Medicinal chemistry is a science applied to the search and discovery of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, promising structures have been identified; one of these structures is the piperazine moiety, a cyclic molecule containing two nitrogen atoms in positions 1 and 4 as well as four carbon atoms. Many piperazine derivatives have central pharmacological activity that mainly involves the activation of the monoamine pathway. Thus, piperazine derivatives have been the subject of research for many central therapeutic applications, including antipsychotic, antidepressant and anxiolytic applications. Benzylpiperazine is the prototype of piperazine derivatives; this substance is the main component of recreational drugs, partly due to its stimulant and euphoric effects. This paper describes some piperazine derivatives used therapeutically as antipsychotic (clozapine), antidepressant (vortioxetine) and anxiolytic (buspirone) drugs.
The anacardic acids are the predominant phytoconstituents identified in the CGE. The action mechanisms of CGE suggest the reduction in the PGE levels. These findings support the use of cashew gum in popular medicine and demonstrate that part of its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects should also be attributed to the presence of anacardic acids in its composition, independent of the presence of polysaccharides.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used worldwide; however, they have several adverse effects, evidencing the need for the development of new, more effective and safe anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. This research aimed to design, synthesize and carry out a pharmacological/toxicological investigation of LQFM-102, which was designed from celecoxib and paracetamol by molecular hybridization. To evaluate the analgesic effect of this compound, we performed formalin-induced pain, hot plate and tail flick tests. The anti-inflammatory effect of LQFM-102 was evaluated in carrageenan-induced paw oedema and pleurisy tests. The biochemical markers indicative of toxicity-AST, ALT, GSH, urea and creatinine-as well as the index of gastric lesion after prolonged administration of LQFM-102 were also analyzed. In addition, the interaction of LQFM-102 with COX enzymes was evaluated by molecular docking. In all experimental protocols, celecoxib or paracetamol was used as a positive control at equimolar doses to LQFM-102. LQFM-102 reduced the pain induced by formalin in both phases of the test. However, this compound did not increase the latency to thermal stimuli in the hot plate and tail flick tests, suggesting an involvement of peripheral mechanisms in this effect. Furthermore, LQFM-102 reduced paw oedema, the number of polymorphonuclear cells, myeloperoxidase activity and TNF-α and IL-1β levels. Another interesting finding was the absence of alterations in the markers of hepatic and renal toxicity or lesions of gastric mucosa. In molecular docking simulations, LQFM-102 interacted with the key residues for activity and potency of cyclooxygenase enzymes, suggesting an inhibition of the activity of these enzymes.
The therapeutic limitations and poor management of inflammatory conditions are anticipated to impact patients negatively over the coming decades. Following the synthesis of the first pyrazole—antipyrine in 1887, several other derivatives have been screened for anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities. Arguably, the pyrazole ring, as a major pharmacophore and central scaffold partly, defines the pharmacological profile of several derivatives. In this review, we explore the structural–activity relationship that accounts for the pharmacological profile of pyrazole derivatives and highlights future research perspectives capable of optimizing current advancement in the search for safe and efficacy anti‐inflammatory drugs. The flourishing research into the pyrazole derivatives as drug candidates has advanced our understanding of inflammation‐related diseases and treatment.
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