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Paes SS, Silva-Silva JV, Portal Gomes PW, da Silva LO, da Costa APL, Lopes Júnior ML, Hardoim DDJ, Moragas-Tellis CJ, Taniwaki NN, Bertho AL, de Molfetta FA, Almeida-Souza F, Santos LS, Calabrese KDS. (-)-5-Demethoxygrandisin B a New Lignan from Virola surinamensis (Rol.) Warb. Leaves: Evaluation of the Leishmanicidal Activity by In Vitro and In Silico Approaches. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2292. [PMID: 37765261 PMCID: PMC10535778 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a complex disease caused by infection with different Leishmania parasites. The number of medications used for its treatment is still limited and the discovery of new drugs is a valuable approach. In this context, here we describe the in vitro leishmanicidal activity and the in silico interaction between trypanothione reductase (TryR) and (-)-5-demethoxygrandisin B from the leaves of Virola surinamensis (Rol.) Warb. The compound (-)-5-demethoxygrandisin B was isolated from V. surinamensis leaves, a plant found in the Brazilian Amazon, and it was characterized as (7R,8S,7'R,8'S)-3,4,5,3',4'-pentamethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan. In vitro antileishmanial activity was examined against Leishmania amazonensis, covering both promastigote and intracellular amastigote phases. Cytotoxicity and nitrite production were gauged using BALB/c peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy was applied to probe ultrastructural alterations, and flow cytometry assessed the shifts in the mitochondrial membrane potential. In silico methods such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics assessed the interaction between the most stable configuration of (-)-5-demethoxygrandisin B and TryR from L. infantum (PDB ID 2JK6). As a result, the (-)-5-demethoxygrandisin B was active against promastigote (IC50 7.0 µM) and intracellular amastigote (IC50 26.04 µM) forms of L. amazonensis, with acceptable selectivity indexes. (-)-5-demethoxygrandisin B caused ultrastructural changes in promastigotes, including mitochondrial swelling, altered kDNA patterns, vacuoles, vesicular structures, autophagosomes, and enlarged flagellar pockets. It reduced the mitochondria membrane potential and formed bonds with important residues in the TryR enzyme. The molecular dynamics simulations showed stability and favorable interaction with TryR. The compound targets L. amazonensis mitochondria via TryR enzyme inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Souza Paes
- Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - João Victor Silva-Silva
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil (K.d.S.C.)
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo Wender Portal Gomes
- Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | | | - Ana Paula Lima da Costa
- Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Manoel Leão Lopes Júnior
- Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Daiana de Jesus Hardoim
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil (K.d.S.C.)
| | - Carla J. Moragas-Tellis
- Laboratory of Natural Products for Public Health, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Alvaro Luiz Bertho
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil;
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fábio Alberto de Molfetta
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil;
| | - Fernando Almeida-Souza
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil (K.d.S.C.)
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Maranhão, Sao Luis 65055-310, MA, Brazil
| | - Lourivaldo Silva Santos
- Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
| | - Kátia da Silva Calabrese
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil (K.d.S.C.)
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Tonelli M, Catto M, Sabaté R, Francesconi V, Laurini E, Pricl S, Pisani L, Miniero DV, Liuzzi GM, Gatta E, Relini A, Gavín R, Del Rio JA, Sparatore F, Carotti A. Thioxanthenone-based derivatives as multitarget therapeutic leads for Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115169. [PMID: 36753881 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115169] [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: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A set of twenty-five thioxanthene-9-one and xanthene-9-one derivatives, that were previously shown to inhibit cholinesterases (ChEs) and amyloid β (Aβ40) aggregation, were evaluated for the inhibition of tau protein aggregation. All compounds exhibited a good activity, and eight of them (5-8, 10, 14, 15 and 20) shared comparable low micromolar inhibitory potency versus Aβ40 aggregation and human acetylcholinesterase (AChE), while inhibiting human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) even at submicromolar concentration. Compound 20 showed outstanding biological data, inhibiting tau protein and Aβ40 aggregation with IC50 = 1.8 and 1.3 μM, respectively. Moreover, at 0.1-10 μM it also exhibited neuroprotective activity against tau toxicity induced by okadoic acid in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, that was comparable to that of estradiol and PD38. In preliminary toxicity studies, these interesting results for compound 20 are somewhat conflicting with a narrow safety window. However, compound 10, although endowed with a little lower potency for tau and Aβ aggregation inhibition additionally demonstrated good inhibition of ChEs and rather low cytotoxicity. Compound 4 is also worth of note for its high potency as hBChE inhibitor (IC50 = 7 nM) and for the three order of magnitude selectivity versus hAChE. Molecular modelling studies were performed to explain the different behavior of compounds 4 and 20 towards hBChE. The observed balance of the inhibitory potencies versus the relevant targets indicates the thioxanthene-9-one derivatives as potential MTDLs for AD therapy, provided that the safety window will be improved by further structural variations, currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Erik Laurini
