Synthesis, antioxidant, and anti-tyrosinase activity of some aromatic oximes: an experimental and theoretical study

In this study, five oximes were synthesized, characterized, and their antioxidant activity investigated experimentally and theoretically. Labeled OX1–OX5, our oximes were subjected to three antioxidant activity assays (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity test [CUPRAC], and ferric reducing antioxidant power test). The related results were very fulfilling presenting certain antioxidant properties for the majority of the studied compounds, especially with CUPRAC test where OX1 and OX2 presented a better result than the used standard antioxidants. Besides, the thermodynamic molecular descriptors (bond dissociation enthalpy, ionization potential, and proton affinity) of our molecules were calculated with the density functional theory to elucidate the experimental results. The resulting values were in a good agreement with the experimental results. The second part of this work consisted of an anti-tyrosinase activity evaluation of the five oximes where three of them displayed an inhibitory effect against this enzyme. To analyze this result, a molecular docking was conducted and the obtained values were in accordance with the experience. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties were also assessed via Molinspiration software and all our molecules satisfied the related conditions. Thus, the conducted theoretical and experimental studies were in excellent harmony, together supporting the antioxidant power of our compounds, which could permit their use in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or food industry domains, after further clinical tests.