LAUSR

A set of piperonylic acid derived hydrazones with variable isatin moieties was synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO‐A/B). The results of in vitro studies revealed IC50 values in the micromolar range, with the majority of the compounds showing selectivity for the MAO‐B isoform. N‐[2‐Oxo‐1‐(prop‐2‐ynyl)indolin‐3‐ylidene]benzo[d][1,3]dioxole‐5‐carbohydrazide (3) was identified as a lead AChE inhibitor with IC50=0.052±0.006 μm. N‐[(3E)‐5‐chloro‐2‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐indol‐3‐ylidene]‐2H‐1,3‐benzodioxole‐5‐carbohydrazide (2) was the lead MAO‐B inhibitor with IC50=0.034±0.007 μm, and showed 50 times greater selectivity for MAO‐B over MAO‐A. The kinetic studies revealed that compounds 2 and 3 displayed competitive and reversible inhibition of AChE and MAO‐B, respectively. The molecular docking studies revealed the significance of hydrophobic interactions in the active site pocket of the enzymes under investigation. Further optimization studies might lead to the development of potential neurotherapeutic agents.