Synthesis, in vivo and in silico analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies of α-D-ribofuranose derivatives

Five alpha-D-ribofuranose analogues (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) were synthesized in good yields from 3-O-benzyl-4-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1, 2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-ribofuranose (1). The synthesized compounds were then subjected to analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant assays. Compound 3 demon-strated 79.74% (P < 0.001) writhing inhibition and highest reaction time of 2.55 +/- 0.13 min (P < 0.001) after 30 min of oral administration in peripheral and central analgesic assay, respectively, at 50 mg/kg dose. Compound 2 and 6 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity at 100 mg/kg dose with paw edema inhibition of 91.15% (P < 0.001) and 95.13% (P < 0.001), respectively, in 4th hour. The synthesized analogues did not show notable antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Molecular docking study revealed higher binding affinity of -8.1 kcal/mol and -8.9 kcal/mol of compound 3 towards cyclooxygenase-1 and phospholipase A(2), respectively, compared to -7.7 and -7.6 kcal/mol respectively for corresponding native ligands. Compound 2 demonstrated binding affinity of -9.1 kcal/mol towards interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4 compared to -8.7 kcal/mol of the native ligand. The molecular properties related to drug likeness of compounds were found to be within acceptable range. Synthesized D-ribofuranose analogues demonstrated promising analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and further development may lead to new potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.