In vitro antiplasmodial activity, pharmacokinetic profiles and interference in isoprenoid pathway of 2-aniline-3-hydroxy-1.4-naphthoquinone derivatives (original) (raw)
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This study reports on the design, synthesis and antiparasitic activity of three new semi-synthetic naphthoquinones structurally related to the naturally-occurring lapachol and lapachone. Of the compounds tested, 3-(3-methylbut-1-en-1-yl)-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl acetate (1) was the most active against Plasmodium falciparum among both natural and semi-synthetic naphthoquinones, showing potent and selective activity. Compound 1 was able to reduce the in vitro parasite burden, in vitro parasite cell cycle, as well as the blood parasitemia in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. More importantly, infection reduction under compound 1-treatment was achieved without exhibiting mouse genotoxicity. Regarding the molecular mechanism of action, this compound inhibited the hemozoin crystal formation in P. falciparum treated cells, and this was further confirmed by observing that it inhibits the b-hematin polymerization process similarly to chloroquine. Interestingly, this compound did not affect either mitochondria structure or cause DNA fragmentation in parasite treated cells.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2015
Many people are affected by Malaria around the world, and the parasite is developing resistance against available drugs. Currently, isoquine and N-tert-butyl isoquine are some of the most promising antimalarial candidates that have already reached Phase I and II clinical trials, respectively. Nevertheless, pharmacodynamic studies have demonstrated that isoquine is highly sensitive to form O-glucuronide metabolite, which may affect its accumulation in tissues. To avoid the O-glucuronide formation and its negative influence in the accumulation process, a series of novel five dehydroxy isoquine derivatives were designed and prepared herein as potential antimalarial agents. By a simple three-step procedure, five dehydroxy isoquines were prepared and subsequently examined on the inhibition of haemozoin formation, the main target of the 4aminoquinolines. Four derivatives displayed significant inhibitory activities at low IC 50 values from 1.66 to 1.86 µM comparable to CQ. On the basis of the results, these four compounds were subsequently tested against Plasmodium berghei ANKA model in mice, showing to be as active as CQ with significant curative responses and parasitemia suppresion in mice infected. On the other hand, these four compounds showed an acceptable non specific cytotoxicity on murine peritoneal macrophague and human erythrocyte cells. Thus, the presented data indicate that the dehydroxy isoquines 4b, 4c and 4e constitute promising cost-effective leads for the development of new antiplasmodial targeted at blood-stage malaria parasites.
Pharmaceuticals
The malaria parasite harbors a relict plastid called the apicoplast. Although not photosynthetic, the apicoplast retains unusual, non-mammalian metabolic pathways that are essential to the parasite, opening up a new perspective for the development of novel antimalarials which display a new mechanism of action. Based on the previous antiplasmodial hit-molecules identified in the 2-trichloromethylquinoxaline series, we report herein a structure–activity relationship (SAR) study at position two of the quinoxaline ring by synthesizing 20 new compounds. The biological evaluation highlighted a hit compound (3i) with a potent PfK1 EC50 value of 0.2 µM and a HepG2 CC50 value of 32 µM (Selectivity index = 160). Nitro-containing (3i) was not genotoxic, both in the Ames test and in vitro comet assay. Activity cliffs were observed when the 2-CCl3 group was replaced, showing that it played a key role in the antiplasmodial activity. Investigation of the mechanism of action showed that 3i presents...
Biological evaluation of hydroxynaphthoquinones as anti-malarials
Malaria Journal, 2013
Background: The hydroxynaphthoquinones have been extensively investigated over the past 50 years for their anti-malarial activity. One member of this class, atovaquone, is combined with proguanil in Malarone®, an important drug for the treatment and prevention of malaria. Methods: Anti-malarial activity was assessed in vitro for a series of 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (N1-N5) evaluating the parasitaemia after 48 hours of incubation. Potential cytotoxicity in HEK293T cells was assessed using the MTT assay. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential of Plasmodium were measured using the fluorescent dye Mitrotracker Red CMXROS.
Synthesis and antimalarial activity evaluation of some isoquine analogues
Medicinal Chemistry Research
The worldwide diffusion of resistance in malaria parasite, especially the Plasmodium falciparum, towards currently available drugs has become a major health and development challenges to human society. Isoquine, an isomeric analogue of amodiaquine, has been reported recently as a second generation lead compound for development of cost-effective and potentially safer alternative to amodiaquine which cause adverse effects including agranulocytosis and liver damage. In this study, a series of seven analogues of isoquine have been synthesized and subjected to in vitro antimalarial activity screening against the chloroquine sensitive 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. A simple two-step Mannich reaction was used to synthesize the compounds. All the seven compounds possessed little to moderate antimalarial activity. However, the analogues with aliphatic alcoholic amino group side chain having promising activity than the compounds with substituted aromatic ring side chain and compounds substituted with urea while analogues with heterocyclic ring side chain exhibits moderate antimalarial activity.
