New camphor hybrids: lipophilic enhancement improves antimicrobial efficacy against drug-resistant pathogenic microbes and intestinal worms

Is Camphor the Future in Supporting Therapy for Skin Infections?

The aim of this review is to present the potential application of camphor-a bicyclic monoterpene ketone-in the prevention of skin infections. Skin diseases represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by prolonged symptoms that significantly diminish the quality of life. They affect the dermis, the epidermis, and even subcutaneous tissue. They very often have a bacterial or fungal background. Therapy for dermatological skin disorders is difficult and long-term. Therefore, it is important to find a compound, preferably of natural origin, that (i) prevents the initiation of this infection and (ii) supports the skin's repair process. Based on its documented anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-acne, anesthetic, strengthening, and warming properties, camphor can be used as a preventative measure in dermatological infectious diseases and as a component in medical and cosmetic products. This work discusses the structure and physicochemical properties of camphor, its occurrence, and methods of obtaining it from natural sources as well as through chemical synthesis. The use of camphor in industrial preparations is also presented. Additionally, after a detailed review of the literature, the metabolism of camphor, its interactions with other medicinal substances, and its antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi involved in skin diseases are discussed with regard to their resistance.

Isoniazid-N-acylhydrazones as promising compounds for the anti-tuberculosis treatment

Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, still presents significant numbers of incidence and mortality, in addition to several cases of drug resistance. Resistance, especially to isoniazid, which is one of the main drugs used in the treatment, has increased. In this context, N-acylhydrazones derived from isoniazid have shown important anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity. Hence, this work aimed to determine the anti-TB potential of 11 isoniazid-N-acylhydrazones (INH-acylhydrazones). For this purpose, the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and clinical isolates was carried out. Drug combination, minimum bactericidal concentration, cytotoxicity, and in silico parameters were also performed. INH-acylhydrazones (2), (8), and (9) had MIC for M. tuberculosis H37Rv similar to or lower than isoniazid, and bactericidal activity was observed. In addition, these compounds showed low cytotoxicity, with a selectivity index greater than 3,000. Interesting results were also obtained in the drug combination assay, with synergistic combinations with isoniazid, ethambutol, and rifampicin. In the in silico study, INH-acylhydrazones behaved similarly to INH, but with improvements in some aspects. Based on these findings, it is concluded that compounds (2), (8), and (9) are considered promising scaffolds and warrant further investigation for designing future antimicrobial drugs.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of new camphor pyrimidine and camphor thiazole derivatives using conventional and microwave irradiation techniques and in vitro evaluation as potential antimicrobial agents

BACKGROUND

A series of new pyrimidines and thiazoles containing camphor moiety were synthesized under both conventional and microwave irradiation techniques.

METHODS

The condensation of camphor either with aminoguanidine or thiosemicarbazide gives the camphor hydrazine carboximidiamide 2 and the camphor thiosemicarbazone 3, respectively. Refluxing of 3 with chloroacetonitrile afforded the camphor thiazol-4-imine 4. Compounds 2 and 4 were used as precursors for the synthesis of target products.

RESULTS

The reaction of 2 with different species such as arylidene malononitrile, acetylacetone, and ethyl acetoacetate gave the corresponding camphor pyrimidine derivatives 5a,b-7 while refluxing of compound 4 with different reagents e.g. aldehydes, isatin, ninhydrin, acetic anhydride, benzene sulphonyl chloride, and p-nitro-benzoyl chloride afforded the camphor thiazole derivatives 8a-d-13, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A comparison between the conventional way and the eco-friendly microwave irradiation method occurred in the synthesis of the same compounds, which the latter was more efficient. The elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Mass spectra confirm the structures of the obtained new compounds. The potential use of some selected derivatives as antimicrobial agents was investigated and gave promising results.

In Vitro and In Silico Evaluations of Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Activity of Benzohydrazones Compounds

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with high mortality rates and an extended treatment that causes severe adverse effects, besides the emergence of resistant bacteria. Therefore, the search for new compounds with anti-M. tuberculosis activity has considerably increased in recent years. In this context, benzohydrazones are significant compounds that have antifungal and antibacterial action. This study aimed at evaluating the in vitro activity of 18 benzohydrazones against M. tuberculosis. Compounds' cytotoxicity, inhibition of M. tuberculosis efflux pumps, and in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) assays were also performed. In general, the minimum inhibitory concentration values for the standard M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv strain ranged from 7.8 to 250 μg/mL, and some compounds were not toxic to any of the cells tested (IC₅₀ ranged from 18.0 to 302.5 μg/mL). In addition, compounds (4) and (7) showed to be possible efflux pump inhibitors. In ADMET assays, all benzohydrazones had high gastrointestinal absorption. Most of the compounds were able to overcome the blood-brain barrier, and no compounds had irritant or tumorigenic effects. Compounds (1), (3), (9), (12), and (15) stood out for showing good activities, both in vitro and in silico assays.