Synthesis, In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluation and GSK-3β Binding Study of Some Indole–Triazole-Linked Pyrazolone Derivatives Ashok Madarakhandi, Sujeet Kumar, Nishith Teraiya, Gokulakrishnan Sakthivel, Basavaraj Metikurki, et al. Chemistry Switzerland, 2026 Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase mediating multiple cellular functions, such as differentiation, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. Because of their ability to alter carcinogenic pathways, GSK-3β inhibitors are being explored for the development of anticancer molecules. In the present study, we synthesized and evaluated the cytotoxic properties of a series of twenty indole–triazole-linked pyrazolone derivatives, 10Aa–Ed. All derivatives were characterized by FTIR, 1H/13C NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods. All compounds and standards, sunitinib and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), were screened against four adherent cell lines, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Capan-1), colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), glioblastoma(LN229), and lung carcinoma (NCI-4460), and four non-adherent cell lines, including acute myeloid leukemia (HL-60), chronic myeloid leukemia (K562), T lymphoblast (MOLT4), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Z138). Among the screened derivatives, molecule 10Aa showed cytotoxicity against MOLT 4, Z138, and HL60 with CC50 values of 14.45 μM, 15.34 μM, and 17.56 μM, respectively. GSK-3β kinase inhibition was evaluated with the 10Aa, which is capable of inhibiting GSK-3β in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, molecular docking was performed to estimate the correlation between invitro data and GSK-3β binding affinity. The outcomes of the invitro experiments demonstrated strong concordance with the insilico data. The discovery yielded compounds 10Aa and 10Cd, which can be modified to create effective anticancer agents that target GSK-3β.
Functional Characterization of VS-186B, a Novel HDAC Inhibitor with Anticancer Activity Laura A. Sanchez-Michael, Vijayalakshmi Sudarshan, Allison Elias, Denisse A. Gutierrez, Jose A. Lopez-Saenz, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025 Histone acetylation and deacetylation are key regulators of gene expression and are frequently dysregulated in cancer, contributing to tumorigenesis and drug resistance. Overexpression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in many cancer types leads to silencing of tumor suppressor genes and uncontrolled proliferation. Tumors often rely on epigenetic mechanisms to escape therapy and develop resistance. This study aimed to identify novel compounds that selectively target cancer cells while minimizing toxicity to non-cancerous cell lines. A series of novel HDAC inhibitors was evaluated using the Differential Nuclear Staining (DNS) assay, flow cytometry, and HDAC inhibition assays. These assays assessed cytotoxicity, selectivity, and mechanisms of cell death. Among seven compounds tested, VS-186B exhibited the highest cytotoxicity and Selective Cytotoxicity Index (SCI), particularly against the human Jurkat T-cell leukemia cell line. Flow cytometry experiments (Annexin V-FITC, ROS, JC-1, and Caspase-3/7 assays) revealed that VS-186B induced apoptosis. VS-186B was more cytotoxic than Curcumin and Vorinostat across most of the cell lines tested and was more specific to hematological cells. Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis showed strong similarity to genes affected by known HDAC inhibitors. Subsequently, HDAC enzymatic assays confirmed that VS-186B inhibits Class I and II HDACs in a dose-dependent manner. VS-186B exhibits promising anticancer potential as a selective HDAC inhibitor since it induces apoptosis in cancer cells without significant cytotoxicity to non-cancerous lines with a similar gene expression profile to known HDAC inhibitors. These findings support further development of VS-186B as an epigenetic treatment for leukemia/lymphoma.
