Improved synthesis, molecular modeling and anti-inflammatory activity of new fluorinated dihydrofurano-naphthoquinone compounds

A series of new fluorinated dihydrofurano-napthoquinone compounds were sucessfully synthesized in good yields using microwave-assisted multi-component reactions of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, fluorinated aromatic aldehydes, and pyridinium bromide. The products were fully characterized using spectroscopic techniques and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Among 12 new compounds, compounds 8b, 8d, and 8e showed high potent NO inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells with IC50 values ranging from 1.54 to 3.92 µM. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were remarkably decreased after the application of 8b, 8d, 8e and 8k. Molecular docking simulations revealed structure–activity relationships of 8b, 8d, and 8e toward NO synthase, cyclooxygenase (COX-2 over COX-1), and prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). Further physicochemical and pharmacokinetic computations also demonstrated the drug-like characteristics of synthesized compounds. These findings demonstrated the importance of fluorinated dihydrofurano-napthoquinone moieties in the development of potential anti-inflammatory agents.