Synthesis, in silico docking studies, and antiplasmodial activity of hybrid molecules bearing 7‐substituted 4‐aminoquinoline moiety and cinnamic acid derivatives

• Published in: Chemical biology & drug design 2022-07, Vol.100 (1), p.41-50
• Main Authors: Bokosi, Fostino R. B., Ngoepe, Mpho P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 4‐aminoquinoline; cinnamic acid; hybridization; malaria; plasmodium falciparum
• ISSN: 1747-0277; 1747-0285
• DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14050

This paper reports a series of nine hybrid compounds of 7‐substituted 4‐aminoquinoline and cinnamic acid as antiplasmodial agents. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry studies were used to confirm the structures. The synthesized compounds were moderately active, with IC50 values ranging from 1.8 to 16 µM against the Pf3D7 chloroquine‐sensitive strain in vitro. Compound C11 was shown to be the most potent in this investigation, with an IC50 value of 1.8 µM. Molecular docking studies revealed that compounds C14 and C17, with binding energies (ΔG0) of −7.19 and −7.72 kcal/mol and inhibition constants (Ki) of 5.36 and 2.20 µM, respectively, were the best inhibitor candidates. The results of the Frontier molecular orbitals revealed that compounds possessed a small HOMO–LUMO energy gap. The HOMO–LUMO energy distributions indicated that the cinnamic acid regions favored the LUMO distribution, while the quinoline regions favored the HOMO energy. The investigation of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity based on in silico ADME tools predicted that the compounds have a good drug‐like character. A series of nine hybrid compounds of 7‐substituted 4‐aminoquinoline and cinnamic acid has been synthesized and characterized by routine spectroscopic techniques. Synthesized hybrids were significantly active against asexual‐stage trophozoites of the sensitive 3D7 strain. In silico investigations validated the antimalarial potential of the produced new aminoquinoline/cinnamic compounds.