Phosphonium lipocations as antiparasitic agents

In vitro antitrypanosomal activity of synthesized nitrofurantoin-triazole hybrids against Trypanosoma species causing animal African trypanosomosis

Animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) is a disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. vivax, T. evansi and T. congolense which are mainly transmitted by tsetse flies (maybe the family/genus scientific name for the tsetse flies here?). Synthetic trypanocidal drugs are used to control AAT but have reduced efficacy due to emergence of drug resistant trypanosomes. Therefore, there is a need for the continued development of new safe and effective drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity of novel nitrofurantoin compounds against trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei, T. evansi and T. congolense) causing AAT. This study assessed previously synthesized nineteen nitrofurantoin-triazole (NFT-TZ) hybrids against animal trypanosomes and evaluated their cytotoxicity using Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. The n-alkyl sub-series hybrids, 8 (IC50 0.09 ± 0.02 μM; SI 686.45) and 9 (IC50 0.07 ± 0.04 μM; SI 849.31) had the highest anti-trypanosomal activity against T. b. brucei. On the contrary, the nonyl 6 (IC50 0.12 ± 0.06 μM; SI 504.57) and nitrobenzyl 18 (IC50 0.11 ± 0.03 μM; SI 211.07) displayed the highest trypanocidal activity against T. evansi. The nonyl hybrid 6 (IC50 0.02 ± 0.01 μM; SI 6328.76) was also detected alongside the undecyl 8 (IC50 0.02 ± 0.01 μM; SI 3454.36) and 3-bromobenzyl 19 (IC50 0.02 ± 0.01 μM; SI 2360.41) as the most potent hybrids against T. congolense. These hybrids had weak toxicity effects on the mammalian cells and highly selective submicromolar antiparasitic action efficacy directed towards the trypanosomes, hence they can be regarded as potential trypanocidal leads for further in vivo investigation.

Antimicrobial potential of quaternary phosphonium salt compounds: a review

Given that mitochondrial dysregulation is a biomarker of many cancers, cationic quaternary phosphonium salt (QPS) conjugation is a widely utilized strategy for anticancer drug design. QPS-conjugated compounds exhibit greater cell permeation and accumulation in negatively charged mitochondria, and thus, show enhanced activity. Phylogenetic similarities between mitochondria and bacteria have provided a rationale for exploring the antibacterial properties of mitochondria-targeted compounds. Additionally, due to the importance of mitochondria in the survival of pathogenic microbes, including fungi and parasites, this strategy can be extended to these organisms as well. This review examines recent literature on the antimicrobial activities of various QPS-conjugated compounds and provides future directions for exploring the medicinal chemistry of these compounds.

Repurposing of MitoTam: Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Candidate Exhibits Potent Activity against Major Protozoan and Fungal Pathogens

Many of the currently available anti-parasitic and anti-fungal frontline drugs have severe limitations, including adverse side effects, complex administration, and increasing occurrence of resistance. The discovery and development of new therapeutic agents is a costly and lengthy process. Therefore, repurposing drugs with already established clinical application offers an attractive, fast-track approach for novel treatment options. In this study, we show that the anti-cancer drug candidate MitoTam, a mitochondria-targeted analog of tamoxifen, efficiently eliminates a wide range of evolutionarily distinct pathogens in vitro, including pathogenic fungi, Plasmodium falciparum, and several species of trypanosomatid parasites, causative agents of debilitating neglected tropical diseases. MitoTam treatment was also effective in vivo and significantly reduced parasitemia of two medically important parasites, Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma brucei, in their respective animal infection models. Functional analysis in the bloodstream form of T. brucei showed that MitoTam rapidly altered mitochondrial functions, particularly affecting cellular respiration, lowering ATP levels, and dissipating mitochondrial membrane potential. Our data suggest that the mode of action of MitoTam involves disruption of the inner mitochondrial membrane, leading to rapid organelle depolarization and cell death. Altogether, MitoTam is an excellent candidate drug against several important pathogens, for which there are no efficient therapies and for which drug development is not a priority.

Menadione: a platform and a target to valuable compounds synthesis

Naphthoquinones are important natural or synthetic compounds belonging to the general class of quinones. Many compounds in this class have become drugs that are on the pharmaceutical market for the treatment of various diseases. A special naphthoquinone derivative is menadione, a synthetic naphthoquinone belonging to the vitamin K group. This compound can be synthesized by different methods and it has a broad range of biological and synthetic applications, which will be highlighted in this review.

Phthalimide analogs for antimalarial drug discovery

Malaria remains one of the world's most life-threatening diseases and, thus, it is a major public health concern all around the world. The disease can become devastating if not treated with proper medication in a timely manner. Currently, the number of viable treatment therapies is in continuous decline due to compromised effectiveness, probably owing to the complex life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. The factors responsible for the unclear status of malaria eradication programmes include ever-developing parasite resistance to the most effective treatments used on the frontline (i.e., artemisinin derivatives) and the paucity of new effective therapeutics. Due to these circumstances, the development of novel effective drug candidates with unique modes of action is essential for overcoming the listed obstacles. As such, the discovery of novel chemical compounds based on validated pharmacophores remains an unmet need in the field of medicinal chemistry. In this area, functionalized phthalimide (Pht) analogs have been explored as potential candidates against various diseases, including malaria. Pht presents a promising bioactive scaffold that can be easily functionalized and thus utilized as a starting point for the development of new antimalarial candidates suitable for preclinical and clinical studies. In this short review, we highlight a wide range of Pht analogs that have been investigated for their activity against various strains of Plasmodium falciparum.

