In this study, a new series of quinazoline derivatives (3-26) was synthesized and characterized via physicochemical and spectral means. Treatment of 2-amino-5-methylbenzoic acid with butyl isothiocyanate resulted in the new 2-thioxoquinazolin-4-one (3). Alkylation and hydrazinolysis of the inherent thioxo group in (1-3) afforded the corresponding thioethers (4-23) and hydrazine derivatives (24 and 25), then 24 was further transformed into tricyclic derivative 26 via cyclocondensation reaction. Compounds 1 and 2, which were previously synthesized, were found to exhibit anticancer activity. The cytotoxicity of all compounds was evaluated in vitro against the HeLa and MDA-MB231 cancer cell lines, including 1 and 2 for comparison, using MTT assay. The treatment of the cells was performed with the synthesized compounds and gefitinib at 0, 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM and incubated for 24 h in 50% DMSO. The IC50 values of the target compounds were reported in μM, using gefitinib as a standard. Our results indicated that all compounds exhibited significant in vitro cytotoxicity against both cell lines. While compounds 1-3 showed good activity, compounds 21-23 were found to be more potent than gefitinib. Thus, compounds 21-23 may be potential anticancer agents, with IC50 values ranging from 1.85 to 2.81 μM in relation to gefitinib (IC50 = 4.3 and 28.3 μM against HeLa and MDA-MB231 cells, respectively).

Artemisia absinthium L. is one of the plants which has been used in folk medicine for many diseases over many centuries. This study aims to analyze the chemical composition of the Artemisia absinthium ethyl acetate and its aqueous extracts and to evaluate their effect on the pancreatic α-amylase enzyme and the intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme. In this study, the total contents of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and condensed tannins in ethyl acetate and the aqueous extracts of Artemisia absinthium leaves were determined by using spectrophotometric techniques, then the antioxidant capacity of these extracts was examined using three methods, namely, the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method, the iron reduction method FRAP, and the β-carotene bleaching method. The determination of the chemical composition of the extracts was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography—the photodiode array detector (HPLC-DAD). These extracts were also evaluated for their ability to inhibit the activity of the pancreatic α-amylase enzyme, as well as the intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme, in vitro and in vivo, thus causing the reduction of blood glucose. The results of this study showed that high polyphenol and flavonoid contents were obtained in ethyl acetate extract with values of 60.34 ± 0.43 mg GAE/g and 25.842 ± 0.241 mg QE/g, respectively, compared to the aqueous extract. The results indicated that the aqueous extract had a higher condensed tannin content (3.070 ± 0.022 mg EC/g) than the ethyl acetate extract (0.987 ± 0.078 mg EC/g). Ethyl acetate extract showed good DPPH radical scavenging and iron reduction FRAP activity, with an IC₅₀ of 0.167 ± 0.004 mg/mL and 0.923 ± 0.0283 mg/mL, respectively. The β-carotene test indicated that the aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts were able to delay the decoloration of β-carotene with an inhibition of 48.7% and 48.3%, respectively, which may mean that the extracts have antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of naringenin and caffeic acid as major products in AQE and EAE, respectively. Indeed, this study showed that the aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts significantly inhibited the pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase, in vitro. To confirm this result, the inhibitory effect of these plant extracts on the enzymes has been evaluated in vivo. Oral intake of the aqueous extract significantly attenuated starch- and sucrose-induced hyperglycemia in normal rats, and evidently, in STZ-diabetic rats as well. The ethyl acetate extract had no inhibitory activity against the intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme in vivo. The antioxidant and the enzyme inhibitory effects may be related to the presence of naringenin and caffeic acid or their synergistic effect with the other compounds in the extracts.

A new series of quinazoline-4(3H)-ones are evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. After intraperitoneal (ip) injection to albino mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, synthesized quinazolin-4(3H)-ones (1–24) were examined in the maximal electroshock (MES) induced seizures and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) induced seizure models in mice. The Rotarod method was applied to determine the neurotoxicity. Most of the compounds displayed anticonvulsant activity in the scPTZ screen at a dose range of 0.204–0.376 mmol/mL. Out of twenty-four, compounds 8, 13 and 19 proved to be the most active with a remarkable protection (100%) against PTZ induced convulsions and four times more potent activity than ethosuximide. The structure-activity relationship concluded valuable pharmacophoric information, which was confirmed by the molecular docking studies using the target enzyme human carbon anhydrase II (HCA II). The studied quinazoline analogues suggested that the butyl substitution at position 3 has a significant effect on preventing the spread of seizure discharge and on raising the seizure threshold. However, benzyl substitution at position 3 has shown a strong anticonvulsant activity but with less seizure prevention compared to the butyl substitution.

This study employs a comprehensive computational analysis of the 2-benzyloxy-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a] quinazolin-5(4H)-one (ID code: CCDC 834498) to explore its intermolecular interactions, surface characteristics, and crystal structure. Utilizing the Hirshfeld surface technique and Crystal Explorer 17.5, the study maps the Hirshfeld surfaces for a detailed understanding of atom pair close contacts and interaction types. The study also investigates the compound’s electronic and optical characteristics using Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) analysis and Global Reactivity Parameters (GRPs). The compound is identified as electron-rich with strong electron-donating and accepting potential, indicating its reactivity and stability. Its band gap suggests Nonlinear Optical (NLO) attributes. The Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) map reveals charge distribution across the compound’s surface. The computational methods’ reliability is validated by the low Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Squared Error (MSE) in the comparison of experimental and theoretical bond lengths and angles.

Oxidative stress and related diseases resulting from the overproduction of free radicals can be counteracted by designing and developing novel antioxidative agents that can protect the human body against the damage caused by free radicals. The present study evaluated the antioxidant activities of 15 derivatives of 2-thioxobenzo[g]quinazoline using three different assays: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power capability, and ferric reduction antioxidant power. Some benzoquinazolines had good activity and had the capacity to deplete DPPH and free radicals compared to a positive control butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). A docking study identified the possible interactions between binding models and the antioxidant activities of the target compounds. The active compounds can be used as templates for further development of more potent antioxidative agents.