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Rehman MU, Zuo Y, Tu N, Guo J, Liu Z, Cao S, Long S. Diverse pharmacological activities of β-carbolines: Substitution patterns, SARs and mechanisms of action. Eur J Med Chem 2025; 287:117350. [PMID: 39933403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.117350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2025] [Accepted: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 02/13/2025]
Abstract
β-Carbolines, a class of indole-containing heterocyclic alkaloids, are widely distributed in nature and possess diverse bioactivities, making them promising drug candidates against a wide range of diseases. The remarkable medicinal potential of β-carbolines has spurred the pharmaceutical research community to study their derivatives extensively. This review updates the development of β-carboline derivatives in recent years (2015-2024), particularly with a focus on their anticancer, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties, based on the modification approaches such as substitution on indole N (ring B), pyridine or its reduced forms (ring C), and dimerization of β-carbolines. Moreover, the mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships of these β-carboline derivatives are highlighted to offer valuable insights on the design and development of new β-carbolines with better pharmacological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muneeb Ur Rehman
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Yujie Zuo
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Ni Tu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Ju Guo
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Ziwei Liu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Shuang Cao
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China.
| | - Sihui Long
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China.
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Garcia AR, Silva-Luiz YPG, Alviano CS, Alviano DS, Vermelho AB, Rodrigues IA. The Natural Alkaloid Tryptanthrin Induces Apoptosis-like Death in Leishmania spp. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7060112. [PMID: 35736990 PMCID: PMC9231190 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7060112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease against which there are no approved vaccines, and the treatment is based on highly toxic drugs. The alkaloids consist of a chemical class of natural nitrogen-containing substances with a long history of antileishmanial activity. The present study aimed at determining the antileishmanial activity and in silico pharmacokinetic and toxicological potentials of tryptanthrin alkaloid. The anti-Leishmania amazonensis and anti-L. infantum assays were performed against both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Cellular viability was determined by parasites’ ability to grow (promastigotes) or differentiate (amastigotes) after incubation with tryptanthrin. The mechanisms of action were explored by mitochondrion dysfunction and apoptosis-like death evaluation. For the computational pharmacokinetics and toxicological analysis (ADMET), tryptanthrin was submitted to the PreADMET webserver. The alkaloid displayed anti-promastigote activity against L. amazonensis and L. infantum (IC50 = 11 and 8.0 μM, respectively). Tryptanthrin was active against intracellular amastigotes with IC50 values of 75 and 115 μM, respectively. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was observed in tryptanthrin-treated promastigotes. In addition, parasites undergoing apoptosis-like death were detected after 18 h of exposure. In silico ADMET predictions revealed that tryptanthrin has pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties similar to miltefosine. The results presented herein demonstrate that tryptanthrin is an interesting drug candidate against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreza R. Garcia
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil;
| | - Yasmin P. G. Silva-Luiz
- Graduate Program in Science (Microbiology), Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil;
| | - Celuta S. Alviano
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (C.S.A.); dani (D.S.A.); (A.B.V.)
| | - Daniela S. Alviano
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (C.S.A.); dani (D.S.A.); (A.B.V.)
| | - Alane B. Vermelho
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (C.S.A.); dani (D.S.A.); (A.B.V.)
| | - Igor A. Rodrigues
- Department of Natural Products and Food, School of Pharmacy, CCS, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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do Socorro Silva da Veiga A, Silveira FT, da Silva EO, Júnior JAPD, Araújo SC, Campos MB, do Rosário Marinho AM, Brandão GC, Vale VV, Percário S, Dolabela MF. Activity of alkaloids from Aspidosperma nitidum against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8662. [PMID: 35606396 PMCID: PMC9126982 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12396-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the morphological changes caused by fractions and subfractions, obtained from barks of Aspidosperna nitidum, against L. (L.) amazonensis promastigotes. The ethanolic extract (EE) obtained through the maceration of trunk barks was subjected to an acid-base partition, resulting the neutral (FN) and the alkaloid (FA) fractions, and fractionation under reflux, yielded hexane (FrHEX), dichloromethane (FrDCL), ethyl acetate (FrACoET), and methanol (FrMEOH) fractions. The FA was fractionated and three subfractions (SF5-6, SF8, and SF9) were obtained and analyzed by HPLC-DAD and 1H NMR. The antipromastigote activity of all samples was evaluated by MTT, after that, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the active fractions were performed. Chromatographic analyzes suggest the presence of alkaloids in EE, FN, FA, and FrDCL. The fractionation of FA led to the isolation of the indole alkaloid dihydrocorynantheol (SF8 fractions). The SF5-6, dihydrocorynantheol and SF-9 samples were active against promastigotes, while FrDCL was moderately active. The SEM analysis revealed cell rounding and changes in the flagellum of the parasites. In the TEM analysis, the treated promastigotes showed changes in flagellar pocket and kinetoplast, and presence of lipid inclusions. These results suggest that alkaloids isolated from A. nitidum are promising as leishmanicidal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edilene Oliveira da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Andrey Moacir do Rosário Marinho
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Valdicley Vieira Vale
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Sandro Percário
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
- Oxidative Stress Research Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria Fâni Dolabela
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
