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Feitosa LM, Franca RRF, Ferreira MDLG, Aguiar ACC, de Souza GE, Maluf SEC, de Souza JO, Zapata L, Duarte D, Morais I, Nogueira F, Nonato MC, Pinheiro LCS, Guido RVC, Boechat N. Discovery of new piperaquine hybrid analogs linked by triazolopyrimidine and pyrazolopyrimidine scaffolds with antiplasmodial and transmission blocking activities. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116163. [PMID: 38290351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were 247 million malaria cases in 2021 worldwide, representing an increase in 2 million cases compared to 2020. The urgent need for the development of new antimalarials is underscored by specific criteria, including the requirement of new modes of action that avoid cross-drug resistance, the ability to provide single-dose cures, and efficacy against both assexual and sexual blood stages. Motivated by the promising results obtained from our research group with [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives, we selected these molecular scaffolds as the foundation for designing two new series of piperaquine analogs as potential antimalarial candidates. The initial series of hybrids was designed by substituting one quinolinic ring of piperaquine with the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine or pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine nucleus. To connect the heterocyclic systems, spacers with 3, 4, or 7 methylene carbons were introduced at the 4 position of the quinoline. In the second series, we used piperazine as a spacer to link the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine or pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine group to the quinoline core, effectively merging both pharmacophoric groups via a rigid spacer. Our research efforts yielded promising compounds characterized by low cytotoxicity and selectivity indices exceeding 1570. These compounds displayed potent in vitro inhibitory activity in the low nanomolar range against the erythrocytic form of the parasite, encompassing both susceptible and resistant strains. Notably, these compounds did not show cross-resistance with either chloroquine or established P. falciparum inhibitors. Even though they share a pyrazolo- or triazolo-pyrimidine core, enzymatic inhibition assays revealed that these compounds had minimal inhibitory effects on PfDHODH, indicating a distinct mode of action unrelated to targeting this enzyme. We further assessed the compounds' potential to interfere with gametocyte and ookinete infectivity using mature P. falciparum gametocytes cultured in vitro. Four compounds demonstrated significant gametocyte inhibition ranging from 58 % to 86 %, suggesting potential transmission blocking activity. Finally, we evaluated the druggability of these new compounds using in silico methods, and the results indicated that these analogs had favorable physicochemical and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties. In summary, our research has successfully identified and characterized new piperaquine analogs based on [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine scaffolds and has demonstrated their potential as promising candidates for the development of antimalarial drugs with distinct mechanisms of action, considerable selectivity, and P. falciparum transmission blocking activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia M Feitosa
- Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, 21041-250, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia e Química Medicinal, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Rodrigo F Franca
- Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, 21041-250, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria de Lourdes G Ferreira
- Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, 21041-250, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia. Rua Botucatu 862, Vila Clementino, 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Guilherme E de Souza
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Sarah El Chamy Maluf
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana O de Souza
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Luana Zapata
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Center for the Research and Advancement of Fragments and Molecular Targets (CRAFT), Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Denise Duarte
- Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ines Morais
- Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fatima Nogueira
- Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - M Cristina Nonato
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Center for the Research and Advancement of Fragments and Molecular Targets (CRAFT), Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Luiz C S Pinheiro
- Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, 21041-250, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Faculdade de Formação de Professores, Departamento de Ciências, Rua Dr. Francisco Portela, 1470, Patronato, 24435-005, São Gonçalo, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Rafael V C Guido
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - Nubia Boechat
- Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, 21041-250, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Programa de Pós Graduação em Farmacologia e Química Medicinal, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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2