Investigation of Anti-Cancer Properties of Novel Curcuminoids in Leukemic Cells and Dalton Lymphoma Ascites Model Vijayalakshmi Sudarshan, P. Shyamjith, Sujeet Kumar, Febina Ravindran, Bibha Choudhary, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025 Leukemia, one of the major causes of cancer death, ranks 11th worldwide among cancer-related deaths. The current treatment of leukemia faces challenges recently due to a high burden of side effects. It is well established that curcumin has anticancer and tumor-suppressing activities in several cancers in addition to leukemia. Accordingly, 15 derivatives were designed and prepared to improve the shortcomings of curcumin, such as poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability, and low bioavailability. All 15 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against the leukemic cell line MOLT-4, which led to the prioritization and further evaluation of compound curcuminoid (2E,5E)-2,5-bis((3-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylene)cyclopentan-1-one 5i. 5i. Compared to curcumin, 5i was significantly more effective in inducing mitochondrial dysfunction in MOLT-4 cells; hence increased ROS production and cytotoxicity. Treatment groups showed change in mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, tumor volume reduction observed with 5i treatment in Dalton’s Lymphoma model was accompanied with low toxicity. Intrinsic pathways of apoptosis was initiated by compound 5i that lowered Bcl-2 expression while augmenting cytochrome c, Bak and Bax levels both in vivo and in vitro. These results showcase the potent antiproliferative as well as cytotoxic effects of 5i at nanomolar doses against leukemia being at least 60 times more effective than curcumin.
Dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics sustains drug resistance in cancer cells Davide Gnocchi, Dragana Nikolic, Silvia Russo, Maria Laura Matrella, Rosa R. Paparella, et al. American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology, 2025 Cancer drug resistance (CDR) is increasingly becoming a concerning clinical problem. The mechanisms behind the onset of CDR are still not well defined. In this study, we demonstrated that a treatment mimicking long-term clinical protocols with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents promotes mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction, leading to the acquisition of CDR. In a future perspective, interventions aimed at inhibiting fermentation and restoring OXPHOS efficiency may offer tangible opportunities to reduce the clinical burden of CDR.
Abstract 3622 Investigating the Mechanisms Activated to Induce Cell Death through Novel Anti-Cancer Compounds A Elias, L Sanchez-Michael, D Gutierrez, J Pena-Zacarias, JJ Hisa, ... Journal of Biological Chemistry 302 (5) , 2026 2026
Investigation of pyrimidine derivatives for Parkinson's disease: An integrated approach of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and MD simulation P Chakravarthi, B Patra, S Wali, SS Karki JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 103 (2) , 2026 2026
Synthesis, In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluation and GSK-3 β Binding Study of Some Indole–Triazole-Linked Pyrazolone Derivatives A Madarakhandi, S Kumar, N Teraiya, G Sakthivel, B Metikurki, ... Chemistry 8 (2), 17 , 2026 2026
Investigation of Pyrimidine Derivatives for Parkinson’s Disease: An Integrated Approach of Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and MD Simulation C Pushpaveni, B Patra, S Wali, SS Karki Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 102390 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Functional Characterization of VS-186B, a Novel HDAC Inhibitor with Anticancer Activity LA Sanchez-Michael, V Sudarshan, A Elias, DA Gutierrez, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (23), 11354 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Abstract C030: Functional characterization of VS-186B, a novel HDAC inhibitor for cancer treatment A Elias, DA Gutierrez, JA Lopez-Saenz, J Pena-Zacarias, GC Torres, ... Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 24 (10_Supplement), C030-C030 , 2025 2025
