Design, synthesis, in silico and biological evaluation of novel 2-(4-(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl)benzylidene)hydrazine carboxamides.

A series of novel 2-(4-(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl)benzylidene)hydrazinecarboxamide derivatives has been successfully designed and synthesized to evaluate their potential as carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors. The inhibitory potential of synthesized compounds against human CAI and CAII was evaluated. Compounds 3a-n exhibited [Formula: see text] values between [Formula: see text] against CAI and [Formula: see text] against CAII. Compound 3g was the most active inhibitor, with an [Formula: see text] value of [Formula: see text] against CAII. Molecular docking studies of compound 3g with CAII showed this compound fits nicely in the active site of CAII and it interacts with the zinc ion ([Formula: see text]) along with three histidine residues in the active site. Molecular dynamics simulation studies of compound 3g complexed with CAII also showed essential interactions which were maintained up to 40 ns of simulation. In vivo sub-acute toxicity study using 3g (300 mg/kg) was found non-toxic in adult Wistar rats.