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de Vries LE, Jansen PAM, Barcelo C, Munro J, Verhoef JMJ, Pasaje CFA, Rubiano K, Striepen J, Abla N, Berning L, Bolscher JM, Demarta-Gatsi C, Henderson RWM, Huijs T, Koolen KMJ, Tumwebaze PK, Yeo T, Aguiar ACC, Angulo-Barturen I, Churchyard A, Baum J, Fernández BC, Fuchs A, Gamo FJ, Guido RVC, Jiménez-Diaz MB, Pereira DB, Rochford R, Roesch C, Sanz LM, Trevitt G, Witkowski B, Wittlin S, Cooper RA, Rosenthal PJ, Sauerwein RW, Schalkwijk J, Hermkens PHH, Bonnert RV, Campo B, Fidock DA, Llinás M, Niles JC, Kooij TWA, Dechering KJ. Preclinical characterization and target validation of the antimalarial pantothenamide MMV693183. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2158. [PMID: 35444200 PMCID: PMC9021288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance and a dire lack of transmission-blocking antimalarials hamper malaria elimination. Here, we present the pantothenamide MMV693183 as a first-in-class acetyl-CoA synthetase (AcAS) inhibitor to enter preclinical development. Our studies demonstrate attractive drug-like properties and in vivo efficacy in a humanized mouse model of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The compound shows single digit nanomolar in vitro activity against P. falciparum and P. vivax clinical isolates, and potently blocks P. falciparum transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes. Genetic and biochemical studies identify AcAS as the target of the MMV693183-derived antimetabolite, CoA-MMV693183. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling predict that a single 30 mg oral dose is sufficient to cure a malaria infection in humans. Toxicology studies in rats indicate a > 30-fold safety margin in relation to the predicted human efficacious exposure. In conclusion, MMV693183 represents a promising candidate for further (pre)clinical development with a novel mode of action for treatment of malaria and blocking transmission. Here, de Vries et al. perform a pre-clinical characterization of the antimalarial compound MMV693183: the compound targets acetyl-CoA synthetase, has efficacy in humanized mice against Plasmodium falciparum infection, blocks transmission to mosquito vectors, is safe in rats, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling informs about a potential oral human dosing regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E de Vries
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Justin Munro
- Department of Chemistry and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Julie M J Verhoef
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kelly Rubiano
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nada Abla
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luuk Berning
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Tonnie Huijs
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aline Fuchs
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Rafael V C Guido
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Dhelio B Pereira
- Research Center for Tropical Medicine of Rondonia, Porto Velho, Brazil
| | - Rosemary Rochford
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Malaria Translational Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris & Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Laura M Sanz
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Malaria Translational Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris & Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland A Cooper
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Chemistry and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Taco W A Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Luczywo A, González LG, Aguiar ACC, Oliveira de Souza J, Souza GE, Oliva G, Aguilar LF, Casal JJ, Guido RVC, Asís SE, Mellado M. 3-aryl-indolinones derivatives as antiplasmodial agents: synthesis, biological activity and computational analysis. Nat Prod Res 2021; 36:3887-3893. [PMID: 33703954 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1895149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious illness, affecting vulnerable populations in Third World countries. Inspired by natural products, indole alkaloids have been used as a nucleus to design new antimalarial drugs. So, eighteen oxindole derivatives, aza analogues were obtained with moderate to excellent yields. Also, the saturated derivatives of oxindole and aza derivatives via H2/Pd/C reduction were obtained in good yields, leading to racemic mixtures of each compound. Next, the inhibitory activity against P. falciparum of 18 compounds were tested, founding six compounds with IC50 < 20 µM. The most active of these compounds was 8c; however, their unsaturated derivative 7c was inactive. Then, a structure-activity relationship analysis was done, founding that focused LUMO lobe on the specific molecular zone is related to inhibitory activity against P. falciparum. Finally, we found a potential inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase by oxindole derivatives, using molecular docking virtual screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelen Luczywo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía G González
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brasil
| | | | - Guilherme E Souza
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brasil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brasil
| | - Luis F Aguilar
- Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Juan J Casal
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Facultad de Medicina, Laboratorio de Biomembranas, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay), Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rafael V C Guido
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brasil
| | - Silvia E Asís
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marco Mellado
- Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Silveira FF, de Souza JO, Hoelz LVB, Campos VR, Jabor VAP, Aguiar ACC, Nonato MC, Albuquerque MG, Guido RVC, Boechat N, Pinheiro LCS. Comparative study between the anti-P. falciparum activity of triazolopyrimidine, pyrazolopyrimidine and quinoline derivatives and the identification of new PfDHODH inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 209:112941. [PMID: 33158577 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we designed and synthesized 35 new triazolopyrimidine, pyrazolopyrimidine and quinoline derivatives as P. falciparum inhibitors (3D7 strain). Thirty compounds exhibited anti-P. falciparum activity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.030 to 9.1 μM. The [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives were more potent than the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine and quinoline analogues. Compounds 20, 21, 23 and 24 were the most potent inhibitors, with IC50 values in the range of 0.030-0.086 μM and were equipotent to chloroquine. In addition, the compounds were selective, showing no cytotoxic activity against the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. All [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives inhibited PfDHODH activity in the low micromolar to low nanomolar range (IC50 values of 0.08-1.3 μM) and did not show significant inhibition against the HsDHODH homologue (0-30% at 50 μM). Molecular docking studies indicated the binding mode of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives to PfDHODH, and the highest interaction affinities for the PfDHODH enzyme were in agreement with the in vitro experimental evaluation. Thus, the most active compounds against P. falciparum parasites 20 (R = CF3, R1 = F; IC50 = 0.086 μM), 21 (R = CF3; R1 = CH3; IC50 = 0.032 μM), 23, (R = CF3, R1 = CF3; IC50 = 0.030 μM) and 24 (R = CF3, 2-naphthyl; IC50 = 0.050 μM) and the most active inhibitor against PfDHODH 19 (R = CF3, R1 = Cl; IC50 = 0.08 μM - PfDHODH) stood out as new lead compounds for antimalarial drug discovery. Their potent in vitro activity against P. falciparum and the selective inhibition of the PfDHODH enzyme strongly suggest that this is the mechanism of action underlying this series of new [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia F Silveira
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-250, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, PGQu Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Juliana O de Souza
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas V B Hoelz
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-250, Brazil
| | - Vinícius R Campos
- Departamento de Química Orgânica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Valquíria A P Jabor
- Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - M Cristina Nonato
- Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Magaly G Albuquerque
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, PGQu Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafael V C Guido
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, 1.100, Jd. Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - Nubia Boechat
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-250, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, PGQu Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Luiz C S Pinheiro
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos, Farmanguinhos - FIOCRUZ, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-250, Brazil.
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5
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da Silva RMRJ, Gandi MO, Mendonça JS, Carvalho AS, Coutinho JP, Aguiar ACC, Krettli AU, Boechat N. New hybrid trifluoromethylquinolines as antiplasmodium agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:1002-1008. [PMID: 30737133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide, and it is responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality. Resistance to current antimalarial drugs has been identified, and new drugs are urgently needed. In this study, we designed and synthesized seventeen novel quinolines based on the structures of mefloquine ((2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-yl)(piperidin-2-yl)methanol) and amodiaquine (4-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino)-2-((diethylamino)methyl)phenol) using ring bioisosteric replacement and molecular hybridization of the functional groups. The compounds were evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and in vivo in mice infected with P. berghei. All derivatives presented anti-P. falciparum activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.083 to 33.0 µM. The compound with the best anti-P. falciparum activity was N-(5-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-amine (12) which showed an IC50 of 0.083 µM. The three most active compounds were selected for antimalarial activity tests against P. berghei-infected mice. Compound 12 was the most active on the 5th day after infection, reducing parasitemia by 66%, which is consistent with its in vitro activity. This is an important result as 12, a simpler molecule than mefloquine, does not contain the stereogenic center, and consequently, its synthesis in the laboratory is easier and less expensive. This system proved promising for the design of potential antimalarial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata M R J da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Farmacologia e Química Medicinal, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas, 373 - bl. K, 2° andar, sala 35 - Prédio do Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos - Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-250, Brazil
| | - Marilia O Gandi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Farmacologia e Química Medicinal, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas, 373 - bl. K, 2° andar, sala 35 - Prédio do Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos - Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-250, Brazil; Faculdade de Farmácia Universidade Iguaçu-UNIG, Av. Abílio Augusto Távora, 2134, Nova Iguaçu, RJ 26275-580, Brazil
| | - Jorge S Mendonça
- Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos - Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-250, Brazil
| | - Alcione S Carvalho
- Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos - Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-250, Brazil
| | - Julia Penna Coutinho
- Laboratório de Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz/MG, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Laboratório de Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz/MG, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Antoniana U Krettli
- Laboratório de Malária, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz/MG, Avenida Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Nubia Boechat
- Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos - Farmanguinhos - Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-250, Brazil.
