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Bessa CDPB, Feu AE, de Menezes RPB, Scotti MT, Lima JMG, Lima ML, Tempone AG, de Andrade JP, Bastida J, Borges WDS. Multitarget anti-parasitic activities of isoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Hippeastrum aulicum (Amaryllidaceae). PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155414. [PMID: 38503155 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease and leishmaniasis affect a significant portion of the Latin American population and still lack efficient treatments. In this context, natural products emerge as promising compounds for developing more effective therapies, aiming to mitigate side effects and drug resistance. Notably, species from the Amaryllidaceae family emerge as potential reservoirs of antiparasitic agents due to the presence of diverse biologically active alkaloids. PURPOSE To assess the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Leishmania infantum activity of five isolated alkaloids from Hippeastrum aulicum Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) against different life stages of the parasites using in silico and in vitro assays. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to evaluate the interaction of the most active alkaloids. METHODS Five natural isoquinoline alkaloids isolated in suitable quantities for in vitro testing underwent preliminary in silico analysis to predict their potential efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi (amastigote and trypomastigote forms) and Leishmania infantum (amastigote and promastigote forms). The in vitro antiparasitic activity and mammalian cytotoxicity were investigated with a subsequent comparison of both analysis (in silico and in vitro) findings. Additionally, this study employed the molecular docking technique, utilizing cruzain (T. cruzi) and sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51, L. infantum) as crucial biological targets for parasite survival, specifically focusing on compounds that exhibited promising activities against both parasites. RESULTS Through computational techniques, it was identified that the alkaloids haemanthamine (1) and lycorine (8) were the most active against T. cruzi (amastigote and trypomastigote) and L. infantum (amastigote and promastigote), while also revealing unprecedented activity of alkaloid 7‑methoxy-O-methyllycorenine (6). The in vitro analysis confirmed the in silico tests, in which compound 1 presented the best activities against the promastigote and amastigote forms of L. infantum with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 0.6 µM and 1.78 µM, respectively. Compound 8 exhibited significant activity against the amastigote form of T. cruzi (IC50 7.70 µM), and compound 6 demonstrated activity against the trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi and amastigote of L. infantum, with IC50 values of 89.55 and 86.12 µM, respectively. Molecular docking analyses indicated that alkaloids 1 and 8 exhibited superior interaction energies compared to the inhibitors. CONCLUSION The hitherto unreported potential of compound 6 against T. cruzi trypomastigotes and L. infantum amastigotes is now brought to the forefront. Furthermore, the acquired dataset signifies that the isolated alkaloids 1 and 8 from H. aulicum might serve as prototypes for subsequent structural refinements aimed at the exploration of novel leads against both T. cruzi and L. infantum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carliani Dal Piero Betzel Bessa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Amanda Eiriz Feu
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Renata Priscila Barros de Menezes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos (PgPNSB), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos (PgPNSB), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Lopes Lima
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland DD1 4HN, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jean Paulo de Andrade
- Departamento de Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Warley de Souza Borges
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil.
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Manu P, Mensah JO, Gasu EN, Borquaye LS. The Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, montanine, is a potential inhibitor of the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase enzyme. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-17. [PMID: 37870068 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2272750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the parasite that causes the chronic malady known as Chagas disease (CD). Only nifurtimox and benznidazole are currently approved to treat CD in acute and chronic phases. To minimize the danger of disease transmission and as a therapy, new compounds that are safer and more effective are required. It has been demonstrated that Amaryllidaceae plants suppress the growth of T. cruzi - the causative agent of CD. However, little research has been done on their potential protein targets in the parasite. In this study, an in-silico approach was used to investigate the interactions of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids with trans-sialidase, a confirmed protein target of T. cruzi. The nature and efficiency of the main binding modes of the alkaloids were investigated by molecular docking. Trans-sialidase active site residues were bound by the alkaloids with binding energies varying from -8.9 to -6.9 kcal/mol. From the molecular docking investigation, all the alkaloids had strong interactions with the crucial amino acid residues (Glu230, Tyr342, and Asp59) required for trans-sialidase catalysis. Montanine was the most stable compound throughout the molecular dynamics simulation and had a favorable docking binding energy (-8.9 kcal/mol). The binding free energy (MM-GBSA) of the montanine complex was -14.6 kcal/mol. The pharmacokinetic properties investigated demonstrated that all the evaluated compounds exhibit suitable oral administration requirements. Overall, this in silico study suggests that the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids could potentially act as inhibitors of trans-sialidase.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince Manu
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Edward Ntim Gasu
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Central Laboratory, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye
- Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Central Laboratory, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Rani R, Sethi K, Gupta S, Virmani N, Kumar S, Kumar R. Intracellular ROS production and apoptotic effect of quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids on the growth of Trypanosoma evansi. Acta Trop 2023; 245:106980. [PMID: 37419379 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma evansi, a hemoflagellate poses huge economic threat to the livestock industry of several countries of Asia, Africa, South America and Europe continents of the world. Limited number of available chemical drugs, incidents of growing drug resistance, and related side effects encouraged the use of herbal substitutes. In the present investigation, the impact of six alkaloids of quinoline and isoquinoline group was evaluated on the growth and multiplication of Trypanosoma evansi and their cytotoxic effect was examined on horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells in an in vitro system. Quinine, quinindine, cinchonine, cinchonidine, berbamine and emetine showed potent trypanocidal activities with IC50/24 h values 6.631 ± 0.244, 8.718 ± 0.081, 16.96 ± 0.816, 33.38 ± 0.653, 2.85 ± 0.065, and 3.12 ± 0.367 µM, respectively, which was comparable to the standard anti-trypanosomal drug, quinapyramine sulfate (20 µM). However, in the cytotoxicity assay, all the drugs showed dose dependent cytotoxic effect and quinine, berbamine and emetine showed selectivity index more than 5, based of ration of CC50 to IC50. Among the selected alkaloids, quinidine, berbamine and emetine exhibited higher apoptotic effects in T. evansi. Likewise, drug treated parasites showed a dose-dependent and time-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Therefore, increased apoptosis in combination with ROS generation could be responsible for the observed trypanocidal effect which could be further evaluated in T. evansi-infected mice model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruma Rani
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India
| | - Khushboo Sethi
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India
| | - Snehil Gupta
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India
| | - Nitin Virmani
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India
| | - Rajender Kumar
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, 125001, India.
