 (IC50 = 1.78 lM) and its phenethyl derivative (IC50 = 1.54 lM). Results from these studies can be used to develop new compounds with specific affinity for the sigma-1(r1)Item 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-ene-3,5-dione derivatives as nmda receptor- And VGCC blockers with neuroprotective potential(MPDI, 2020) Egunlusi, Ayodeji O.; Malan, Sarel F.; Omoruyi, Sylvester IfeanyiThe impact of excitotoxicity mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor overactivation and voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) depolarization is prominent among the postulated processes involved in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. NGP1-01, a polycyclic amine, has been shown to be neuroprotective through modulation of the NMDA receptor and VGCC, and attenuation of MPP+-induced neurotoxicity. Recently, we reported on the calcium modulating effects of tricycloundecene derivatives, structurally similar to NGP1-01, on the NMDA receptor and VGCC of synaptoneurosomes. In the present study, we investigated novel 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-ene-3,5-dione derivatives for their cytotoxicity, neuroprotective effects via attenuation of MPP+-induced neurotoxicity and calcium influx inhibition abilities through the NMDA receptor and VGCC using neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. All compounds, in general, showed low or no toxicity against neuroblastoma cells at 10-50 μM concentrations. At 10 μM, all compounds significantly attenuated MPP+-induced neurotoxicity as evident by the enhancement in cell viability between 23.05 ± 3.45% to 53.56 ± 9.29%.Item Exploration of scaffolds from natural products with antiplasmodial activities, currently registered antimalarial drugs and public malarial screen data(MDPI, 2016) Egieyeh, Samuel; Syce, James; Christoffels, Alan; Malan, Sarel F.In light of current resistance to antimalarial drugs, there is a need to discover new classes of antimalarial agents with unique mechanisms of action. Identification of unique scaffolds from natural products with in vitro antiplasmodial activities may be the starting point for such new classes of antimalarial agents. We therefore conducted scaffold diversity and comparison analysis of natural products with in vitro antiplasmodial activities (NAA), currently registered antimalarial drugs (CRAD) and malaria screen data from Medicine for Malaria Ventures (MMV). The scaffold diversity analyses on the three datasets were performed using scaffold counts and cumulative scaffold frequency plots. Scaffolds from the NAA were compared to those from CRAD and MMV. A Scaffold Tree was also generated for each of the datasets and the scaffold diversity of NAA was found to be higher than that of MMV. Among the NAA compounds, we identified unique scaffolds that were not contained in any of the other compound datasets. These scaffolds from NAA also possess desirable drug-like properties making them ideal starting points for antimalarial drug design considerations. The Scaffold Tree showed the preponderance of ring systems in NAA and identified virtual scaffolds, which may be potential bioactive compounds.Item Microwave-assisted methods for the synthesis of pentacyclo[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecylamines(Elsevier, 2013) Joubert, Jacques; Sharma, Rajan; Onani, Martin O.; Malan, Sarel F.Efficient methodologies for the preparation of pentacyclo[5..4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecane (PCU) amine derivatives are described via microwave-assisted synthesis. The obtained results revealed that microwave-assisted synthetic procedures under controlled conditions (power, temperature and time) are very convenient, high yielding, efficient and low-cost methods for the preparation of PCU amine derivatives. The new methods show several advantages including operational simplicity, good performance, significant reduction in reaction time, less by-product formation and easier purification.Item Multi-targeted directed ligands for Alzheimer’s disease: design of novel lead coumarin conjugates(Taylor & Francis, 2018) Repsold, B.P.; Malan, Sarel F.; Joubert, Jacques; Oliver, D.W.Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by central nervous system insults with progressive cognitive (memory, attention) and non-cognitive (anxiety, depression) impairments. Pathophysiological events affect predominantly cholinergic neuronal loss and dysfunctions of the dopaminergic system. The aim of the current study was to design multi-targeted directed lead structures based on the coumarin scaffold with inhibitory properties at two key enzymes in disease relevant systems, i.e. acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Conventional and microwave synthetic methods were utilized to synthesize coumarin scaffoldbased novel morpholino, piperidino, thiophene and erucic acid conjugates. Biological assays indicated that the coumarin–morpholine ether conjugate BPR 10 was the most potent hMAO-B inhibitor. The coumarin–piperidine conjugates BPR 13 and BPR 12 were the most potent inhibitors of eeAChE at 100 μM and 1 μM, respectively. Molecular modelling studies were conducted with Accelrys® Discovery Studio® V3.1.1 utilising the published hMAO-B (2V61) and hAChE (4EY7) crystal structures. Compound BPR 10 occupies both the entrance and substrate cavities of the active site of MAO-B. BPR 13 resides in both the peripheral anionic site (PAS) and the catalytic anionic site (CAS) of hAChE. This study demonstrated that the coumarin scaffold serves as a promising pharmacophore for MTDLs design.Item Predictive classifier models built from natural products with antimalarial bioactivity using machine learning approach(Public Library of Science, 2018) Egieyeh, Samuel; Syce, James; Malan, Sarel F.; Christoffels, AlanIn view of the vast number of natural products with potential antiplasmodial bioactivity and cost of conducting antiplasmodial bioactivity