Ahmad Mohammadi-Farani
1,2 
, Milad Takesh
3,4, Mahsa Mohammadi
4,5, Amin Hosseini
3,4, Amin Aliabadi
6, Alireza Aliabadi
4,5* 1 Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord, University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
2 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
3 Students Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
4 Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
5 Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Health Institute, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
6 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
Background: According to the cholinergic hypothesis for Alzheimer’s disease, potentiation of cholinergic neurotransmission is one of the best strategies for combating dementia.
Methods: A new series of benzamide derivatives bearing 1,3,4-thiadiazole nucleus were synthesized and subsequently, their anticholinesterase activity was evaluated. Molecular docking was carried out to explore the likely binding mode and interactions.
Results: Fortunately, some of the tested compounds exhibited more activity than donepezil as a reference drug (IC50 = 0.6 ± 0.05 µM). Some of the evaluated derivatives displayed potency in the nanomolar range. Compound 7e with fluorine atom on the meta position of the phenyl ring was the most active compound in this series (IC50 = 1.82 ± 0.6 nM).
Conclusion: The 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives that were synthesized and tested in the current manuscript demonstrated remarkable anticholinesterase activity. Therefore, these compounds could be suggested as potential anti-Alzheimer agents.