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Rodríguez-Escobar ML, Tallini LR, Lisa-Molina J, Berkov S, Viladomat F, Meerow A, Bastida J, Torras-Claveria L. Chemical and Biological Aspects of Different Species of the Genus Clinanthus Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) from South America. Molecules 2023; 28:5408. [PMID: 37513280 PMCID: PMC10385320 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Clinanthus Herb. is found in the Andes Region (South America), mainly in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. These plants belong to the Amaryllidaceae family, specifically the Amaryllidoideae subfamily, which presents an exclusive group of alkaloids known as Amaryllidaceae alkaloids that show important structural diversity and pharmacological properties. It is possible to find some publications in the literature regarding the botanical aspects of Clinanthus species, although there is little information available about their chemical and biological activities. The aim of this work was to obtain the alkaloid profile and the anti-cholinesterase activity of four different samples of Clinanthus collected in South America: Clinanthus sp., Clinanthus incarnatus, and Clinanthus variegatus. The alkaloid extract of each sample was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their potential against the enzymes acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase were evaluated. Thirteen alkaloids have been identified among these species, while six unidentified structures have also been detected in these plants. The alkaloid extract of the C. variegatus samples showed the highest structural diversity as well as the best activity against AChE, which was likely due to the presence of the alkaloid sanguinine. The results suggest this genus as a possible interesting new source of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, which could contribute to the development of new medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Lenny Rodríguez-Escobar
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luciana R Tallini
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Julia Lisa-Molina
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Strahil Berkov
- Department of Plant and Fungal Diversity, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 23 Acad. G. Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Francesc Viladomat
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alan Meerow
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Torras-Claveria
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Gabaldón-Figueira JC, Martinez-Peinado N, Escabia E, Ros-Lucas A, Chatelain E, Scandale I, Gascon J, Pinazo MJ, Alonso-Padilla J. State-of-the-Art in the Drug Discovery Pathway for Chagas Disease: A Framework for Drug Development and Target Validation. Res Rep Trop Med 2023; 14:1-19. [PMID: 37337597 PMCID: PMC10277022 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s415273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is the most important protozoan infection in the Americas, and constitutes a significant public health concern throughout the world. Development of new medications against its etiologic agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, has been traditionally slow and difficult, lagging in comparison with diseases caused by other kinetoplastid parasites. Among the factors that explain this are the incompletely understood mechanisms of pathogenesis of T. cruzi infection and its complex set of interactions with the host in the chronic stage of the disease. These demand the performance of a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays as part of any drug development effort. In this review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in the understanding of the parasite's life cycle and their implications in the search for new chemotherapeutics. For this, we present a framework to guide drug discovery efforts against Chagas disease, considering state-of-the-art preclinical models and recently developed tools for the identification and validation of molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisa Escabia
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Pinazo
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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Ortiz JE, Piñeiro M, Martinez-Peinado N, Barrera P, Sosa M, Bastida J, Alonso-Padilla J, Feresin GE. Candimine from Hippeastrum escoipense (Amaryllidaceae): Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity and synergistic effect with benznidazole. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154788. [PMID: 37037085 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a health threat to around 20 million people worldwide. Side effects of benznidazole (Bzn) cause 15-20% of patients to discontinue their treatment. Evidence has increased in favor of the use of drug combinations to improve the efficacy and tolerance of the treatment. Natural products are well known to provide structures that could serve as new drugs or scaffolds for CD treatment. Spp of the Amaryllidoideae sub family of Amaryllidaceae family are known by their bioactives alkaloids, which have been reported by their antiparasitic activities. PURPOSE To evaluate the anti-T. cruzi activity of the isolated alkaloid candimine (Cnd) from Hippeastrum escoipense Slanis & Huaylla; and to assess the combination effect between Cnd and Bzn against different life stages of T. cruzi parasites. METHODS The chemical profile of H. escoipense alkaloids extract (AE-H. escoipense), including quantitation of Cnd was performed through GC/MS and UPLC-MS/MS techniques. Subsequently, Cnd was isolated using Shephadex LH-20. Then, the AE-H. escoipense and Cnd were tested against T. cruzi, (epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and amastigotes) by in vitro proliferation and viability assays. The cytotoxicity was evaluated against Vero and HepG2 mammalian cells. The ultrastructural analysis was perform by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mitochondrial activity was carried out by MTT assay. Drug combination assay between Cnd and Bzn was evaluated using the Chou-Talalay method. RESULTS The AE-H. escoipense and Cnd showed high and specific anti-T. cruzi activity, comparable to Bzn. Cnd induces ultrastructural changes in T. cruzi, such as vacuolization, membrane blebs, and increased mitochondrial activity. Regarding the interaction between Cnd and Bzn, it generates synergism in the combinations of 0.25×IC50 in epimastigotes, 2×IC50 in trypomastigotes+amastigotes, and 0.25, 2, and 4×IC50 in amastigotes. CONCLUSION The synergism between Cnd and Bzn indicates that the combination at the concentration of 4×IC50 could be useful as an effective new therapy against CD in the chronic stage. Thus, Cnd isolated from the leaves of H. escoipense emerges as potential candidate for the development of a new drug for the treatment of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier E Ortiz
