Design and synthesis of pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile hybrids as COX-2 inhibitors: anti-inflammatory activity, ulcerogenic liability, histopathological and docking studies

Abstract Two new series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole and coumarin derivatives based on pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile scaffold have been synthesized and evaluated for their COX-1/COX-2 inhibitory activity. Compounds 10c, 10e, 10h-j, 14e-f, 14i and 16 were found to be the most potent and selective inhibitors of COX-2 (IC50 0.041-0.081 μM, SI 139.74-321.95). Eight compounds were further investigated for their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The most active derivatives 10c, 10j and 14e displayed superior in vivo anti-inflammatory activity (% edema inhibition 39.3–48.3, 1 h; 58.4–60.5, 2 h; 70.8–83.2, 3 h; 78.9–89.5, 4 h) than the reference drug celecoxib (% edema inhibition 38.0, 1 h; 48.8, 2 h; 58.4, 3 h; 65.4, 4 h). These derivatives were also tested for their ulcerogenic liability, compound 10j showed better safety profile with reference to celecoxib while 10c and 14e exhibited mild lesions. Molecular docking studies of 10c, 10j, and 14e in the COX-2 active site revealed similar orientation and binding interactions as selective COX-2 inhibitors with a higher liability to access the selectivity side pocket.