The synthesis, structure and activity evaluation of pyrogallol and catechol derivatives as Helicobacter pylori urease inhibitors.

Some pyrogallol and catechol derivatives were synthesized, and their urease inhibitory activity was evaluated by using acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), a well known Helicobacter pylori urease inhibitor, as positive control. The assay results indicate that many compounds have showed potential inhibitory activity against H. pylori urease. 4-(4-Hydroxyphenethyl)phen-1,2-diol (2a) was found to be the most potent urease inhibitor with IC(50)s of 1.5±0.2 μM for extracted fraction and 4.2±0.3 μM for intact cell, at least 10 times and 20 times lower than those of AHA (IC(50) of 17.2±0.9 μM, 100.6±13 μM), respectively. This finding indicate that 2a would be a potential urease inhibitor deserves further research. Molecular dockings of 2a into H. pylori urease active site were performed for understanding the good activity observed.