In silico molecular modeling and in vitro biological screening of novel benzimidazole-based piperazine derivatives as potential acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.

New series of benzimidazole incorporating piperazine moieties in single molecular framework has been reported. The structures of the synthesized derivatives were assigned by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and HR-MS techniques. The hybrid derivatives were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition effect. All the synthesized analogs showed good to moderate inhibitory effect ranging from IC₅₀ value 0.20 ± 0.01 µM to 0.50 ± 0.10 µM for acetylcholinesterase and from IC₅₀ value 0.25 ± 0.01 µM to 0.70 ± 0.10 µM for butyrylcholinesterase except one that showed least potency with IC₅₀ value 1.05 ± 0.1 µM and 1.20 ± 0.1 µM. The differences in inhibitory potential of synthesized compounds were due to the nature and position of substitution attached to the main ring. Additionally, molecular docking study was carried out for most active in order to explore the binding interactions established by ligand (active compounds) with the active residues of targeted AChE & BuChE enzyme.