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin, 1109 O San Juan, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CCT CONICET San Juan, Argentina
| | - Mauricio Piñeiro
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin, 1109 O San Juan, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CCT CONICET San Juan, Argentina
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Barrera
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, CC 56 (5500) Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Miguel Sosa
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología "Dr. Mario H. Burgos", Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, CC 56 (5500) Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriela E Feresin
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin, 1109 O San Juan, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CCT CONICET San Juan, Argentina.
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El Samarji M, Younes M, El Khoury M, Haykal T, Elias N, Gasilova N, Menin L, Houri A, Machaka-Houri N, Rizk S. The Antioxidant and Proapoptotic Effects of Sternbergia clusiana Bulb Ethanolic Extract on Triple-Negative and Estrogen-Dependent Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:529. [PMID: 36771614 PMCID: PMC9920827 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sternbergia clusiana belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is recognized for the valuable biological activity of its major bioactive compounds. The aim of the current is to evaluate the anticancer effects of the ethanolic bulb extract of Sternbergia clusiana (ScBEE) on breast cancer cells in vitro and to further reveal the underlying cellular mechanism. METHODS An MTS cell viability assay was performed on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, along with cell cycle analysis, cell death ELISA, Western blot analysis and an ROS production assay to decipher the mechanism of death. LC-MS/MS was also performed to identify the chemical composition of this ethanolic extract. RESULTS The results show a selective antiproliferative effect on both cell lines with no effect on normal mesenchymal stem cells. Further analysis suggested the activation of the apoptotic pathway as reflected by the increase in cellular and DNA fragmentation and alterations in apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and c-PARP. ScBEE was also found to exhibit antioxidant effect, as shown by a decrease in ROS production. The underlying mechanism of action was explained by the presence of several bioactive compounds identified by LC-MS/MS, including alkaloids, terpenoids and phenols, which are elaborated in the manuscript. CONCLUSION This study highlights the antioxidant and anticancerous properties of S.clusiana for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona El Samarji
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Maria Younes
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Marianne El Khoury
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Tony Haykal
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Nazira Elias
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Natalia Gasilova
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laure Menin
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ahmad Houri
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut 1102-2801, Lebanon
| | - Nisrine Machaka-Houri
- Department of Life and Earth Science, Faculty of Sciences, Saint Joseph University, Ras Maska 1104-2020, Lebanon
| | - Sandra Rizk
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos P.O. Box 36, Lebanon
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Development and Application of an Assay to Evaluate the Anti-Parasitic Effect of Humoral Responses against Trypanosoma cruzi. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020241. [PMID: 36838206 PMCID: PMC9966445 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting a balanced and robust humoral immune response is of utmost importance for reducing the infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi. While the role of such a response in controlling the infection is well known, there is a lack of tools that can be used to quickly evaluate it. We developed a serum parasite inhibition assay (to evaluate changes in the parasite infection after exposing infective T. cruzi trypomastigotes to serum samples from infected patients). It is based on Vero cells as the hosts and the Tulahuen β-galactosidase parasite strain, genetically engineered to be quantifiable by spectrophotometry. In parallel, we developed an in-house ELISA to correlate the anti-T. cruzi antibody titres of the clinical samples with their observed anti-parasitic effect in the serum parasite inhibition assay. Serum samples from chronically T. cruzi-infected patients significantly inhibited parasite invasion in a titre-dependant manner, regardless of the patient's clinical status, compared to samples from the non-infected controls. In addition, there was a clear correlation between the reactivity of the samples to the whole-parasite lysates by ELISA and the inhibitory effect. The results of this work confirm the previously described anti-parasitic effect of the serum of individuals exposed to T. cruzi and present a framework for its large-scale evaluation in further studies. The serum parasite inhibition assay represents a reproducible way to evaluate the intensity and anti-parasitic effect of humoral responses against T. cruzi, which could be applied to the evaluation of candidate antigens/epitopes in the design of Chagas disease vaccine candidates.
