Synthesis, Biological and In Silico Studies of a Tripodal Schiff Base Derived from 2,4,6-Triamino-1,3,5-triazine and Its Trinuclear Dy(III), Er(III), and Gd(III) Salen Capped Complexes

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2021-07, Vol.26 (14), p.4379
• Main Authors: Oruma, Uchechukwu Susan, Ukoha, Pius Oziri, Uzoewulu, Chiamaka Peace, Ndefo, Joseph Chinedum, Ugwuoke, Sabastine Chinweike, Ukwueze, Nkechinyere Nwanneka, Eze, Tochukwu Emmanuella, Ekowo, Lilian Chinenye, Eze, Florence Uchenna, Chinaegbomkpa, Uchenna Vivian, Okafor, Sunday Nwankwo, Ezeorah, Chigozie Julius
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Anions; antimalarial activity; antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; Artesunate; Bacteria; Biocompatibility; Coordination numbers; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA topoisomerase; docking; Drugs; Dysprosium; Hydrocarbons; Imines; In vivo methods and tests; Ligands; Malaria; Molecular docking; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organic light emitting diodes; Oxygen atoms; Parasitemia; Parasites; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Toxicity; Triazine; trinuclear Ln(III) complexes; tripodal schiff base
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144379

A tripodal Schiff base ligand, 2,4,6-Tris(4-carboxybenzimino)-1,3,5-triazine (MT) and its trinuclear Dy(III), Er(III), and Gd(III) complexes were synthesized. These were characterized using UV-visible, IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and molar conductivity measurements. The spectral studies indicate that the ligand is hexadentate and coordinates to the Ln(III) ions through the oxygen atoms of the carboxylic group. The trinuclear complexes were characterized as being bridged by carboxylate anions to the Dy(III), Er(III), and Gd(III) salen centers and displaying a coordination number of six. Biological studies revealed that MT is more active against the test micro-organisms relative to the trinuclear complexes. Acute toxicity studies revealed that MT is safe and has a wide range of effective doses (ED50). In vivo antimalarial studies indicate that MT could serve as an effective antimalarial agent since it has parasitemia inhibition of 84.02% at 50 mg/kg and 65.81% at 25 mg/kg, close to the value (87.22%) of the standard drug—Artesunate. Molecular docking simulation studies on the compounds against SARS-CoV-2 (6Y84) and E. coli DNA gyrase (5MMN) revealed effective binding interactions through multiple bonding modes. The binding energy calculated for Er(III)MT-6Y84 and Er(III)MT-5MMN complexes showed active molecules with the ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and E. coli DNA gyrase.