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Sakyi PO, Amewu RK, Devine RNOA, Ismaila E, Miller WA, Kwofie SK. The Search for Putative Hits in Combating Leishmaniasis: The Contributions of Natural Products Over the Last Decade. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2021; 11:489-544. [PMID: 34260050 PMCID: PMC8279035 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-021-00311-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite advancements in the areas of omics and chemoinformatics, potent novel biotherapeutic molecules with new modes of actions are needed for leishmaniasis. The socioeconomic burden of leishmaniasis remains alarming in endemic regions. Currently, reports from existing endemic areas such as Nepal, Iran, Brazil, India, Sudan and Afghanistan, as well as newly affected countries such as Peru, Bolivia and Somalia indicate concerns of chemoresistance to the classical antimonial treatment. As a result, effective antileishmanial agents which are safe and affordable are urgently needed. Natural products from both flora and fauna have contributed immensely to chemotherapeutics and serve as vital sources of new chemical agents. This review focuses on a systematic cross-sectional view of all characterized anti-leishmanial compounds from natural sources over the last decade. Furthermore, IC50/EC50, cytotoxicity and suggested mechanisms of action of some of these natural products are provided. The natural product classification includes alkaloids, terpenes, terpenoids, and phenolics. The plethora of reported mechanisms involve calcium channel inhibition, immunomodulation and apoptosis. Making available enriched data pertaining to bioactivity and mechanisms of natural products complement current efforts geared towards unraveling potent leishmanicides of therapeutic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O. Sakyi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. BOX LG 56, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Richard K. Amewu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. BOX LG 56, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Robert N. O. A. Devine
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Emahi Ismaila
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Whelton A. Miller
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153 USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Samuel K. Kwofie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, College of Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 77, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 54, Accra, Ghana
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Faheem, Kumar BK, Sekhar KVGC, Kunjiappan S, Jamalis J, Balaña-Fouce R, Sankaranarayanan M. Recent Update on the Anti-infective Potential of β-carboline Analogs. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 21:398-425. [PMID: 33001013 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666201001130114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
β-Carboline, a naturally occurring indole alkaloid, holds a momentous spot in the field of medicinal chemistry due to its myriad of pharmacological actions like anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, antimalarial, neuropharmacological, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic among others. β-Carbolines exhibit their pharmacological activity via diverse mechanisms. This review provides a recent update (2015-2020) on the anti-infective potential of natural and synthetic β-carboline analogs focusing on its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal properties. In cases where enough details are available, a note on its mechanism of action is also added.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faheem
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Vidya Vihar, Pilani-333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Banoth Karan Kumar
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Vidya Vihar, Pilani-333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Kondapalli Venkata Gowri Chandra Sekhar
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet Mandal, R.R. Dist. Hyderabad, 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Selvaraj Kunjiappan
- Department of Biotechnology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil 626126, India
| | - Joazaizulfazli Jamalis
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor 81310, Malaysia
| | | | - Murugesan Sankaranarayanan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Vidya Vihar, Pilani-333031, Rajasthan, India
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Banoth KK, Faheem, ChandraSekhar KVG, Adinarayana N, Murugesan S. Recent evolution on synthesis strategies and anti-leishmanial activity of β-carboline derivatives - An update. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04916. [PMID: 32995612 PMCID: PMC7501441 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is the most widespread pathogenic disease in several countries. Currently, no effective vaccines are available, and the control of Leishmaniasis primarily relies on decade-old chemotherapy. The treatment for the Leishmaniasis is not up to the mark. Current therapy for Leishmaniasis is ancient and requires hospitalization for the administration. These medications are also highly toxic and resistant. β-carboline, a natural indole containing alkaloid, holds a vital position in the field of medicinal chemistry with a diversified pharmacological action. The current review focuses mainly on the anti-leishmanial effects of β-carboline analogs and their synthetic strategies, structural activity relationship studies (SAR). The past ten years alterations unveiled by β-carboline analogs present in phytoconstituents and various derivatives of synthesized analogs with the mechanism of action were briefly shortlisted and illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan Kumar Banoth
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Faheem
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | | | - Nandikolla Adinarayana
- Department of Chemistry, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet Mandal, R.R. Dist. Hyderabad, 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Sankaranarayanan Murugesan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
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Boeno SIS, Passos MDS, Félix M, Calixto SD, Júnior ARC, Barbosa Siqueira LF, Muzitano MF, Braz-Filho R, Vieira IJC. Antimycobacterial Activity of Milemaronol, a New Squalene-Type Triterpene, and Other Isolate? Nat Prod Commun 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x20925589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A new triterpene, named milemaronol (1), was isolated from Homalolepis suffruticosa Engl., Simaroubaceae, along with 10 known metabolites, chaparrinone (2), scopoletin (3), 5-methoxycanthin-6-one (4), eurylene (5), hispidol A (6), hispidol B (7), nilocitine (8), α-dihydronylocytine (9), β-dihydronylocytine (10), and teurilene (11). These compounds were characterized based on their spectral data, mainly 1D (1H, 13C-APT) and 2D (1H-1H-COSY, NOESY, HSQC, HMBC) NMR and their mass spectra (HR-ESI-MS), in comparison with data from the literature. Compounds 1 to 6, 8, and 9 were evaluated for their antimycobacterial activity against 2 strains (H37Rv and M299).
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Affiliation(s)
- Samyra I. S. Boeno
- Setor de Química de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Michel de S. Passos
- Setor de Química de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana Félix
- Setor de Química de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sanderson D. Calixto
- Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Michelle F. Muzitano
- Laboratório de Produtos Bioativos (LPBio), Curso de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Campus Dr. Aloisio Teixeira, Macae, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raimundo Braz-Filho
- Setor de Química de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
- FAPERJ/Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ivo J. Curcino Vieira
- Setor de Química de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
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