Assessing the anti-leukemic efficacy of a curcuminoid in cellular and animal models V Sudarshan, P Shyamjith, S Kumar, F Ravindran, N Teraiya, ... European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 118177 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Synthesis of novel pyridazine and pyrimidine linked pyrazole derivatives as DNA ligase 1 and IV inhibitors that induce apoptosis S Aishwarya, GC Torres, JA Lopez-Saenz, DA Gutierrez, S Kumar, ... Chemico-Biological Interactions 414, 111509 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Investigation of anti-cancer properties of novel curcuminoids in leukemic cells and Dalton lymphoma ascites model V Sudarshan, P Shyamjith, S Kumar, F Ravindran, B Choudhary, SS Karki International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (7), 3186 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics sustains drug resistance in cancer cells D Gnocchi, D Nikolic, S Russo, ML Matrella, RR Paparella, S Kumar, ... American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology , 2025 2025 Citations: 11
Computational Design, Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Evaluation of Curcumin-Derived C-Src Kinase Inhibitors For Targeted Cancer Therapy S Vijayalakshmi, SS Karki Cuestiones de Fisioterapia 54 (4), 5555-5562 , 2025 2025
Synthesis, molecular docking, dynamics study and preliminary cytotoxicity study of some coumarin linked imidazothiadiazoles S Kumar, PV Sravani, S Gokulakrishnan, S Khushwah, B Metikurki, ... Journal of Molecular Structure 1321, 139943 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
SYNTHESIS, IN SILICO ADME, MOLECULAR DOCKING AND IN VITRO CYTOTOXICITY EVALUATION OF INDOLIN-2-ONE LINKED STILBENE DERIVATIVES D PIRGAL, SS KARKI, S KUMAR, B METIKURKI ASIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY 37 (3), 737-744 , 2025 2025
1, 4-Disubstituted-1, 2, 3-triazole Linked Cyclic Ketones Ascytotoxic Agents A Kumar, S Kumar, A Das, B Metikurki, D Schols, SSS Karki 2025
Design, synthesis and anticancer evaluation of novel hydrazide-2-oxindole analogues as GSK-3β kinase inhibitors A Madarakhandi, S Kumar, N Teraiya, D Schols, SJ Vastrad, P Shyamjith, ... RSC advances 15 (30), 24650-24667 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Investigation of Anti-Cancer Properties of Novel Curcuminoids in Leukemic Cells and Dalton Lymphoma Ascites Model SS Karki Available at SSRN 5344890 , 2025 2025
Does Ortho-Substitution Enhance Cytotoxic Potencies in a Series of 3, 5-Bis (benzylidene)-4-piperidones? SS Karki, U Das, J Balzarini, E De Clercq, H Sakagami, Y Uesawa, ... Medicines 11 (8), 19 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
188 (PB176): Novel HSP90 inhibitors SP15 and SP11: Promoting intrinsic apoptotic pathway and immune activation in cancer cells S MV, SS Karki, B Choudhary European Journal of Cancer 211 , 2024 2024
Pyrazole derivatives with anticancer activity RJ Aguilera, SS Karki, S Kumar, ML Penichet US Patent 11,981,662 , 2024 2024
Setting Sepsis as a Priority: A Quality Improvement Project Tooptimize Sepsis Care S Karki, T Chowdhury, B Aryal, A Bellamkonda, MN Pasha, B Lin-Chen, ... C39. PNEUMONIA AND SEPSIS: EPIDEMIOLOGY, TREATMENTS, AND OUTCOMES, A5489-A5489 , 2024 2024
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
An inhibitor of nonhomologous end-joining abrogates double-strand break repair and impedes cancer progression M Srivastava, M Nambiar, S Sharma, SS Karki, G Goldsmith, M Hegde, ... Cell 151 (7), 1474-1487 , 2012 2012 Citations: 469
Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2-aralkyl-5-substituted-6-(4′-fluorophenyl)-imidazo [2, 1-b][1, 3, 4] thiadiazole derivatives as potent anticancer agents SS Karki, K Panjamurthy, S Kumar, M Nambiar, SA Ramareddy, ... European journal of medicinal chemistry 46 (6), 2109-2116 , 2011 2011 Citations: 142
Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of chloroform extract of Bryonia laciniosa in experimental animal models M Gupta, UK Mazumdar, T Sivakumar, MLM Vamsi, SS Karki, ... Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 26 (9), 1342-1344 , 2003 2003 Citations: 104
