New cinnamic - N-benzylpiperidine and cinnamic - N,N-dibenzyl(N-methyl)amine hybrids as Alzheimer-directed multitarget drugs with antioxidant, cholinergic, neuroprotective and neurogenic properties

Eur J Med Chem. 2016 Oct 4:121:376-386. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.05.055. Epub 2016 May 25.

Abstract

Here we describe new families of multi-target directed ligands obtained by linking antioxidant cinnamic-related structures with N-benzylpiperidine (NBP) or N,N-dibenzyl(N-methyl)amine (DBMA) fragments. Resulting hybrids, in addition to their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties against mitochondrial oxidative stress, are active at relevant molecular targets in Alzheimer's disease, such as cholinesterases (hAChE and hBuChE) and monoamine oxidases (hMAO-A and hMAO-B). Hybrids derived from umbellic - NBP (8), caffeic - NBP (9), and ferulic - DBMA (12) displayed balanced biological profiles, with IC50s in the low-micromolar and submicromolar range for hChEs and hMAOs, and an antioxidant potency comparable to vitamin E. Moreover, the caffeic - NBP hybrid 9 is able to improve the differentiation of adult SGZ-derived neural stem cells into a neuronal phenotype in vitro.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Cinnamic-based hybrids; Human cholinesterases; Human monoamine oxidases; Neurogenic agents; Neuroprotectants.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cholinesterases / metabolism*
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Monoamine Oxidase / metabolism*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Piperidines / chemistry*
  • Piperidines / pharmacology*
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Amines
  • Antioxidants
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Piperidines
  • 1-benzylpiperidine
  • Monoamine Oxidase
  • Cholinesterases