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Fagundez C, Sellanes D, Peña S, Scarone L, Aguiar ACC, de Souza JO, Guido RVC, Stewart L, Yardley V, Ottilie S, Winzeler EA, Gamo FJ, Sanz LM, Serra GL. Synthesis, Profiling, and in Vivo Evaluation of Cyclopeptides Containing N-Methyl Amino Acids as Antiplasmodial Agents. ACS Med Chem Lett 2019; 10:137-141. [PMID: 30655961 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a major tropical disease where important needs are to mitigate symptoms and to prevent the establishment of infection. Cyclopeptides containing N-methyl amino acids with in vitro activity against erythrocytic forms as well as liver stage are presented. The synthesis, parasitological characterization, physicochemical properties, in vivo evaluation, and mice pharmacokinetics are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Fagundez
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica (DQO), Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, CP 11800, Uruguay
| | - Diver Sellanes
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica (DQO), Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, CP 11800, Uruguay
| | - Stella Peña
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica (DQO), Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, CP 11800, Uruguay
| | - Laura Scarone
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica (DQO), Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, CP 11800, Uruguay
| | - Anna C. C. Aguiar
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana O. de Souza
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael V. C. Guido
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lindsay Stewart
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Disease, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Disease, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Francisco-J. Gamo
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Spain
| | - Laura M. Sanz
- Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Spain
| | - Gloria L. Serra
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica (DQO), Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, CP 11800, Uruguay
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7
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Aguiar ACC, Murce E, Cortopassi WA, Pimentel AS, Almeida MMFS, Barros DCS, Guedes JS, Meneghetti MR, Krettli AU. Chloroquine analogs as antimalarial candidates with potent in vitro and in vivo activity. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018; 8:459-464. [PMID: 30396013 PMCID: PMC6215995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In spite of recent efforts to eradicate malaria in the world, this parasitic disease is still considered a major public health problem, with a total of 216 million cases of malaria and 445,000 deaths in 2016. Artemisinin-based combination therapies remain effective in most parts of the world, but recent cases of resistance in Southeast Asia have urged for novel approaches to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. In this work, we present chloroquine analogs that exhibited high activity against sensitive and chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum blood parasites and were also active against P. berghei infected mice. Among the compounds tested, DAQ, a chloroquine analog with a more linear side chain, was shown to be the most active in vitro and in vivo, with low cytotoxicity, and therefore may serve as the basis for the development of more effective chloroquine analogs to aid malaria eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C C Aguiar
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Laboratório de Malária, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Erika Murce
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Department of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wilian A Cortopassi
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, USA.
| | - Andre S Pimentel
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Department of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria M F S Almeida
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Daniele C S Barros
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Jéssica S Guedes
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Mario R Meneghetti
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Antoniana U Krettli
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Laboratório de Malária, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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8
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Parra LLL, Bertonha AF, Severo IRM, Aguiar ACC, de Souza GE, Oliva G, Guido RVC, Grazzia N, Costa TR, Miguel DC, Gadelha FR, Ferreira AG, Hajdu E, Romo D, Berlinck RGS. Isolation, Derivative Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationships of Antiparasitic Bromopyrrole Alkaloids from the Marine Sponge Tedania brasiliensis. J Nat Prod 2018; 81:188-202. [PMID: 29297684 PMCID: PMC5989537 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The isolation and identification of a series of new pseudoceratidine (1) derivatives from the sponge Tedania brasiliensis enabled the evaluation of their antiparasitic activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agents of malaria, cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, respectively. The new 3-debromopseudoceratidine (4), 20-debromopseudoceratidine (5), 4-bromopseudoceratidine (6), 19-bromopseudoceratidine (7), and 4,19-dibromopseudoceratidine (8) are reported. New tedamides A-D (9-12), with an unprecedented 4-bromo-4-methoxy-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide moiety, are also described. Compounds 4 and 5, 6 and 7, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 have been isolated as pairs of inseparable structural isomers differing in their sites of bromination or oxidation. Tedamides 9+10 and 11+12 were obtained as optically active pairs, indicating an enzymatic formation rather than an artifactual origin. N12-Acetylpseudoceratidine (2) and N12-formylpseudoceratidine (3) were obtained by derivatization of pseudoceratidine (1). The antiparasitic activity of pseudoceratidine (1) led us to synthesize 23 derivatives (16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27-29, 31, 33, 35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, and 51) with variations in the polyamine chain and aromatic moiety in sufficient amounts for biological evaluation in antiparasitic assays. The measured antimalarial activity of pseudoceratidine (1) and derivatives 4, 5, 16, 23, 25, 31, and 50 provided an initial SAR evaluation of these compounds as potential leads for antiparasitics against Leishmania amastigotes and against P. falciparum. The results obtained indicate that pseudoceratidine represents a promising scaffold for the development of new antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth L. L. Parra
