Pharmacological evaluation, molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies of salicyl alcohol nitrogen containing derivatives

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate in vivo the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activities of salicyl alcohol nitrogen containing derivatives that are [4-(2-hydroxybenzyl) morpholin-4-iumchloride (I)], [1,4-bis (2-hydroxybenzyl) piperazine-1,4-diium chloride (II)]. The synthetic compound I, II and standard (aspirin) were evaluated in laboratory animal model at three different dose levels for each activity. These compounds were examined for, anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw edema model [50, 100 and 150 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p)], antinociceptive properties in acetic acid induced writhing model (15, 30 and 45 mg/kg i.p), hot plate test model (30 and 45mg/kg i.p) and antipyretic activity in Brewer's yeast induced pyrexia model (50,100 and 150 mg/kg i.p), using Swiss albino mice. Result of this study indicated that these compounds; possess dose dependent statistically significant anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic properties, comparable to standard aspirin. Nonetheless, these compounds did not show antinociceptive properties in hot plate test when compared with centrally acting standard analgesic (morphine), thus signifying peripheral mechanism of action in the mediation of antinociception. In order to investigate receptor-compounds interactions in terms of the binding affinity, the molecules were subjected to molecular docking simulation analysis using FRED 2.1 software that showed better binding energy of the compounds with the COX- 2 enzyme, predicting these compounds as potential COX-2 inhibitors. As in actual cellular system there was a solvent which makes the enzyme to have a dynamic movement so, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was carried out during 200 ps to better understand the binding modes of these compounds with the receptor.