Study of novel 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives as prospective anti-inflammatory remedies: a randomised controlled trial

Background. Over the past decades, scientific community is motivated on finding new anti-inflammatory agents with a safe and high-effective profile to manage pathology.

Objectives. A study of the anti-inflammatory action of novel compounds, 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives, in a classical formalin-induced paw oedema test in white rats.

Methods. Originally synthesised 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives were preliminarily subjected to virtual screening using the SwissTargetPrediction toolkit. White laboratory rats (130 animals) were divided into a control (formalin oedema) and intact group, 4 comparison (meloxicam, sodium metamizole, sodium diclofenac and indomethacin) and 7 experiment groups by the number of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives studied. The samples anti-inflammatory efficacy was evaluated in acute formalin-induced paw oedema model simulated by right hind limb subplantar injection of 0.1 mL 2% formalin. The studied substances were administered intragastrically at 5 mg/kg 1.5 h prior to oedema induction. Oncometry was assessed quantitatively by limb circumference. Animals were managed in compliance with GOST 33044–2014 “Principles of Good Laboratory Practice” at all experiment steps. Experimental data were analysed statistically to describe quantitative variability with variance σ2, mean limb girth a and standard deviation σ. Data homogeneity and reliability were estimated by variation coefficient V and the Wilcoxon T(W) criterion.

Results. As the most anti-inflammatory effective, partially hydrogenated mar-040 pyridines (ethyl 4-({[5-cyano-6-{[2-(diphenylamino)-2-oxoethyl]thio}-4-(2-furyl)-2-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-3-yl]carbonyl}amino) benzoate) were shown 33-fold superior to indomethacin, 26-fold — to sodium diclofenac, 25-fold — to meloxicam and 30-fold — to sodium metamizole; mar-037 pyridines (ethyl 4-[({[3-cyano-5-({[4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phenyl]amino}carbonyl)-4-(2-furyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-2-yl]thio}acetyl)amino] benzoate) — 17–23-fold superior vs. reference drugs. We also show that mаr-014 (ethyl 4-({[5-cyano-6-({2-[(3,5-dichlorophenyl) amino]-2-oxoethyl}thio)-4-(2-furyl)-2-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-3-yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoate) and mar033 (ethyl 2-[({[3-cyano-5-({[4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phenyl]amino}carbonyl)-4-(2-furyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-2-yl]thio}acetyl)amino]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzothiophene-3-carboxylate) compounds are 2.7-fold more effective vs. reference drugs.

Conclusion. The synthesised 1,4-dihydropyridine compounds reveal high efficacy in experimental assays. Selected novel 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives exhibit a marked anti-inflammatory activity and offer value in future preclinical trials.