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariane F. Bertonha
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Ivan R. M. Severo
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Anna C. C. Aguiar
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Guilherme E. de Souza
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafael V. C. Guido
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Av. Joao Dagnone, 1100, Jardim Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Grazzia
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Tábata R. Costa
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Danilo C. Miguel
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernanda R. Gadelha
- Departamento de Biologia Animal e Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio G. Ferreira
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz, km 235 - SP-310, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Hajdu
- Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, s/n, CEP 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniel Romo
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Roberto G. S. Berlinck
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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9
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Aguiar ACC, Cunha AC, Ceravolo IP, Gonçalves RAC, Oliveira AJB, Krettli AU. Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) plant cytotoxicity and activity towards malaria parasites. Part II: experimental studies withAspidosperma ramiflorum in vivo and in vitro. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2016; 110:906-13. [PMID: 26560981 PMCID: PMC4660620 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760150188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Several species of Aspidosperma plants are used to treat diseases in the tropics, including Aspidosperma ramiflorum, which acts against leishmaniasis, an activity that is experimentally confirmed. The species, known as guatambu-yellow, yellow peroba, coffee-peroba and matiambu, grows in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil in the South to the Southeast regions. Through a guided biofractionation of A. ramiflorum extracts, the plant activity against Plasmodium falciparum was evaluated in vitro for toxicity towards human hepatoma G2 cells, normal monkey kidney cells and nonimmortalised human monocytes isolated from peripheral blood. Six of the seven extracts tested were active at low doses (half-maximal drug inhibitory concentration < 3.8 µg/mL); the aqueous extract was inactive. Overall, the plant extracts and the purified compounds displayed low toxicity in vitro. A nonsoluble extract fraction and one purified alkaloid isositsirikine (compound 5) displayed high selectivity indexes (SI) (= 56 and 113, respectively), whereas compounds 2 and 3 were toxic (SI < 10). The structure, activity and low toxicity of isositsirikine in vitro are described here for the first time in A. ramiflorum, but only the neutral and precipitate plant fractions were tested for activity, which caused up to 53% parasitaemia inhibition of Plasmodium berghei in mice with blood-induced malaria. This plant species is likely to be useful in the further development of an antimalarial drug, but its pharmacological evaluation is still required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C C Aguiar
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Ananda C Cunha
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | | | | | - Arildo J B Oliveira
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
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Boechat N, Ferreira MDLG, Pinheiro LCS, Jesus AML, Leite MMM, Júnior CCS, Aguiar ACC, Andrade IM, Krettli AU. New Compounds Hybrids 1
H
‐1,2,3‐Triazole‐Quinoline Against
Plasmodium falciparum. Chem Biol Drug Des 2014; 84:325-32. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Núbia Boechat
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos – Farmanguinhos FIOCRUZ Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ 21041‐250 Brazil
| | - Maria de Lourdes G. Ferreira
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos – Farmanguinhos FIOCRUZ Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ 21041‐250 Brazil
| | - Luiz C. S. Pinheiro
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos – Farmanguinhos FIOCRUZ Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ 21041‐250 Brazil
| | - Antônio M. L. Jesus
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos – Farmanguinhos FIOCRUZ Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ 21041‐250 Brazil
| | - Milene M. M. Leite
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos – Farmanguinhos FIOCRUZ Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ 21041‐250 Brazil
| | - Carlos C. S. Júnior
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos – Farmanguinhos FIOCRUZ Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100 Manguinhos Rio de Janeiro RJ 21041‐250 Brazil
| | - Anna C. C. Aguiar
- Laboratório de Malária Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou FIOCRUZ Belo Horizonte MG 31090‐002 Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte MG 30000‐000 Brazil
| | - Isabel M. Andrade
- Laboratório de Malária Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou FIOCRUZ Belo Horizonte MG 31090‐002 Brazil
| | - Antoniana U. Krettli
- Laboratório de Malária Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou FIOCRUZ Belo Horizonte MG 31090‐002 Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte MG 30000‐000 Brazil
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11
