Bisindolylmethane thiosemicarbazides as potential inhibitors of urease: Synthesis and molecular modeling studies

Bisindolylmethane thiosemicarbazides 1-18 were synthesized, characterized by H-1 NMR and ESI MS and evaluated for urease inhibitory potential. All analogs showed outstanding urease inhibitory potentials with IC50 values ranging between 0.14 +/- 0.01 to 18.50 +/- 0.90 mu M when compared with the standard inhibitor thiourea having IC50 value 21.25 +/- 0.90 mu M. Among the series, analog 9 (0.14 +/- 0.01 mu M) with dichloro substitution on phenyl ring was identified as the most potent inhibitor of urease. The structure activity relationship has been also established on the basis of binding interactions of the active analogs. These binding interactions were identified by molecular docking studies. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.