Research Article

Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Volume: 30 Number: 5 October 6, 2026

Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Abstract

In this study, a series of novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one derivatives (8a-i) were synthesized. The moleculer structures of the synthesized compounds were determined by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and LC-MS/MS analyses. The inhibitory activities of the compounds against AChE and BuChE were evaluated. Compound 8e exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against AChE, with an IC50 value of 3.795 ± 0.057 µM, whereas compound 8h showed the highest inhibitory activity against BuChE, with an IC50 value of 15.484 ± 0.188 µM. The docking scores for compound 8e and donepezil were -8.39 and -11.06 kcal/mol, respectively. The selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor 8e exhibited interaction patterns comparable to those of donepezil within the active site of AChE.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University

Project Number

TYL-2024-11283

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval is not required.

Thanks

This study was derived from the Master’s thesis of Behiye Ateş and was partially supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (Project No: TYL-2024-11283).

References

  1. [1] Elumalai K, Ali MA, Elumalai M, Eluri K, Srinivasan S. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitor activity of some novel pyrazinamide condensed 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidines. Biotechnol Rep. 2015; 5: 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2014.10.007.
  2. [2] Jalili-Baleh L, Nadri H, Moradi A, Bukhari SNA, Shakibaie M, Jafari M, et al. New racemic annulated pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazines as tacrine-like AChE inhibitors with potential use in Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem. 2017; 139: 280-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.07.072.
  3. [3] Monteiro AR, Barbosa DJ, Remião F, Silva R. Alzheimer’s disease: Insights and new prospects in disease pathophysiology, biomarkers and disease-modifying drugs. Biochem Pharmacol. 2023; 211: 115522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115522.
  4. [4] Tok F, Baltaş N, Abas Bİ, Tatar Yılmaz G, Kaya S, Koçyiğit-Kaymakçıoğlu B, et al. Design, synthesis, molecular modeling, in vitro evaluation of novel piperidine-containing hydrazone derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors. Drug Dev Res. 2024; 85(5): e22240. https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.22240.
  5. [5] Hameed A, Zehra ST, Shah SJ, Khan KM, Alharthy RD, Furtmann N, et al. Syntheses, cholinesterases inhibition, and molecular docking studies of pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine derivatives. Chem Biol Drug Des. 2015; 86(5): 1115-1120. https://doi.org/10.1111/cbdd.12579.
  6. [6] Tok F. Recent studies on heterocyclic cholinesterase inhibitors against Alzheimer's disease. Chemistry Biodiversity. 2025; 22(4): e202402837. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202402837.
  7. [7] Godyń J, Jończyk J, Panek D, Malawska B. Therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease in clinical trials. Pharmacol Rep. 2016; 68(1): 127-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2015.07.006.
  8. [8] Abdelwahab HE, Ibrahim HZ, Omar AZ. Design, synthesis, DFT, molecular docking, and biological evaluation of pyrazole derivatives as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. J Mol Struct. 2023; 1271: 134137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134137.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 6, 2026

Submission Date

February 25, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 5

APA
Ateş, B., Dönmez, F., & Tan Uygun, M. (2026). Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(5), 1352-1367. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1897524
AMA
1.Ateş B, Dönmez F, Tan Uygun M. Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(5):1352-1367. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1897524
Chicago
Ateş, Behiye, Fatih Dönmez, and Meltem Tan Uygun. 2026. “Synthesis, Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, and in Silico Studies of Novel Pyrazolopyrazine Derivatives As Selective Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (5): 1352-67. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1897524.
EndNote
Ateş B, Dönmez F, Tan Uygun M (October 1, 2026) Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 5 1352–1367.
IEEE
[1]B. Ateş, F. Dönmez, and M. Tan Uygun, “Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 1352–1367, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.12991/jrespharm.1897524.
ISNAD
Ateş, Behiye - Dönmez, Fatih - Tan Uygun, Meltem. “Synthesis, Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, and in Silico Studies of Novel Pyrazolopyrazine Derivatives As Selective Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/5 (October 1, 2026): 1352-1367. https://doi.org/10.12991/jrespharm.1897524.
JAMA
1.Ateş B, Dönmez F, Tan Uygun M. Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:1352–1367.
MLA
Ateş, Behiye, et al. “Synthesis, Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, and in Silico Studies of Novel Pyrazolopyrazine Derivatives As Selective Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 5, Oct. 2026, pp. 1352-67, doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1897524.
Vancouver
1.Behiye Ateş, Fatih Dönmez, Meltem Tan Uygun. Synthesis, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, and in silico studies of novel pyrazolopyrazine derivatives as selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. J. Res. Pharm. 2026 Oct. 1;30(5):1352-67. doi:10.12991/jrespharm.1897524