assays, it may be judicious to learn from previous antiplasmodial bioassays and predict bioactivity of these natural products before experimental bioassays. This study set out to harness antimalarial bioactivity data of natural products to build accurate predictive models, utilizing classical machine learning approaches, which can find potential antimalarial hits from new sets of natural products. Classical machine learning approaches were used to build four classifier models (Naïve Bayesian, Voted Perceptron, Random Forest and Sequence Minimization Optimization of Support Vector Machines) from bioactivity data of natural products with in-vitro antiplasmodial activity (NAA) using a combination of the molecular descriptors and two-dimensional molecular fingerprints of the compounds. Models were evaluated with an independent test dataset. Possible chemical features associated with reported antimalarial activities of the compounds were also extracted. From the results, Random Forest (accuracy 82.81%, Kappa statistics 0.65 and Area under Receiver Operating Characteristics curve 0.91) and Sequential Minimization Optimization (accuracy 85.93%, Kappa statistics 0.72 and Area under Receiver Operating Characteristics curve 0.86) showed good predictive performance for the NAA dataset. The amine chemical group (specifically alkyl amines and basic nitrogen) was confirmed to be essential for antimalarial activity in active NAA dataset. This study built and evaluated classifier models that were used to predict the antiplasmodial bioactivity class (active or inactive) of a set of natural products from interBioScreen chemical library.Item Prioritization of anti-malarial hits from nature: Chemo-informatic profiling of natural products with in vitro antiplasmodial activities and currently registered anti-malarial drugs(BMC, 2016) Egieyeh, Samuel Ayodele; Syce, James; Malan, Sarel F.A large number of natural products have shown in vitro antiplasmodial activities. Early identification and prioritization of these natural products with potential for novel mechanism of action, desirable pharmacokinetics and likelihood for development into drugs is advantageous. Chemo-informatic profiling of these natural products were conducted and compared to currently registered anti-malarial drugs (CRAD). Natural products with in vitro antiplasmodial activities (NAA) were compiled from various sources. These natural products were sub-divided into four groups based on inhibitory concentration (IC50). Key molecular descriptors and physicochemical properties were computed for these compounds and analysis of variance used to assess statistical significance amongst the sets of compounds. Molecular similarity analysis, estimation of drug-likeness, in silico pharmacokinetic profiling, and exploration of structure–activity landscape were also carried out on these sets of compounds.Item Small molecule efflux pump inhibitors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a rational drug design perspective(Bentham Science Publishers, 2018) Kapp, Erika; Malan, Sarel F.; Joubert, Jacques; Sampson, Samantha L.Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) complicates management of tuberculosis. Efflux pumps contribute to low level resistance and acquisition of additional high level resistance mutations through sub-therapeutic concentrations of intracellular antimycobacterials. Various efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) have been described for M. tuberculosis but little is known regarding the mechanism of efflux inhibition. As knowledge relating to the mechanism of action and drug target is central to the rational drug design of safe and sufficiently selective EPIs, this review aims to examine recent developments in the study of EPIs in M. tuberculosis from a rational drug development perspective and to provide an overview to facilitate systematic development of therapeutically effective EPIs. Review of literature points to a reduction in cellular energy or direct binding to the efflux pump as likely mechanisms for most EPIs described for M. tuberculosis. This review demonstrates that, where a direct interaction with efflux pumps is expected, both molecular structure and general physicochemical properties should be considered to accurately predict efflux pump substrates and inhibitors. Non-competitive EPIs do not necessarily demonstrate the same requirements as competitive inhibitors and it is therefore essential to differentiate between competitive and non-competitive inhibition to accurately determine structure activity relationships for efflux pump inhibition. It is also evident that there are various similarities between inhibitors of prokaryotic and eukaryotic efflux pumps but, depending on the specific chemical scaffolds under investigation, it may be possible to design EPIs that are less prone to inhibition of human P-glycoprotein, thereby reducing side effects and drug-drug interactions.Item Synthesis & biological evaluation of neuroprotective molecules with polycyclic scaffolds(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Sharma, Rajan; Malan, Sarel F.; Joubert, JacquesAmong neurological disorders, many of the most devastating disorders are neurodegenerative. Modern research associates excitotoxicity to a variety of neuropathological conditions, suggesting that the neurodegenerative diseases with distinct etiologies may have excitotoxicity as a common pathway. Excitotoxicity occurs through over-stimulation of receptors for excitatory neurotransmitters like the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Due to the relevance of NMDA receptors and excitotoxic processes, the antagonism or modulation of NMDA receptors is used as a therapeutic tool against neurodegenerative diseases. NMDA receptor activity can be modulated by S-nitrosylation and this modulation of NMDA receptor activity can be utilised in the development of neuroprotective drugs.Item Synthesis and biological