10.1016/j.bmc.2013.02.058
The research focuses on the synthesis and biological evaluation of Esaprazole analogues, aiming to enhance their neuroprotective properties and blood-brain barrier penetration. Esaprazole, initially known for its protective effects against stomach and intestinal ulcers, was found to exhibit neuroprotective activities and bind to the sigma r1 receptor in vitro. The study prepared a diverse set of Esaprazole analogues to increase their potential to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. These analogues were evaluated for their structure-activity relationship at the r1 receptor and their neuroprotective properties using primary cultures of cortical neurons exposed to glutamate and hydrogen peroxide. The research concluded that while many analogues showed neuroprotective properties, a clear structure-activity relationship could not be established for the neuroprotection assays. However, the metabolic stability and blood-brain barrier penetration of the analogues were significantly influenced by the structure of R1, leading to two distinct series of compounds. The chemicals used in the synthesis process included Esaprazole and various analogues with different R1 substitutions, such as H, acyl, cyclo- or bicyclo-alkyl groups, which affected their ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) properties.