Objective: The aim of the study is to design N5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-3H-benzo[d]imidazole-2,5-diamine derivatives and evaluate its anti-obesity activity.
Materials and methods: A few pyrazole-fused benzimidazole derivatives were designed as potential Pancreatic Lipase (PL) inhibitors. The designed N5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-3H-benzo[d]imidazole-2,5-diamine derivatives have been screened using the Lipinski rule of five, ADMET analysis, acute toxicity prediction, and molecular docking. Later on, the derivatives which possess the most drug-likeness properties and displayed the most potent inhibition of the enzyme in molecular docking were synthesized. Then, in vitro enzyme assay was performed.
Results: Orlistat used as the standard exhibited 91±1.68% inhibition of the enzyme, displayed binding affinity (BA) of only -4.5 kcal/mol with Pancreatic Lipase (PL), and made only one salt bridge attractive charge and carbon-hydrogen bond with ASP79 and TRP252, respectively. Compound 9 displayed the most potent activity (93±1.12% inhibition of P.L. and -9.5 kcal/mol BA). It has formed five conventional H- bonds with GLU253, ILE78, ASP79, PHE258, and one Pi-donor H- bond with ILE78. From the present investigation, we hereby reported (E)-N2-((naphthalene-1-yl)methylene)-N5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-3H-benzo[d]imidazole-2,5-diamine as most potent PL inhibitor for the treatment of obesity, which can be further optimized by undergoing more studies using in vivo and in vitro models.
Conclusions: (E)-N2-((naphthalene-1-yl)methylene)-N5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-3H-benzo[d]imidazole-2,5-diamine as most potent PL inhibitor for the treatment of obesity which can be further optimized better using more in vivo and in vitro models. PL plays a critical role in digesting dietary fat. Therefore, PL inhibitors are verified as a potential therapy for treating obesity.