Synthesis, anticancer, and cytotoxic activities of some mononuclear Ru (II) compounds SS Karki, S Thota, SY Darj, J Balzarini, E De Clercq Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 15 (21), 6632-6641 , 2007 2007 Citations: 94
A novel resveratrol based tubulin inhibitor induces mitotic arrest and activates apoptosis in cancer cells E Thomas, V Gopalakrishnan, M Hegde, S Kumar, SS Karki, ... Scientific reports 6 (1), 34653 , 2016 2016 Citations: 93
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Acalypha fruticosa . M Gupta, UK Mazumdar, T Sivahkumar, MLM Vamis, S Karki, ... 2003 Citations: 85
Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-formyl-6-arylimidazo (2, 1-b)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-N-(dimethylaminomethino) sulfonamides as antitumor agents AK Gadad, SS Karki, VG Rajurkar, BA Bhongade Arzneimittelforschung 49 (10), 858-863 , 1999 1999 Citations: 76
Synthesis, anticancer and antibacterial activity of some novel mononuclear Ru (II) complexes UK Mazumder, M Gupta, SS Karki, S Bhattacharya, S Rathinasamy, ... Chemical and pharmaceutical bulletin 52 (2), 178-185 , 2004 2004 Citations: 74
Novel levamisole derivative induces extrinsic pathway of apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibits tumor progression in mice M Hegde, SS Karki, E Thomas, S Kumar, K Panjamurthy, SR Ranganatha, ... Public Library of Science 7 (9), e43632 , 2012 2012 Citations: 70
RETRACTED ARTICLE: effects of green synthesised silver nanoparticles (ST06-AgNPs) using curcumin derivative (ST06) on human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) in vitro and EAC tumor … K Murugesan, J Koroth, PP Srinivasan, A Singh, S Mukundan, SS Karki, ... International Journal of Nanomedicine, 5257-5270 , 2019 2019 Citations: 69
Novel BCL2 inhibitor, Disarib induces apoptosis by disruption of BCL2-BAK interaction SV Vartak, D Iyer, TR Santhoshkumar, S Sharma, A Mishra, G Goldsmith, ... Biochemical pharmacology 131, 16-28 , 2017 2017 Citations: 64
Investigation of anti-cancer and migrastatic properties of novel curcumin derivatives on breast and ovarian cancer cell lines J Koroth, S Nirgude, S Tiwari, V Gopalakrishnan, R Mahadeva, S Kumar, ... BMC complementary and alternative medicine 19 (1), 273 , 2019 2019 Citations: 62
Synthesis and pharmacological activities of some mononuclear Ru (II) complexes UK Mazumder, M Gupta, SS Karki, S Bhattacharya, S Rathinasamy, ... Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 13 (20), 5766-5773 , 2005 2005 Citations: 60
Synthesis of thiocarbohydrazide and carbohydrazide derivatives as possible biologically active agents K Gangarapu, S Manda, A Jallapally, S Thota, SS Karki, J Balzarini, ... Medicinal Chemistry Research 23 (2), 1046-1056 , 2014 2014 Citations: 56
Autocyclized and oxidized forms of SCR 7 induce cancer cell death by inhibiting nonhomologous DNA end joining in a Ligase IV dependent manner SV Vartak, HA Swarup, V Gopalakrishnan, VK Gopinatha, V Ropars, ... The FEBS journal 285 (21), 3959-3976 , 2018 2018 Citations: 53
Identification of a novel BCL 2‐specific inhibitor that binds predominantly to the BH 1 domain D Iyer, SV Vartak, A Mishra, G Goldsmith, S Kumar, M Srivastava, ... The FEBS journal 283 (18), 3408-3437 , 2016 2016 Citations: 53
Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of imidazo [2, 1-b][1, 3, 4] thiadiazole derivatives S Kumar, V Gopalakrishnan, M Hegde, V Rana, SS Dhepe, ... Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 24 (19), 4682-4688 , 2014 2014 Citations: 48
2-(4-Chlorobenzyl)-6-arylimidazo [2, 1-b][1, 3, 4] thiadiazoles: Synthesis, cytotoxic activity and mechanism of action S Kumar, M Hegde, V Gopalakrishnan, VK Renuka, SA Ramareddy, ... European journal of medicinal chemistry 84, 687-697 , 2014 2014 Citations: 46
Synthesis, anticancer and cytostatic activity of some 6H-indolo [2, 3-b] quinoxalines S Karki, R Hazare, S Kumar, V Bhadauria, J Balzarini, E De Clercq Acta Pharmaceutica 59 (4), 431-440 , 2009 2009 Citations: 41
Antineoplastic and antibacterial activity of some mononuclear Ru (II) complexes UK Mazumder, M Gupta, S Bhattacharya, SS Karki, S Rathinasamy, ... Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry 19 (2), 185-192 , 2004 2004 Citations: 38