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Barnadas-Carceller B, Martinez-Peinado N, Gómez LC, Ros-Lucas A, Gabaldón-Figueira JC, Diaz-Mochon JJ, Gascon J, Molina IJ, Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro MJ, Alonso-Padilla J. Identification of compounds with activity against Trypanosoma cruzi within a collection of synthetic nucleoside analogs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 12:1067461. [PMID: 36710960 PMCID: PMC9880260 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1067461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and it is the most important neglected tropical disease in the Americas. Two drugs are available to treat the infection, but their efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease, when most cases are diagnosed, is reduced. Their tolerability is also hindered by common adverse effects, making the development of safer and efficacious alternatives a pressing need. T. cruzi is unable to synthesize purines de novo, relying on a purine salvage pathway to acquire these from its host, making it an attractive target for the development of new drugs. Methods We evaluated the anti-parasitic activity of 23 purine analogs with different substitutions in the complementary chains of their purine rings. We sequentially screened the compounds' capacity to inhibit parasite growth, their toxicity in Vero and HepG2 cells, and their specific capacity to inhibit the development of amastigotes. We then used in-silico docking to identify their likely targets. Results Eight compounds showed specific anti-parasitic activity, with IC50 values ranging from 2.42 to 8.16 μM. Adenine phosphoribosyl transferase, and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, are their most likely targets. Discussion Our results illustrate the potential role of the purine salvage pathway as a target route for the development of alternative treatments against T. cruzi infection, highlithing the apparent importance of specific substitutions, like the presence of benzene groups in the C8 position of the purine ring, consistently associated with a high and specific anti-parasitic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Barnadas-Carceller
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Córdoba Gómez
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan J. Diaz-Mochon
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain,GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain,Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio J. Molina
- Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María José Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain,*Correspondence: Julio Alonso-Padilla, ; María José Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro,
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Julio Alonso-Padilla, ; María José Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro,
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10
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Chudin AA, Zlotnikov ID, Krylov SS, Semenov VV, Kudryashova EV. Allylpolyalkoxybenzene Inhibitors of Galactonolactone Oxidase from Trypanosoma cruzi. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:131-141. [PMID: 37068875 DOI: 10.1134/s000629792301011x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of biosynthetic pathways of compounds essential for Trypanosoma cruzi is considered as one of the possible action mechanisms of drugs against Chagas disease. Here, we investigated the inhibition of galactonolactone oxidase from T. cruzi (TcGAL), which catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of vitamin C, an antioxidant that T. cruzi is unable to assimilate from outside and must synthesize itself, and identified allylbenzenes from plant sources as a new class of TcGAL inhibitors. Natural APABs (apiol, dillapiol, etc.) inhibited TcGAL with IC50 = 20-130 µM. The non-competitive mechanism of TcGAL inhibition by apiol was established. Conjugation of APABs with triphenylphosphonium, which ensures selective delivery of biologically active substances to the mitochondria, increased the efficiency and/or the maximum percentage of TcGAL inhibition compared to nonmodified APABs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A Chudin
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Igor D Zlotnikov
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Sergey S Krylov
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Victor V Semenov
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Elena V Kudryashova
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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11
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Alkaloid Composition and Biological Activities of the Amaryllidaceae Species Ismene amancaes (Ker Gawl.) Herb. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11151906. [PMID: 35893610 PMCID: PMC9331871 DOI: 10.3390/plants11151906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Natural products have always played a significant role in the search for new drugs. One of the most relevant alkaloid-containing plant groups is the Amaryllidaceae family, a source of exclusive structures with a wide variety of pharmacological activities. The aim of this work was to determine the alkaloid composition and biological potential of an extract from the bulbs of an endemic Peruvian Amaryllidaceae species Ismene amancaes (Ker Gawl.) Herb. The alkaloid profiling was carried out by GC-MS, which revealed the presence of 13 compounds, 2 of them unidentified. The plant extract was found to contain high amounts of lycoramine, a galanthamine-type alkaloid. The extract also presented low inhibitory potential against the enzymes AChE and BuChE, with IC50 values of 14.6 ± 0.6 and 37.6 ± 1.4 μg·mL−1, respectively, and good to moderate inhibitory activity against the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum strain FCR-3 (chloroquine-resistant), with IC50 values of 3.78 ± 0.3 μg·mL−1. This is the first report of the alkaloid profile of a plant of the Ismene genus, which could be an interesting source of bioactive compounds.
