Faculty Member from Babylon University College of Medicine Publishes Scientific Research in a Prestigious Journal
Dr. Laith Jasem Mohammed, a lecturer in the Department of Microbiology at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, has published a distinguished scientific research paper titled:
“Synthesis, Characterization, and In Silico Evaluation of Laboratory-Synthesized Xanthone Derivatives: Focus on Kinase Target Networks and Biomedical Properties”
in Frontiers in Pharmacology, a leading and highly regarded journal in the field of pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences.
The journal boasts a high impact factor of 4.4 and a Scopus score of 7.7, and is classified within the first quartile (Q1), making it one of the top global journals committed to publishing high-quality, impactful research in drug discovery and modern therapeutics. The journal is considered a trusted scientific platform and an essential reference for researchers and academics worldwide, contributing significantly to advancing scientific knowledge and the development of innovative pharmaceutical applications.
In this study, the researcher highlights that xanthone derivatives are considered promising drug-like molecules for designing and discovering new anticancer agents. The study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and perform in silico target fishing for novel xanthone derivatives.
The compounds were synthesized through reactions involving xanthydrol with urea, thiourea, and thiosemicarbazide with ?-haloketones to produce thiazolone derivatives. Additionally, dithiolane compounds were prepared by reacting xanthydrol with ethyl chloroacetate, hydrazine, carbon disulfide, and ?-haloketones. Moreover, triazole rings were synthesized via the reaction of xanthydrol with propargyl bromide, followed by a click reaction with azides.
Four new xanthone derivatives (L3, L5, L7, L9) were synthesized and characterized using advanced techniques such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Their ADMET profiles (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) were analyzed, along with assessments based on Pfizer’s drug-likeness rules, as well as evaluations of adverse drug reactions, toxicity, kinase target networks, molecular docking, and protein/gene network analysis.
The results demonstrated that the synthesized derivatives complied with Pfizer’s drug-likeness rules but were classified as toxic compounds. Their primary targets were kinase families (e.g., Haspin, WEE2, PIM3), with a central role identified for the MAPK1 gene. The compounds also showed signs of hepatotoxicity, while compound L7 exhibited cardiotoxicity. Interestingly, acute leukemic T-cells were predicted to be among the most responsive cell lines, indicating promising potential for future studies on their anticancer effectiveness.
This research represents a valuable scientific contribution in the field of anticancer drug discovery and computational drug design, reflecting the high scientific standards of the journal in publishing cutting-edge studies that contribute to therapeutic advancement. The journal continues to show strong commitment to supporting innovative research that addresses global health challenges, positioning itself as an ideal platform for publishing impactful scientific work