Structural modification of a specific antimicrobial lead against Helicobacter pylori discovered from traditional Chinese medicine and a structure–activity relationship study

Psoralen (1a) was found to be a specific and potent antimicrobial lead against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) from a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the bioassay directed isolation. A series of structurally diverse analogues of 1a were thus designed and synthesized to improve the antimicrobial potency, some of which showed more potent activities than the lead compound (1a) against H. pylori. Among them, compound 25a is 16-fold stronger (MIC = 0.39 μg/mL) than 1a (MIC = 6.25 μg/mL), and is even potent than the positive control metronidazole (MIC = 0.50 μg/mL). The in vitro antimicrobial activities against H. pylori of these structurally diverse analogues based on the scaffold of 1a have also led to an outline of structure–activity relationship.

Based on the specific antimicrobial lead psoralen against Helicobacter pylori, several series of analogues were synthesized, and 25a was identified as a potent candidate. A structure–activity relationship was outlined.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide