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Varela MT, Romanelli M, Amaral M, Tempone AG, Fernandes JPS. Piperazine amides with desirable solubility, physicochemical and drug-like properties: Synthesis and evaluation of the anti- Trypanosoma cruzi activity. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:1265-1273. [PMID: 37287509 PMCID: PMC10242637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.05.014] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The absence of effective chronic treatment, expansion to non-endemic countries and the significant burden in public health have stimulated the search for novel therapeutic options to treat Chagas disease, a protozoan disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite current efforts, no new drug candidates were approved in clinical trials in the past five decades. Considering this, our group has focused on the expansion of a series (LINS03) with low micromolar activity against amastigotes, considering the optimization of pharmacokinetic properties through increasing drug-likeness and solubility. In this work, we report a new set of 13 compounds with modifications in both the arylpiperazine and the aromatic region linked by an amide group. Five analogues showed activity against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 17.8 to 35.9 µM) and no relevant cytotoxicity to mammalian cells (CC50 > 200 µM). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify structural features associated to improved activity. The data revealed that polarity, hydrogen bonding ability and flexibility were key properties that influenced the antiparasitic activity. In silico drug-likeness assessments indicated that compounds with the 4-methoxycinammyl (especially compound 2b) had the most prominent balance between properties and activity in the series, as confirmed by SAR analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina T. Varela
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 740, 04023-062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau 210, 09913-030 Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Maiara Romanelli
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maiara Amaral
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Andre G. Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João Paulo S. Fernandes
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau 210, 09913-030 Diadema, SP, Brazil
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Synthetic Analogues of Gibbilimbol B Induce Bioenergetic Damage and Calcium Imbalance in Trypanosoma cruzi. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030663. [PMID: 36983820 PMCID: PMC10052702 DOI: 10.3390/life13030663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is an endemic tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects around 7 million people worldwide, mostly in development countries. The treatment relies on only two available drugs, with severe adverse effects and a limited efficacy. Therefore, the search for new therapies is a legitimate need. Within this context, our group reported the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of gibbilimbol B, a natural alkylphenol isolated from the plant Piper malacophyllum. Two synthetic derivatives, LINS03018 (1) and LINS03024 (2), demonstrated a higher antiparasitic potency and were selected for mechanism of action investigations. Our studies revealed no alterations in the plasma membrane potential, but a rapid alkalinization of the acidocalcisomes. Nevertheless, compound 1 exhibit a pronounced effect in the bioenergetics metabolism, with a mitochondrial impairment and consequent decrease in ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Compound 2 only depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential, with no interferences in the respiratory chain. Additionally, no macrophages response of nitric oxide (NO) was observed in both compounds. Noteworthy, simple structure modifications in these derivatives induced significant differences in their lethal effects. Thus, this work reinforces the importance of the mechanism of action investigations at the early phases of drug discovery and support further developments of the series.
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Varela MT, Amaral M, Romanelli MM, de Castro Levatti EV, Tempone AG, Fernandes JPS. Optimization of physicochemical properties is a strategy to improve drug-likeness associated with activity: novel active and selective compounds against Trypanosoma cruzi. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 171:106114. [PMID: 34986415 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.106114] [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: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causing agent of Chagas disease, a parasitic infection without efficient treatment for chronic patients. Despite the efforts, no new drugs have been approved for this disease in the last 60 years. Molecular modifications based on a natural product led to the development of a series of compounds (LINS03 series) with promising antitrypanosomal activity, however previous chemometric analysis revealed a significant impact of excessive lipophilicity and low aqueous solubility on potency of amine and amide derivatives. Therefore, this work reports different modifications in the core structure to achieve adequate balance of the physicochemical properties along with biological activity. A set of 34 analogues were designed considering predicted properties related to lipophilicity/hydrosolubility and synthesized to assess their activity and selective toxicity towards the parasite. Results showed that this strategy contributed to improve the drug-likeness of the series while considerable impacts on potency were observed. The rational analysis of the obtained data led to the identification of seven active piperazine amides (28-34, IC50 8.7 to 35.3 µM against intracellular amastigotes), devoid of significant cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. The addition of water-solubilizing groups and privileged substructures such as piperazines improved the physicochemical properties and overall drug-likeness of these compounds, increased potency and maintained selectivity towards the parasite. The obtained results brought important structure-activity relationship (SAR) data and new lead structures for further modifications were identified to achieve improved antitrypanosoma compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina T Varela
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau 210, 09913-030 Diadema SP, Brazil
| | - Maiara Amaral
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Maiara M Romanelli
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351, 01246-000 São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Erica V de Castro Levatti
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351, 01246-000 São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Andre G Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351, 01246-000 São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - João Paulo S Fernandes
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau 210, 09913-030 Diadema SP, Brazil.
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da Rosa R, Dambrós BP, Höehr de Moraes M, Grand L, Jacolot M, Popowycz F, Steindel M, Schenkel EP, Campos Bernardes LS. Natural-product-inspired design and synthesis of two series of compounds active against Trypanosoma cruzi: Insights into structure-activity relationship, toxicity, and mechanism of action. Bioorg Chem 2021; 119:105492. [PMID: 34838333 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105492] [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: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Chemical scaffolds of natural products have historically been sources of inspiration for the development of novel molecules of biological relevance, including hit and lead compounds. To identify new compounds active against Trypanosoma cruzi, we designed and synthesized 46 synthetic derivatives based on the structure of two classes of natural products: tetrahydrofuran lignans (Series 1) and oxazole alkaloids (Series 2). Compounds were screened in vitro using a cellular model of T. cruzi infection. In the first series of compounds, 11 derivatives of hit compound 5 (EC50 = 1.1 µM) were found to be active; the most potent (7, 8, and 13) had EC50 values of 5.1-34.2 µM. In the second series, 17 analogs were found active at 50 µM; the most potent compounds (47, 49, 59, and 63) showed EC50 values of 24.2-49.1 µM. Active compounds were assessed for selectivity, hemocompatibility, synergistic potential, effects on mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibitory effect on trypanothione reductase. All active compounds showed low toxicity against uninfected THP-1 cells and human erythrocytes. The potency of compounds 5 and 8 increased steadily in combination with benznidazole, indicating a synergistic effect. Furthermore, compounds 8, 47, 49, 59, and 63 inhibited parasitic mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner. Although increased reactive oxygen species levels might lead to mitochondrial effects, the results indicate that the mechanism of action of the compounds is not dependent on trypanothione reductase inhibition. In silico calculation of chemical descriptors and principal component analysis showed that the active compounds share common chemical features with other trypanocidal molecules and are predicted to have a good ADMET profile. Overall, the results suggest that the compounds are important candidates to be further studied for their potential against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael da Rosa
- Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica Medicinal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil; Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
| | - Bibiana Paula Dambrós
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Milene Höehr de Moraes
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Lucie Grand
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Maïwenn Jacolot
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Florence Popowycz
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, CPE Lyon, UMR 5246, ICBMS. 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Mario Steindel
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Eloir Paulo Schenkel
- Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica Medicinal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Lílian Sibelle Campos Bernardes
- Laboratório de Química Farmacêutica Medicinal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Universitário, 88040900, Florianópolis, Brasil.
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Smolyaninov IV, Burmistrova DA, Arsenyev MV, Almyasheva NR, Ivanova ES, Smolyaninova SA, Pashchenko KP, Poddel'sky AI, Berberova NT. Catechol‐ and Phenol‐Containing Thio‐Schiff Bases: Synthesis, Electrochemical Properties and Biological Evaluation. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202102246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan V. Smolyaninov
- Department of Chemistry Astrakhan State Technical University 16 Tatischeva str. Astrakhan 414056 Russia
| | - Daria A. Burmistrova
- Department of Chemistry Astrakhan State Technical University 16 Tatischeva str. Astrakhan 414056 Russia
| | - Maxim V. Arsenyev
- G.A. Razuvaev Institute of Organometallic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences 49 Tropinina str. 603137 Nizhny Novgorod Russia
| | - Nailya R. Almyasheva
- Gause Institute of New Antibiotics 11/1 Bolshaya Pirogovskaya str. Moscow 119021 Russian Federation
| | - Ekaterina S. Ivanova
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology 24 Kashirskoye Shosse Moscow 115478 Russian Federation
| | - Susanna A. Smolyaninova
- Department of Chemistry Astrakhan State Technical University 16 Tatischeva str. Astrakhan 414056 Russia
| | - Konstantin P. Pashchenko
- Department of Chemistry Astrakhan State Technical University 16 Tatischeva str. Astrakhan 414056 Russia
| | - Andrey I. Poddel'sky
- G.A. Razuvaev Institute of Organometallic Chemistry Russian Academy of Sciences 49 Tropinina str. 603137 Nizhny Novgorod Russia
| | - Nadezhda T. Berberova
- Department of Chemistry Astrakhan State Technical University 16 Tatischeva str. Astrakhan 414056 Russia
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Metabolite profile of Nectandra oppositifolia Nees & Mart. and assessment of antitrypanosomal activity of bioactive compounds through efficiency analyses. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247334. [PMID: 33630860 PMCID: PMC7906415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
EtOH extracts from the leaves and twigs of Nectandra oppositifolia Nees & Mart. shown activity against amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. These extracts were subjected to successive liquid-liquid partitioning to afford bioactive CH2Cl2 fractions. UHPLC-TOF-HRMS/MS and molecular networking were used to obtain an overview of the phytochemical composition of these active fractions. Aiming to isolate the active compounds, both CH2Cl2 fractions were subjected to fractionation using medium pressure chromatography combined with semi-preparative HPLC-UV. Using this approach, twelve compounds (1-12) were isolated and identified by NMR and HRMS analysis. Several isolated compounds displayed activity against the amastigote forms of T. cruzi, especially ethyl protocatechuate (7) with EC50 value of 18.1 μM, similar to positive control benznidazole (18.7 μM). Considering the potential of compound 7, protocatechuic acid and its respective methyl (7a), n-propyl (7b), n-butyl (7c), n-pentyl (7d), and n-hexyl (7e) esters were tested. Regarding antitrypanosomal activity, protocatechuic acid and compound 7a were inactive, while 7b-7e exhibited EC50 values from 20.4 to 11.7 μM, without cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. These results suggest that lipophilicity and molecular complexity play an important role in the activity while efficiency analysis indicates that the natural compound 7 is a promising prototype for further modifications to obtain compounds effective against the intracellular forms of T. cruzi.
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Coumaric acid derivatives as tyrosinase inhibitors: Efficacy studies through in silico, in vitro and ex vivo approaches. Bioorg Chem 2020; 103:104108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Oliveira L, Ferrarini M, dos Santos AP, Varela MT, Corrêa ITS, Tempone AG, Melhem MS, Vallim MA, Fernandes JPS, Pascon RC. Coumaric acid analogues inhibit growth and melanin biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans and potentialize amphotericin B antifungal activity. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 153:105473. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Waller SB, Cleff MB, Ripoll MK, Meireles MCA, Varela MT, Fernandes JPDS. Benzylidene-carbonyl compounds are active against itraconazole-susceptible and itraconazole-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2020; 65:1033-1038. [PMID: 32821987 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-020-00814-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the antifungal activity of benzylidene-carbonyl compounds (LINS03) based on the structure of gibbilimbol from Piper malacophyllum Linn. Five analogues (1-5) were synthetized following a classic aldol condensation between an aromatic aldehyde and a ketone, under basic conditions. These were tested against itraconazole-susceptible (n = 3) and itraconazole-resistant (n = 5) isolates of Sporothrix brasiliensis by M38-A2 guidelines of CLSI. All of them were fungistatic (MIC ranged of 0.11-0.22 mg/mL (1); 0.08-0.17 mg/mL (2); 0.05-0.1 mg/mL (3); 0.04-0.33 mg/mL (4); and 0.04-0.3 mg/mL (5)), highlighting compounds 2 and 3. As fungicidal, compounds 1 and 2 were highlighted (MFC ranged of 0.22-0.89 mg/mL and 0.08-1.35 mg/mL, respectively), compared with the remaining (0.77-> 3.08 mg/mL (3); 0.08-> 2.6 mg/mL (4); and 0.59-> 2.37 mg/mL (5)). The inhibitory activity was related to the benzylidene-carbonyl, whereas the phenol group and the low chain homolog seems to contribute to some extent to the fungicidal effect. Compound 2 highlighted due to the considerable fungistatic and fungicidal activities, including itraconazole-resistant Sporothrix brasiliensis. These findings support the potential usefulness of benzylidene-carbonyl compounds as promising prototypes for the development of antifungal against sporotrichosis by Sporothrix brasiliensis, including against itraconazole-resistant isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Bressan Waller
- Department of Veterinary Clinics, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil.
| | - Marlete Brum Cleff
- Department of Veterinary Clinics, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Márcia Kutscher Ripoll
- Department of Preventive Veterinary, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Mário Carlos Araújo Meireles
- Department of Preventive Veterinary, Faculty of Veterinary, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil
| | - Marina Themoteo Varela
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, 09913-030, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Dos S Fernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, 09913-030, Brazil
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