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12
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Martinez-Peinado N, Ortiz JE, Cortes-Serra N, Pinazo MJ, Gascon J, Tapia A, Roitman G, Bastida J, Feresin GE, Alonso-Padilla J. Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of alkaloids isolated from Habranthus brachyandrus (Amaryllidaceae) from Argentina. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 101:154126. [PMID: 35489322 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects over six million people worldwide, mainly in Latin American countries. Currently available drugs have variable efficacy in the chronic phase and significant side effects, so there is an urgent need for safer chemotherapeutic treatments. Natural products provide privileged structures that could serve as templates for the synthesis of new drugs. Among them, Amaryllidaceae plants have proved to be a potential natural source of therapeutical agents due to their rich diversity in alkaloids. PURPOSE To identify alkaloids with anti-T. cruzi activity from Habranthus brachyandrus (Baker) Sealy (Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae) collected in Argentina. METHODS An H. brachyandrus alkaloid extract was tested against T. cruzi, and its cytotoxicity profile was evaluated against two mammalian cell lines to ascertain its selectivity against the parasite and potential liver toxicity. It was also assessed by a stage-specific anti-amastigote assay and analysed by GC/MS to determine its alkaloid profile. The isolated alkaloids were also tested using the aforementioned assays. RESULTS The extract showed high and specific activity against T. cruzi. The alkaloids lycoramine, galanthindole, 8-O-demethylmaritidine, 8-O-demethylhomolycorine, nerinine, trisphaeridine, deoxytazettine, and tazettamide were identified by means of GC-MS. In addition, hippeastidine (also named aulicine), tazzetine, ismine, and 3-epimacronine were isolated. The alkaloid ismine was specifically active against the parasite and had low toxicity against HepG2 cells, but did not show anti-amastigote activity. CONCLUSION The extract had specific anti-T. cruzi activity and the isolated alkaloid ismine was partially responsible of it. These results encourage further exploration of H. brachyandrus alkaloids in search of novel starting points for Chagas disease drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Spain
| | - Javier E Ortiz
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin 1109 O, San Juan, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA, Argentina
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Spain
| | - Maria Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Spain
| | - Alejandro Tapia
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin 1109 O, San Juan, Argentina
| | - German Roitman
- Facultad de Turismo y Urbanismo, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Av. del Libertador San Martín 721 (D5881DFN) Villa de Merlo, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Gabriela E Feresin
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin 1109 O, San Juan, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290 (C1425FQB) CABA, Argentina.
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Spain.
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Masi M, Di Lecce R, Mérindol N, Girard MP, Berthoux L, Desgagné-Penix I, Calabrò V, Evidente A. Cytotoxicity and Antiviral Properties of Alkaloids Isolated from Pancratium maritimum. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14040262. [PMID: 35448871 PMCID: PMC9029599 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14040262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ten Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) were isolated for the first time from Pancratium maritimum collected in Calabria region, Italy. They belong to different subgroups of this family and were identified as lycorine, which is the main alkaloid, 9-O-demethyllycorine, haemanthidine, haemanthamine, 11-hydroxyvittatine, homolycorine, pancracine, obliquine, tazettine and vittatine. Haemanthidine was isolated as a scalar mixture of two 6-epimers, as already known also for other 6-hydroxycrinine alkaloids, but for the first time they were separated as 6,11-O,O′-di-p-bromobenzoyl esters. The evaluation of the cytotoxic and antiviral potentials of all isolated compounds was undertaken. Lycorine and haemanthidine showed cytotoxic activity on Hacat cells and A431 and AGS cancer cells while, pancracine exhibited selective cytotoxicity against A431 cells. We uncovered that in addition to lycorine and haemanthidine, haemanthamine and pancracine also possess antiretroviral abilities, inhibiting pseudotyped human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)−1 with EC50 of 25.3 µM and 18.5 µM respectively. Strikingly, all the AAs isolated from P. maritimum were able to impede dengue virus (DENV) replication (EC50 ranged from 0.34−73.59 µM) at low to non-cytotoxic concentrations (CC50 ranged from 6.25 µM to >100 µM). Haemanthamine (EC50 = 337 nM), pancracine (EC50 = 357 nM) and haemanthidine (EC50 = 476 nM) were the most potent anti-DENV inhibitors. Thus, this study uncovered new antiviral properties of P. maritimum isolated alkaloids, a significant finding that could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies to fight viral infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Masi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.D.L.)
| | - Roberta Di Lecce
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.D.L.)
| | - Natacha Mérindol
- Département de Chimie, Biochimie et Physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; (N.M.); (M.-P.G.); (I.D.-P.)
| | - Marie-Pierre Girard
- Département de Chimie, Biochimie et Physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; (N.M.); (M.-P.G.); (I.D.-P.)
| | - Lionel Berthoux
- Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada;
| | - Isabel Desgagné-Penix
- Département de Chimie, Biochimie et Physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada; (N.M.); (M.-P.G.); (I.D.-P.)
