4-Bromo-1,8-Naphthalimide derivatives as Antifungal Agents: Synthesis, Characterization, DNA Binding, Molecular docking, Antioxidant and ADMET studies

A series of heterocyclic derivatives (2a-2n) was synthesized and characterized by melting point, FT-IR ¹H, ¹³C NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In vitro antifungal activity of the heterocyclic derivatives (2a-2n) was evaluated against the fungal strains: C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. The results revealed that heterocyclic analog 2a exhibits significant activity against all three strains with MIC value of 200 μg/mL, 2b exhibits antifungal activity against C. albicans with MIC value of 400 μg/mL and C. glabrata and C. tropicalis with MIC value of 500 μg/mL. Analog 2m also shows antifungal activity against C. albicans with MIC values of 200 μg/mL and C. glabrata and C. tropicalis with a MIC value 250 μg/mL as compared to the standard drug fluconazole. The binding interaction study of promising heterocyclic derivatives 2a, 2b, and 2m with CT-DNA was carried out by using UV-visible, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, circular dichroism, and viscosity measurements. The molecular docking study of the heterocyclic derivatives (2a–2n) was done with PDB ID: 1BNA. The pharmacokinetics properties of the heterocyclic derivatives (2a–2n) showed good oral bioavailability. Antioxidant potential of heterocyclic derivatives (2a–2n) was further approximated through DPPH and H₂O₂ free radical and showed that all the derivatives exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity.