In Vitro and in Vivo Biological Evaluation of Newly Tacrine-Selegiline Hybrids As Multi-Target Inhibitors of Cholinesterases and Monoamine Oxidases for Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

Journal Drug Des Devel Ther

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2024 Jan 29

PMID 38283137

Authors

Shu-Tong Huang

Jin-Chong Luo

Guo-Hui Zhong

Li-Ping Teng

Cai-Yan Yang

Chun-Li Tang

Lin Jing

Zhong-Bo Zhou

Jing Liu

Neng Jiang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and its multifactorial nature increases the difficulty of medical research. To explore an effective treatment for AD, a series of novel tacrine-selegiline hybrids with ChEs and MAOs inhibitory activities were designed and synthesized as multifunctional drugs.

Methods: All designed compounds were evaluated in vitro for their inhibition of cholinesterases (AChE/BuChE) and monoamine oxidases (MAO-A/B) along with their blood-brain barrier permeability. Then, further biological activities of the optimizing compound were determined, including molecular model analysis, in vitro cytotoxicity, acute toxicity studies in vivo, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic property studies in vivo.

Results: Most synthesized compounds demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against ChEs/MAOs. Particularly, compound exhibited good and well-balanced activity against ChEs (AChE: IC = 1.57 μM, BuChE: IC = 0.43 μM) and MAOs (MAO-A: IC = 2.30 μM, MAO-B: IC = 4.75 μM). Molecular modeling analysis demonstrated that could interact simultaneously with both the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE in a mixed-type manner and also exhibits binding affinity towards BuChE and MAO-B. Additionally, displayed excellent permeability of the blood-brain barrier, and under the experimental conditions, it elicited low or no toxicity toward PC12 and BV-2 cells. Furthermore, was not acutely toxic in mice at doses up to 2500 mg/kg and could improve the cognitive function of mice with scopolamine-induced memory impairment. Lastly, possessed well pharmacokinetic characteristics.

Conclusion: In light of these results, it is clear that could potentially serve as a promising multi-functional drug for the treatment of AD.

Citing Articles

Therapeutic Options in Alzheimer's Disease: From Classic Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors to Multi-Target Drugs with Pleiotropic Activity.

Cacabelos R, Martinez-Iglesias O, Cacabelos N, Carrera I, Corzo L, Naidoo V Life (Basel). 2025; 14(12.

PMID: 39768263 PMC: 11678002. DOI: 10.3390/life14121555.

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