- Groupe de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada
| | - Viola Calabrò
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Antonio Evidente
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.D.L.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Alonso-Vega C, Urbina JA, Sanz S, Pinazo MJ, Pinto JJ, Gonzalez VR, Rojas G, Ortiz L, Garcia W, Lozano D, Soy D, Maldonado RA, Nagarkatti R, Debrabant A, Schijman A, Thomas MC, López MC, Michael K, Ribeiro I, Gascon J, Torrico F, Almeida IC. New chemotherapy regimens and biomarkers for Chagas disease: the rationale and design of the TESEO study, an open-label, randomised, prospective, phase-2 clinical trial in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e052897. [PMID: 34972765 PMCID: PMC8720984 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease (CD) affects ~7 million people worldwide. Benznidazole (BZN) and nifurtimox (NFX) are the only approved drugs for CD chemotherapy. Although both drugs are highly effective in acute and paediatric infections, their efficacy in adults with chronic CD (CCD) is lower and variable. Moreover, the high incidence of adverse events (AEs) with both drugs has hampered their widespread use. Trials in CCD adults showed that quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays remain negative for 12 months after standard-of-care (SoC) BZN treatment in ~80% patients. BZN pharmacokinetic data and the nonsynchronous nature of the proliferative mammal-dwelling parasite stage suggested that a lower BZN/NFX dosing frequency, combined with standard or extended treatment duration, might have the same or better efficacy than either drug SoC, with fewer AEs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS New ThErapies and Biomarkers for ChagaS infEctiOn (TESEO) is an open-label, randomised, prospective, phase-2 clinical trial, with six treatment arms (75 patients/arm, 450 patients). Primary objectives are to compare the safety and efficacy of two new proposed chemotherapy regimens of BZN and NFX in adults with CCD with the current SoC for BZN and NFX, evaluated by qPCR and biomarkers for 36 months posttreatment and correlated with CD conventional serology. Recruitment of patients was initiated on 18 December 2019 and on 20 May 2021, 450 patients (study goal) were randomised among the six treatment arms. The treatment phase was finalised on 18 August 2021. Secondary objectives include evaluation of population pharmacokinetics of both drugs in all treatment arms, the incidence of AEs, and parasite genotyping. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The TESEO study was approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), federal regulatory agency of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Ethics Committees of the participating institutions. The results will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals, conferences and reports to the NIH, FDA and participating institutions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03981523.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julio A Urbina
- Center for Biochemistry and Biophysics, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
| | - Sergi Sanz
- Biostatistics and Data Management Unit, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jimy José Pinto
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Virginia R Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Gimena Rojas
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Lourdes Ortiz
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Tarija, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho, Tarija, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Wilson Garcia
- Centro Plataforma Chagas Sucre, Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Sucre, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- Programa Departamental de Chagas Chuquisaca, Servicio Departamental de Salud de Chuquisaca, Chuquisaca, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Dolors Soy
- Pharmacy Service, Division of Medicines, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Investigació Biomèdica Agustí Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa A Maldonado
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Rana Nagarkatti
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Alejandro Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Carmen Thomas
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Carlos López
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Granada, Spain
| | - Katja Michael
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Dynamic Portfolio Unit, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Faustino Torrico
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
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Pereira CG, Moraes CB, Franco CH, Feltrin C, Grougnet R, Barbosa EG, Panciera M, Correia CRD, Rodrigues MJ, Custódio L. In Vitro Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of Halophytes from Southern Portugal Reloaded: A Special Focus on Sea Fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:2235. [PMID: 34834598 PMCID: PMC8625203 DOI: 10.3390/plants10112235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Marine halophytes are an outstanding reservoir of natural products and several species have anti-infectious traditional uses. However, reports about their potential use against neglected tropical ailments, such as Chagas disease, are scarce. This work evaluated for the first time the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of extracts from the aromatic and medicinal species Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco (Asteraceae, everlasting) and Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae, sea fennel). For that purpose, decoctions, tinctures, and essential oils from everlasting's flowers and sea fennel's stems, leaves, and flowers were tested against intracellular amastigotes of two T. cruzi strains. The extract from the sea fennel flower decoction displayed significant anti-trypanosomal activity and no toxicity towards the host cell (EC50 = 17.7 µg/mL, selectivity index > 5.65). Subsequent fractionation of this extract afforded 5 fractions that were re-tested in the same model of anti-parasitic activity. Fraction 1 was the most active and selective (EC50 = 0.47 μg/mL, selectivity index = 59.6) and was submitted to preparative thin-layer chromatography. One major compound was identified, falcarindiol, which was likely the one responsible for the observed anti-trypanosomal activity. This was confirmed using a commercially sourced molecule. Target-fishing studies showed falcarindiol as a ligand of T. cruzi spermidine synthase, pointing to a potential enzyme-inhibiting anti-trypanosomal mechanism of action. Overall, this work shows that sea fennel can provide effective anti-parasitic molecule(s) with potential pharmacological applications in the treatment of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina G. Pereira
- Centre of Marine Sciences CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (C.G.P.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (C.B.M.); (C.H.F.); (C.F.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio H. Franco
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (C.B.M.); (C.H.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Clarissa Feltrin
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (C.B.M.); (C.H.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Raphaël Grougnet
- Natural Products, Analysis, Synthesis, UMR CNRS 8038, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Paris, 4 Avenue de l’Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France;
| | | | - Michele Panciera
- Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Josue de Castro St., Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (M.P.); (C.R.D.C.)
| | - Carlos Roque D. Correia
- Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Josue de Castro St., Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (M.P.); (C.R.D.C.)
| | - Maria João Rodrigues
- Centre of Marine Sciences CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (C.G.P.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Luísa Custódio
- Centre of Marine Sciences CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (C.G.P.); (M.J.R.)