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Chierrito TPC, Aguiar ACC, de Andrade IM, Ceravolo IP, Gonçalves RAC, de Oliveira AJB, Krettli AU. Anti-malarial activity of indole alkaloids isolated from Aspidosperma olivaceum. Malar J 2014; 13:142. [PMID: 24731256 PMCID: PMC4006081 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several species of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) are used as treatments for human diseases in the tropics. Aspidosperma olivaceum, which is used to treat fevers in some regions of Brazil, contains the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) aspidoscarpine, uleine, apparicine, and N-methyl-tetrahydrolivacine. Using bio-guided fractionation and cytotoxicity testing in a human hepatoma cell line, several plant fractions and compounds purified from the bark and leaves of the plant were characterized for specific therapeutic activity (and selectivity index, SI) in vitro against the blood forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Methods The activity of A. olivaceum extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds was evaluated against chloroquine (CQ)-resistant P. falciparum blood parasites by in vitro testing with radiolabelled [3H]-hypoxanthine and a monoclonal anti-histidine-rich protein (HRPII) antibody. The cytotoxicity of these fractions and compounds was evaluated in a human hepatoma cell line using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the SI was calculated as the ratio between the toxicity and activity. Two leaf fractions were tested in mice with Plasmodium berghei. Results All six fractions from the bark and leaf extracts were active in vitro at low doses (IC50 < 5.0 μg/mL) using the anti-HRPII test, and only two (the neutral and basic bark fractions) were toxic to a human cell line (HepG2). The most promising fractions were the crude leaf extract and its basic residue, which had SIs above 50. Among the four pure compounds evaluated, aspidoscarpine in the bark and leaf extracts showed the highest SI at 56; this compound, therefore, represents a possible anti-malarial drug that requires further study. The acidic leaf fraction administered by gavage to mice with blood-induced malaria was also active. Conclusion Using a bio-monitoring approach, it was possible to attribute the anti-P. falciparum activity of A. olivaceum to aspidoscarpine and, to a lesser extent, N-methyl-tetrahydrolivacine; other isolated MIA molecules were active but had lower SIs due to their higher toxicities. These results stood in contrast to previous work in which the anti-malarial activity of other Aspidosperma species was attributed to uleine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Antoniana U Krettli
- Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Molecular, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Prof, Alfredo Balena, 190, 30130-100 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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12
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Cortopassi WA, Penna-Coutinho J, Aguiar ACC, Pimentel AS, Buarque CD, Costa PRR, Alves BRM, França TCC, Krettli AU. Theoretical and experimental studies of new modified isoflavonoids as potential inhibitors of topoisomerase I from Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91191. [PMID: 24651068 PMCID: PMC3961230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase I from Plasmodium falciparum (PfTopoI), a potential selective target for chemotherapy and drug development against malaria, is used here, together with human Topo I (HssTopoI), for docking, molecular dynamics (MD) studies and experimental assays. Six synthetic isoflavonoid derivatives and the known PfTopoI inhibitors camptothecin and topotecan were evaluated in parallel. Theoretical results suggest that these compounds dock in the binding site of camptothecin and topotecan inside both enzymes and that LQB223 binds selectively in PfTopoI. In vitro tests against P. falciparum blood parasites corroborated the theoretical findings. The selectivity index (SI) of LQB223 ≥ 98 suggests that this molecule is the most promising in the group of compounds tested. In vivo experiments in mice infected with P. berghei showed that LQB223 has an antimalarial activity similar to that of chloroquine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilian A. Cortopassi
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Modelagem Aplicada a Defesa Química e Biológica, Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Julia Penna-Coutinho
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anna C. C. Aguiar
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - André S. Pimentel
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camilla D. Buarque
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paulo R. R. Costa
- Laboratório de Química Bioorgânica, Núcleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruna R. M. Alves
- Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tanos C. C. França
- Laboratório de Modelagem Aplicada a Defesa Química e Biológica, Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antoniana U. Krettli
- Laboratório de Malária, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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13
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Boechat N, Pinheiro LCS, Silva TS, Aguiar ACC, Carvalho AS, Bastos MM, Costa CCP, Pinheiro S, Pinto AC, Mendonça JS, Dutra KDB, Valverde AL, Santos-Filho OA, Ceravolo IP, Krettli AU. New trifluoromethyl triazolopyrimidines as anti-Plasmodium falciparum agents. Molecules 2012; 17:8285-302. [PMID: 22781441 PMCID: PMC6268855 DOI: 10.3390/molecules17078285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Revised: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, half of the World's population, approximately 3.3 billion people, is at risk for developing malaria. Nearly 700,000 deaths each year are associated with the disease. Control of the disease in humans still relies on chemotherapy. Drug resistance is a limiting factor, and the search for new drugs is important. We have designed and synthesized new 2-(trifluoromethyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives based on bioisosteric replacement of functional groups on the anti-malarial compounds mefloquine and amodiaquine. This approach enabled us to investigate the impact of: (i) ring bioisosteric replacement; (ii) a CF₃ group substituted at the 2-position of the [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine scaffold and (iii) a range of amines as substituents at the 7-position of the of heterocyclic ring; on in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) through strong hydrogen bonds. The presence of a trifluoromethyl group at the 2-position of the [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine ring led to increased drug activity. Thirteen compounds were found to be active, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.023 to 20 μM in the anti-HRP2 and hypoxanthine assays. The selectivity index (SI) of the most active derivatives 5, 8, 11 and 16 was found to vary from 1,003 to 18,478.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núbia Boechat
- Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos-Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21041-250, Brazil.
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