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy; Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236, Lodz, Poland
| | - Leonardo Pisani
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Daniela Valeria Miniero
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Grazia Maria Liuzzi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Elena Gatta
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, 16146, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalisa Relini
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, 16146, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Del Rio
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fabio Sparatore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Angelo Carotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
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3
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Brioschi MBC, Coser EM, Coelho AC, Gadelha FR, Miguel DC. Models for cytotoxicity screening of antileishmanial drugs: what has been done so far? Int J Antimicrob Agents 2022; 60:106612. [PMID: 35691601 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2022.106612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A growing number of studies have demonstrated the in vitro potential of an impressive number of antileishmanial candidates in the past years. However, the lack of uniformity regarding the choice of cell types for cytotoxicity assays may lead to uncomparable and inconclusive data. In vitro assays relying solely on non-phagocytic cell models may not represent a realistic result as the effect of an antileishmanial agent should ideally be presented based on its cytotoxicity profile against reticuloendothelial system cells. In the present review, we have assembled studies published in the scientific literature from 2015 to 2021 that explored leishmanicidal candidates, emphasising the main host cell models used for cytotoxicity assays. The pros and cons of different host cell types as well as primary cells and cell lines are discussed in order to draw attention to the need to establish standardised protocols for preclinical testing when assessing new antileishmanial candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana B C Brioschi
- Department of Animal Biology-Parasitology Section, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth M Coser
- Department of Animal Biology-Parasitology Section, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriano C Coelho
- Department of Animal Biology-Parasitology Section, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda R Gadelha
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo C Miguel
- Department of Animal Biology-Parasitology Section, Biology Institute, State University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Meneghetti F, Barlocco D. Special Issue "Novel Antibacterial Agents". Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040382. [PMID: 33921864 PMCID: PMC8073269 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This Special Issue of Pharmaceuticals is devoted to significant advances achieved in the field of antibacterial agents [...].
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Campora M, Canale C, Gatta E, Tasso B, Laurini E, Relini A, Pricl S, Catto M, Tonelli M. Multitarget Biological Profiling of New Naphthoquinone and Anthraquinone-Based Derivatives for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:447-461. [PMID: 33428389 PMCID: PMC7880572 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
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Two
series of naphthoquinone and anthraquinone derivatives decorated
with an aromatic/heteroaromatic chain have been synthesized and evaluated
as potential promiscuous agents capable of targeting different factors
playing a key role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis.
On the basis of the in vitro biological profiling,
most of them exhibited a significant ability to inhibit amyloid aggregation,
PHF6 tau sequence aggregation, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamine
oxidase (MAO) B. In particular, naphthoquinone 2 resulted
as one of the best performing multitarget-directed ligand (MTDL) experiencing
a high potency profile in inhibiting β-amyloid (Aβ40) aggregation (IC50 = 3.2 μM), PHF6 tau
fragment (91% at 10 μM), AChE enzyme (IC50 = 9.2
μM) jointly with a remarkable inhibitory activity against MAO
B (IC50 = 7.7 nM). Molecular modeling studies explained
the structure–activity relationship (SAR) around the binding
modes of representative compound 2 in complex with hMAO
B and hAChE enzymes, revealing inhibitor/protein key contacts and
the likely molecular rationale for enzyme selectivity. Compound 2 was also demonstrated to be a strong inhibitor of Aβ42 aggregation, with potency comparable to quercetin. Accordingly,
atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the most promising naphthoquinones 2 and 5 and anthraquinones 11 and 12 were able to impair Aβ42 fibrillation,
deconstructing the morphologies of its fibrillar aggregates. Moreover,
the same compounds exerted a moderate neuroprotective effect against
Aβ42 toxicity in primary cultures of cerebellar granule
cells. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that these molecules may
represent valuable chemotypes toward the development of promising
candidates for AD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Campora
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudio Canale
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy
| | - Elena Gatta
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy
| | - Bruno Tasso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Erik Laurini
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Annalisa Relini
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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