Design, synthesis, and biological investigation of oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, and pyrimidinyl linked antipyrine derivatives as potential non-acidic anti-inflammatory agents

A novel series of 12 antipyrine derivatives containing 1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a-d), 1,3,4-thiadiazoles (6a-d), and pyrimidines (8a-d), was preparedand assessed for its potential in vitro COX-2 inhibitors. Compared to Celecoxib, compounds 4b-d and 8d were the most potent derivatives c with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration range of 53-69 nM. Considering COX-2 selectivity index, compounds 4 b and 4c were chosen among these most potent derivatives for further investigation. The in vivo ability of compounds 4 b and 4c to counteract carrageenan-induced paw edoema has been assessed and their potential underlying mechanisms have been elucidated and the results have been further validated using molecular docking simulations.