Synthesis and urease inhibitory activity of 1,4-benzodioxane-based thiosemicarbazones: Biochemical and computational approach

Abstract The hyperactivity of urease enzyme is associated with clinically important complications including stomach ulcers and kidney stones. This enzyme provides a suitable environment to Helicobacter pylori at low pH in the stomach, a causative agent of peptic and ulcer gastric that may lead to cancer. Natural and synthetic small molecules were reported to inhibit urease enzyme. Within this context, a new series of 1,4-benzodioxane-based thiosemicarbazones (3a-p) were synthesized and screened in vitro against urease enzyme to elucidate their anti-urease activity. All the compounds displayed potent inhibitory potential with IC50 values ranging between 3.65 ± 2.64 to 31.9 ± 1.094 μM, under positive control of thiourea (IC50 = 20.8 ± 0.75 μM). Structural activity relationship (SAR) has revealed a variation based on substituents pattern at R group. The results of docking study suggest that these compounds thermodynamically binds via nickel atoms present in the active-site of urease. The in silico docking analysis and our experimental findings are in excellent co-relation. The pharmacokinetic behavior of all the compounds were also predicted.