Novel bis-ureido-substituted sulfaguanidines and sulfisoxazoles as carbonic anhydrase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Abstract: To discover alternative substances to compounds used to treat many diseases, especially treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease targeting carbonic anhydrase (hCA) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes, is important. For this purpose, a series of novel bis-ureido-substituted sulfaguanidine (SG1–4) and sulfisoxazole (SO1–4) derivatives were synthesized, and their inhibitory capacities were screened against hCA isoenzymes (hCA I and II) and AChE. Possible binding mechanisms of inhibitors to the active site were elucidated by in silico studies, and the results were supported by in vitro results. Moreover, the percent radical scavenging capacities of the derivatives were also evaluated. The derivatives (SG1–4 and SO1–4) were more effective against hCAs compared to standard drug acetazolamide (KI values of 98.28–439.17 nM for hCA I and II, respectively) and exhibited the highest inhibition with the KIs in the ranges of 2.54 ± 0.50–41.02 ± 7.52 nM for hCA I, 11.20 ± 2.97–67.14 ± 13.58 nM for hCA II, and 257.60 ± 27.84–442.60 ± 52.13 nM for AChE. Also, compounds SG1 and SO1 also showed ABTS radical scavenging activity at the rate of 70% and 78%, respectively. These results will contribute to the literature for the rational design and synthesis of new potent and selective inhibitors targeting hCAs and AChE with multifunctional effects such as radical scavenging as well as inhibition. Graphical abstract: This study focused on the synthesis and inhibitory effects of bis-ureido-substituted sulfaguanidine (SG1–4) andsulfisoxazole (SO1–4) derivatives against human hCA I and II isoforms and AChE. In order to test synthesizedderivatives’ free radical scavenging potentials were the DPPH and ABTS assays. In silico studies elucidatedpossible binding mechanisms of inhibitors to the active site.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.