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Martinez-Peinado N, Lorente-Macías Á, García-Salguero A, Cortes-Serra N, Fenollar-Collado Á, Ros-Lucas A, Gascon J, Pinazo MJ, Molina IJ, Unciti-Broceta A, Díaz-Mochón JJ, Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro MJ, Izquierdo L, Alonso-Padilla J. Novel Purine Chemotypes with Activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma cruzi. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070638. [PMID: 34358064 PMCID: PMC8308784 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria and Chagas disease, caused by Plasmodium spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, remain important global health problems. Available treatments for those diseases present several limitations, such as lack of efficacy, toxic side effects, and drug resistance. Thus, new drugs are urgently needed. The discovery of new drugs may be benefited by considering the significant biological differences between hosts and parasites. One of the most striking differences is found in the purine metabolism, because most of the parasites are incapable of de novo purine biosynthesis. Herein, we have analyzed the in vitro anti-P. falciparum and anti-T. cruzi activity of a collection of 81 purine derivatives and pyrimidine analogs. We firstly used a primary screening at three fixed concentrations (100, 10, and 1 µM) and progressed those compounds that kept the growth of the parasites < 30% at 100 µM to dose–response assays. Then, we performed two different cytotoxicity assays on Vero cells and human HepG2 cells. Finally, compounds specifically active against T. cruzi were tested against intracellular amastigote forms. Purines 33 (IC50 = 19.19 µM) and 76 (IC50 = 18.27 µM) were the most potent against P. falciparum. On the other hand, 6D (IC50 = 3.78 µM) and 34 (IC50 = 4.24 µM) were identified as hit purines against T. cruzi amastigotes. Moreover, an in silico docking study revealed that P. falciparum and T. cruzi hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes could be the potential targets of those compounds. Our study identified two novel, purine-based chemotypes that could be further optimized to generate potent and diversified anti-parasitic drugs against both parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Álvaro Lorente-Macías
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (Á.L.-M.); (J.J.D.-M.)
- Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18100 Granada, Spain;
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK;
| | - Alejandro García-Salguero
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Ángel Fenollar-Collado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Ignacio J. Molina
- Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18100 Granada, Spain;
| | - Asier Unciti-Broceta
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK;
| | - Juan J. Díaz-Mochón
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (Á.L.-M.); (J.J.D.-M.)
| | - María J. Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (Á.L.-M.); (J.J.D.-M.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); (L.I.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-958249360 (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (L.I.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); (L.I.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-958249360 (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (L.I.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); (L.I.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-958249360 (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (L.I.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
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Martínez-Peinado N, Cortes-Serra N, Tallini LR, Pinazo MJ, Gascon J, Bastida J, Alonso-Padilla J. Amaryllidaceae plants: a potential natural resource for the treatment of Chagas disease. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:337. [PMID: 34174959 PMCID: PMC8235838 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04837-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a neglected zoonosis caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It affects over six million people, mostly in Latin America. Drugs available to treat T. cruzi infection have associated toxicity and questionable efficacy at the chronic stage. Hence, the discovery of more effective and safer drugs is an unmet medical need. For this, natural products represent a pool of unique chemical diversity that can serve as excellent templates for the synthesis of active molecules. Methods A collection of 79 extracts of Amaryllidaceae plants were screened against T. cruzi. Active extracts against the parasite were progressed through two cell toxicity assays based on Vero and HepG2 cells to determine their selectivity profile and discard those toxic to host cells. Anti-T. cruzi-specific extracts were further qualified by an anti-amastigote stage assay. Results Two extracts, respectively from Crinum erubescens and Rhodophiala andicola, were identified as highly active and specific against T. cruzi and its mammalian replicative form. Conclusions The results retrieved in this study encourage further exploration of the chemical content of these extracts in search of new anti-T. cruzi drug development starting points. Graphic abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04837-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martínez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luciana R Tallini
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia I Ciències de L´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre - RS, 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia I Ciències de L´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
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Martinez-Peinado N, Cortes-Serra N, Sherman J, Rodriguez A, Bustamante JM, Gascon J, Pinazo MJ, Alonso-Padilla J. Identification of Trypanosoma cruzi Growth Inhibitors with Activity In Vivo within a Collection of Licensed Drugs. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020406. [PMID: 33669310 PMCID: PMC7920067 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), affects more than six million people worldwide, with its greatest burden in Latin America. Available treatments present frequent toxicity and variable efficacy at the chronic phase of the infection, when the disease is usually diagnosed. Hence, development of new therapeutic strategies is urgent. Repositioning of licensed drugs stands as an attractive fast-track low-cost approach for the identification of safer and more effective chemotherapies. With this purpose we screened 32 licensed drugs for different indications against T. cruzi. We used a primary in vitro assay of Vero cells infection by T. cruzi. Five drugs showed potent activity rates against it (IC50 < 4 µmol L−1), which were also specific (selectivity index >15) with respect to host cells. T. cruzi inhibitory activity of four of them was confirmed by a secondary anti-parasitic assay based on NIH-3T3 cells. Then, we assessed toxicity to human HepG2 cells and anti-amastigote specific activity of those drugs progressed. Ultimately, atovaquone-proguanil, miltefosine, and verapamil were tested in a mouse model of acute T. cruzi infection. Miltefosine performance in vitro and in vivo encourages further investigating its use against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.)