evaluations of NO-donating oxa- and aza-pentacycloundecane derivatives as potential neuroprotective candidates(MDPI, 2018) Sharma, Rajan; Joubert, Jacques; Malan, Sarel F.In order to utilize the neuroprotective properties of polycyclic cage compounds, and explore the NO-donating ability of nitrophenyl groups, an array of compounds was synthesized where the different nitrophenyl groups were appended on oxa and aza-bridged cage derivatives. Biological evaluations of the compounds were done for cytotoxicity, neuroprotective abilities, the inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated Ca2+ influx, the inhibition of voltage-mediated Ca2+ influx, and S-nitrosylation abilities. All of the compounds showed low toxicity. With a few exceptions, most of the compounds displayed good neuroprotection and showed inhibitory activity for NMDA-mediated and voltage-gated calcium influx, ranging from high (>70%) to low (20–39%) inhibition. In the S-nitrosylation assay, the compounds with the nitro moiety as the NO-donating group exhibited low to good nitrosylation potency compared to the positive controls. From the biological evaluation of the tested compounds, it was not possible to obtain a simple correlation that could explain the results across all of the biological study domains. This can be ascribed to the independent processes evaluated in the different assays, which reiterate that neuroprotection is a result of multifactorial biochemical mechanisms and interactions. However, these results signify the important aspects of the pentacylcoundecylamine neuroprotectants across different biological study realms.Item Synthesis of 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-ene-3,5-dione derivatives as lead scaffolds for neuroprotective agents(Arkat USA, 2020) Egunlusi, Ayodeji O.; Malan, Sarel F.; Joubert, JacquesNeurodegenerative disorders are characterised by progressive loss of neuronal functions. Of the proposed mechanisms, excitotoxicity, mediated by prolonged glutamate activation and calcium overload, is prominent. NGP1-01, a polycyclic cage amine, and tricyclo[6.2.1.02,7]undec-9-ene-3,6-dione have been shown to display calcium-modulating properties. In this study, we synthesised structurally-related 4-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]dec-8-ene-3,5-dione as the base scaffold, and incorporated various functional moieties through aminolysis, to afford a series of imide derivatives. All final compounds were obtained in yields between 47-97% and their structures were confirmed by NMR, IR and MS. These structurally-related derivatives could potentially act as neuroprotective agents. Additionally, their synthetic versatilities could make them precursors, as lead compounds, to potential pharmacologically-active agents.Item Tacrine, trolox and tryptoline as lead compounds for the design and synthesis of multi-target drugs for Alzheimer's disease therapy(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Teponnou, Gerard A. Kenfack; Malan, Sarel F.; Joubert, JThe cascade of neurotoxic events involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease may explain the inefficacy of currently available treatment based on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI - donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists (memantine). These drugs were designed based on the "one-moleculeone- target" paradigm and only address a single target. Conversely, the multi-target drug design strategy increasingly gains recognition. Based on the versatile biological activities of tacrine, trolox and β-carboline derivatives, the attention they have received as lead structures for the design of multifunctional drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and the topology of the active site of AChE, we have designed tacrine-trolox and tacrine-tryptoline hybrids with various linker chain lengths. The aim with these hybrids was to provide additive or synergistic therapeutic effects that might help overcome the limitation of current anti Alzheimer's disease drugs. All synthesized compounds were designed from lead structures (tacrine, tryptoline and trolox) to obtain cholinesterase (ChE) multisite binders and multifunctional AD agents. The study was rationalized by docking all structures in the active site of TcAChE using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software before proceeding with the synthesis. ChE inhibition was assessed in a UV enzyme inhibition assay using Ellman's method. Antioxidant activities were assessed using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) absorbance assay. The hybrids containing the trolox moiety (compounds 8a-e) showed moderate to high AChE inhibitory activity in the nano to micro molar range (IC₅₀: 17.37 - 2200 nM), BuChE inhibition was observed in the same range (IC₅₀: 3.16 – 128.82 nM), and free radical scavenging activities in micro molar range (IC50: 11.48 – 49.23 µM). These are comparable or slightly higher than their reference compounds donepezil (AChE IC₅₀ = 220 nM), tacrine (BuChE IC₅₀: 14.12 nM), and trolox (DPPH IC₅₀: 17.57 µM). The hybrids with longer linker chain lengths, 6 and 8 carbons (8d and 8e), showed better ChE inhibitory activity than the shorter ones, 2, 3, and 4 carbons (8a-c respectively). This correlates well with literature. Free radical scavenging activities, however, seems not to be significantly affected by varying linker chain lengths. The hybrid compound (14) containing the tryptoline moiety linked with a 7 carbon spacer displayed the best AChE and BuChE inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 17.37 and 3.16 nM) but poor free radical scavenging activity. Novel anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs with multi-target neuroprotective activities were thus obtained and hybrid molecules that exhibit good ChE inhibition (8d, 8e and 14) and anti-oxidant (8d and 8e) activity were identified as suitable candidates for further investigation.