Multi-Targeting Tacrine Conjugates with Cholinesterase and Amyloid-Beta Inhibitory Activities: New Anti-Alzheimer's Agents

Chem Biodivers. 2021 Feb;18(2):e2000083. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202000083. Epub 2021 Jan 15.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe age dependent and chronic problem with no cure so far. The available treatments are temporary, acting over short period of time. The main pathological hallmark of the disease includes cholinergic dysfunction, oxidative stress, accumulation of Aβ fibrils and tau tangles. In context with the multi-factorial nature of this disease, two different series of molecules were developed to hit the multifactorial disease targets. Mainly, the molecules were designed to inhibit the AChE and aggregation of Aβ, and also oxidative damage. Two novel series of TAC-fenbufen/menbutone conjugated molecules were designed, synthesized and bio-assayed. All compounds showed inhibition capacity towards AChE, Aβ aggregation and moderate to good radical scavenging capacity. Particularly, five TAC-menbutone molecules showed improved AChE and Aβ aggregation inhibition capacity compared to TAC-fenbufen conjugated molecules. Overall, these novel series of molecules may be potential drug lead molecules in the treatment of AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Aβ self-aggregation inhibitors; acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; tacrine.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Cholinesterases / metabolism
  • Drug Discovery
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Aggregates / drug effects
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / drug therapy
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tacrine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tacrine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Tacrine
  • Cholinesterases