Abstract
Recent studies reveal that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) acts as a pro-inflammatory enzyme, and by inhibiting this kinase, inflammation can be controlled. In this regard, a series of 17 piperazine-linked oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine-based derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for in vitro GSK-3β inhibitory and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds 7d, 7e, 7g, and 7c displayed the best GSK-3β inhibitory activity among all the synthesized compounds, with corresponding IC
values of 0.34, 0.39, 0.47, and 0.53 µM. Among the compounds 7d, 7e, 7g, and 7c examined for in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in the rat paw edema model, compound 7d exhibited maximum inhibition, reducing the paw volume by 62.79 and 65.91% at 3 and 5 h post-carrageenan administration, respectively, in comparison to indomethacin (76.74% at 3 h and 79.54% at 5 h after carrageenan administration). Furthermore, these compounds (7d, 7e, 7g, and 7c) were also found to substantially inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators, i.e., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, ex vivo in comparison to indomethacin and did not pose any gastric ulceration risk, indicating the potential of this oxazolopyridine scaffold for the development of GSK-3β inhibitors and their application as anti-inflammatory agents.