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.)
| | - Julian Sherman
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA; (J.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA; (J.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Juan M. Bustamante
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.)
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence: (M.-J.P.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +1-0034-932275400 (ext. 1802) (M.-J.P.); +1-0034-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.)
- Correspondence: (M.-J.P.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +1-0034-932275400 (ext. 1802) (M.-J.P.); +1-0034-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
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Martinez-Peinado N, Martori C, Cortes-Serra N, Sherman J, Rodriguez A, Gascon J, Alberola J, Pinazo MJ, Rodriguez-Cortes A, Alonso-Padilla J. Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of Metabolism Modifier Compounds. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020688. [PMID: 33445756 PMCID: PMC7828178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and affects over 6 million people worldwide. Development of new drugs to treat this disease remains a priority since those currently available have variable efficacy and frequent adverse effects, especially during the long regimens required for treating the chronic stage of the disease. T. cruzi modulates the host cell-metabolism to accommodate the cell cytosol into a favorable growth environment and acquire nutrients for its multiplication. In this study we evaluated the specific anti-T. cruzi activity of nine bio-energetic modulator compounds. Notably, we identified that 17-DMAG, which targets the ATP-binding site of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), has a very high (sub-micromolar range) selective inhibition of the parasite growth. This inhibitory effect was also highly potent (IC50 = 0.27 μmol L-1) against the amastigote intracellular replicative stage of the parasite. Moreover, molecular docking results suggest that 17-DMAG may bind T. cruzi Hsp90 homologue Hsp83 with good affinity. Evaluation in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection did not show parasite growth inhibition, highlighting the difficulties encountered when going from in vitro assays onto preclinical drug developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Clara Martori
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, Veterinary Faculty, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (C.M.); (J.A.)
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Julian Sherman
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA; (J.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA; (J.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Jordi Alberola
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, Veterinary Faculty, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (C.M.); (J.A.)
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Alheli Rodriguez-Cortes
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, Veterinary Faculty, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (C.M.); (J.A.)
- Correspondence: (A.R.-C.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-935812062 (A.R.-C.); +34-932275400 (J.A.-P.)
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (N.C.-S.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
- Correspondence: (A.R.-C.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-935812062 (A.R.-C.); +34-932275400 (J.A.-P.)
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In vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity enhancement of curcumin by its monoketone tetramethoxy analog diveratralacetone. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 1:100031. [PMID: 35284878 PMCID: PMC8906099 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and currently affects millions of people worldwide. Curcumin (CUR), the major constituent of turmeric spice (dry powder of Curcuma longa L. plant rhizomes and roots), exhibits antiparasitic activity against protozoan parasites in vitro. However, because of its chemical instability, poor cellular uptake and limited bioavailability it is not suitable for clinical use. The objective of this study was to synthesize and evaluate in vitro CUR monoketone analog dibenzalacetone (DBA 1) and its non-phenolic, methoxy (2–4) and chloro (5) derivatives for better stability and bioavailability against T. cruzi. Diveratralacetone, the tetramethoxy DBA (DBA 3), was found to be the CUR analog with most enhanced activity against the amastigote forms of four strains of T. cruzi tested (Brazil, CA-I/72, Sylvio X10/4 and Sylvio X10/7) with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) < 10 μM (1.51–9.63 μM) and selectivity index (SI) > 10 (C2C12 non-infected mammalian cells). This was supplemented by time-course assessment of its anti-T. cruzi activity. DBA 1 and its dimethoxy (DBA 2) and hexamethoxy (DBA 4) derivatives were substantially less active. The inactivity of dichloro-DBA (DBA 5) was indicative of the important role played by oxygenated groups such as methoxy in the terminal aromatic rings in the DBA molecule, particularly at para position to form reactive oxygen species essential for anti-T. cruzi activity. Although the DBAs and CUR were toxic to infected mammalian cells in vitro, in a mouse model, both DBA 3 and CUR did not exhibit acute toxicity or mortality. These results justify further optimization and in vivo anti-T. cruzi activity evaluation of the inexpensive diveratralacetone for its potential use in treating Chagas disease, a neglected parasitic disease in economically challenged tropical countries. First report on in vitro activity of dibenzalacetone and its methoxy derivatives against Trypanosoma cruzi. Diveratralacetone (tetramethoxy DBA 3) was the most active against four strains tested. DBA 3 showed values of IC50 < 10 μM against all strains evaluated. DBA 3 showed SI > 10 in non-infected C2C12 cell lines. DBA 3 is a hit compound for further in vivo studies against T. cruzi parasites.
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