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2014
Due to the recent advances of atovaquone, a naphthoquinone, through clinical trials as treatment for malarial infection, 19 quinone derivatives with previously reported structures were also evaluated for blood schizonticide activity against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. These compounds include 2-hydroxy-3-methylamino naphthoquinones (2-9), lapachol (10), nor-lapachol (11), iso-lapachol (12), phthiocol (13) and phenazines (12-20). Their cytotoxicities were also evaluated against human hepatoma and normal monkey kidney cell lines. Compounds 2 and 5 showed the highest activity against P. falciparum chloroquine-resistant blood-stage parasites (clone W2), indicated by their low inhibitory concentration for 50% (IC 50) of parasite growth. The therapeutic potential of the active compounds was evaluated according to the selectivity index, which is a ratio of the cytotoxicity minimum lethal dose which eliminates 50% of cells and the in vitro IC 50. Naphthoquinones 2 and 5, with activities similar to the reference antimalarial chloroquine, were also active against malaria in mice and suppressed parasitaemia by more than 60% in contrast to compound 11 which was inactive. Based on their in vitro and in vivo activities, compounds 2 and 5 are considered promising molecules for antimalarial treatment and warrant further study.
Scientific Reports, 2015
In recent years the DNA minor groove has attracted much attention for the development of antimalarial agents. In view of this we have attempted to discover novel DNA minor groove binders through in-silico and in-vitro workflow. A rigorously validated pharmacophore model comprising of two positive ionizable (PI), one hydrophobic (HY) and one ring aromatic (RA) features was used to mine NCI chemical compound database. This led to retrieval of many hits which were screened on the basis of estimated activity, fit value and Lipinski's violation. Finally two compounds NSC639017 and NSC371488 were evaluated for their in-vitro anti-malarial activities against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (CQ sensitive) and K1 (CQ resistant) strains by SYBR green-I based fluorescence assay. The results revealed that out of two, NSC639017 posses excellent anti-malarial activity particularly against chloroquine resistant strain and moreover NSC639017 also appeared to be safe (CC 50 126.04 μg/ml) and selective during cytotoxicity evaluation.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2004
Development of new drugs is one of the strategies for malaria control. The biosynthesis of several isoprenoids in Plasmodium falciparum was recently described. Interestingly, some intermediates and final products biosynthesized by this pathway in mammals differ from those biosynthesized in P. falciparum. These facts prompted us to evaluate various terpenes, molecules with a similar chemical structure to the intermediates of the isoprenoids pathway, as potential antimalarial drugs. Different terpenes and S-farnesylthiosalicylic acid were tested on cultures of the intraerythrocytic stages of P. falciparum, and the 50% inhibitory concentrations for each one were found: farnesol, 64 M; nerolidol, 760 nM; limonene, 1.22 mM; linalool, 0.28 mM; and S-farnesylthiosalicylic acid, 14 M.
Malaria Journal, 2013
Background: The discovery and development of anti-malarial compounds of plant origin and semisynthetic derivatives thereof, such as quinine (QN) and chloroquine (CQ), has highlighted the importance of these compounds in the treatment of malaria. Ursolic acid analogues bearing an acetyl group at C-3 have demonstrated significant anti-malarial activity. With this in mind, two new series of betulinic acid (BA) and ursolic acid (UA) derivatives with ester groups at C-3 were synthesized in an attempt to improve anti-malarial activity, reduce cytotoxicity, and search for new targets. In vitro activity against CQ-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 and an evaluation of cytotoxicity in a mammalian cell line (HEK293T) are reported. Furthermore, two possible mechanisms of action of anti-malarial compounds have been evaluated: effects on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and inhibition of β-haematin formation. Results: Among the 18 derivatives synthesized, those having shorter side chains were most effective against CQsensitive P. falciparum 3D7, and were non-cytotoxic. These derivatives were three to five times more active than BA and UA. A DiOC 6 (3) ΔΨm assay showed that mitochondria are not involved in their mechanism of action. Inhibition of β-haematin formation by the active derivatives was weaker than with CQ. Compounds of the BA series were generally more active against P. falciparum 3D7 than those of the UA series. Conclusions: Three new anti-malarial prototypes were obtained from natural sources through an easy and relatively inexpensive synthesis. They represent an alternative for new lead compounds for anti-malarial chemotherapy.