Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New 1, 4-Dihydropyridine (DHP) Derivatives as Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors.

As a continuous research for discovery of new COX-2 inhibitors, chemical synthesis, in vitro biological activity and molecular docking study of a new group of 1, 4-dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives were presented. Novel synthesized compounds possessing a COX-2 SO2Me pharmacophore at the para position of C-4 phenyl ring, different hydrophobic groups (R1) at C-2 position and alkoxycarbonyl groups (COOR2) at C-3 position of 1, 4-dihydropyridine, displayed selective inhibitory activity against COX-2 isozyme. Among them, compound 5e was identified as the most potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor with IC50 value of 0.30 μM and COX-2 selectivity index of 92. Molecular docking study was performed to determine probable binding models of compound 5e. The study showed that the p-SO2Me-phenyl fragment of 5e inserted inside secondary COX-2 binding site (Arg(513), Phe(518), Gly(519), and His(90)). The structure-activity relationships acquired reveal that compound 5e with methyl and ethoxycarbonyl as R1 and COOR2 substitutions has the necessary geometry to provide selective inhibition of the COX-2 isozyme and it can be a good basis for the development of new hits.