Trialkyl(vinyl)phosphonium Chlorophenol Derivatives as Potent Mitochondrial Uncouplers and Antibacterial Agents

Trialkyl phosphonium derivatives of vinyl-substituted p-chlorophenol were synthesized here by a recently developed method of preparing quaternary phosphonium salts from phosphine oxides using Grignard reagents. All the derivatives with a number (n) of carbon atoms in phosphonium alkyl substituents varying from 4 to 7 showed pronounced uncoupling activity in isolated rat liver mitochondria at micromolar concentrations, with a tripentyl derivative being the most effective both in accelerating respiration and causing membrane potential collapse, as well as in provoking mitochondrial swelling in a potassium-acetate medium. Remarkably, the trialkyl phosphonium derivatives with n from 4 to 7 also proved to be rather potent antibacterial agents. Methylation of the chlorophenol hydroxyl group suppressed the effects of P₅₅₅ and P₄₄₄ on the respiration and membrane potential of mitochondria but not those of P₆₆₆, thereby suggesting a mechanistic difference in the mitochondrial uncoupling by these derivatives, which was predominantly protonophoric (carrier-like) in the case of P₅₅₅ and P₄₄₄ but detergent-like with P₆₆₆. The latter was confirmed by the carboxyfluorescein leakage assay on model liposomal membranes.

Antimalarial application of quinones: A recent update

Atovaquone belongs to a naphthoquinone class of drugs and is used in combination with proguanil (Malarone) for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum (including chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum/P. vivax). Numerous quinone-derived compounds have attracted considerable attention in the last few decades due to their potential in antimalarial drug discovery. Several semi-synthetic derivatives of natural quinones, synthetic quinones (naphtho-/benzo-quinone, anthraquinones, thiazinoquinones), and quinone-based hybrids were explored for their in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activities. A careful literature survey revealed that this topic has not been compiled as a review article so far. Therefore, we herein summarise the recent discovery (the year 2009-2020) of quinone based antimalarial compounds in chronological order. This compilation would be very useful towards the exploration of novel quinone-derived compounds against malarial parasites with promising efficacy and lesser side effects.

Lipophilic ion aromaticity is not important for permeability across lipid membranes

To clarify the contribution of charge delocalization in a lipophilic ion to the efficacy of its permeation through a lipid membrane, we compared the behavior of alkyl derivatives of triphenylphosphonium, tricyclohexylphosphonium and trihexylphosphonium both in natural and artificial membranes. Exploring accumulation of the lipophilic cations in response to inside-negative membrane potential generation in mitochondria by using an ion-selective electrode revealed similar mitochondrial uptake of butyltricyclohexylphosphonium (C₄TCHP) and butyltriphenylphosphonium (C₄TPP). Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy also demonstrated similar membrane potential-dependent accumulation of fluorescein derivatives of tricyclohexyldecylphosphonium and decyltriphenylphosphonium in mitochondria. The rate constant of lipophilic cation translocation across the bilayer lipid membrane (BLM), measured by the current relaxation method, moderately increased in the following sequence: trihexyltetradecylphosphonium ([P_6,6,6,14]) < triphenyltetradecylphosphonium (C₁₄TPP) < tricyclohexyldodecylphosphonium (C₁₂TCHP). In line with these results, measurements of the BLM stationary conductance indicated that membrane permeability for C₄TCHP is 2.5 times higher than that for C₄TPP. Values of the difference in the free energy of ion solvation in water and octane calculated using the density functional theory and the polarizable continuum solvent model were similar for methyltriphenylphosphonium, tricyclohexylmethylphosphonium and trihexylmethylphosphonium. Our results prove that both cyclic and aromatic moieties are not necessary for lipophilic ions to effectively permeate through lipid membranes.

Discovery and Pharmacological Studies of 4-Hydroxyphenyl-Derived Phosphonium Salts Active in a Mouse Model of Visceral Leishmaniasis

We report the discovery of new 4-hydroxyphenyl phosphonium salt derivatives active in the submicromolar range (EC₅₀ from 0.04 to 0.28 μM, SI > 10) against the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani. The pharmacokinetics and in vivo oral efficacy of compound 1 [(16-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-16-oxohexadecyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide] in a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis were established. Compound 1 reduced the parasite load in spleen (98.9%) and liver (95.3%) of infected mice after an oral dosage of four daily doses of 1.5 mg/kg. Mode of action studies showed that compound 1 diffuses across the plasma membrane, as designed, and targets the mitochondrion of Leishmania parasites. Disruption of the energetic metabolism, with a decrease of intracellular ATP levels as well as mitochondrial depolarization together with a significant reactive oxygen species production, contributes to the leishmanicidal effect of 1. Importantly, this compound was equally effective against antimonials and miltefosine-resistant clinical isolates of Leishmania infantum, indicating its potential as antileishmanial lead.

Privileged Structures in the Design of Potential Drug Candidates for Neglected Diseases

Background:

Privileged motifs are recurring in a wide range of biologically active compounds that reach different pharmaceutical targets and pathways and could represent a suitable start point to access potential candidates in the neglected diseases field. The current therapies to treat these diseases are based in drugs that lack of the desired effectiveness, affordable methods of synthesis and allow a way to emergence of resistant strains. Due the lack of financial return, only few pharmaceutical companies have been investing in research for new therapeutics for neglected diseases (ND).

Methods:

Based on the literature search from 2002 to 2016, we discuss how six privileged motifs, focusing phthalimide, isatin, indole, thiosemicarbazone, thiazole, and thiazolidinone are particularly recurrent in compounds active against some of neglected diseases.

Results:

It was observed that attention was paid particularly for Chagas disease, malaria, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, dengue, African sleeping sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis - HAT) and toxoplasmosis. It was possible to verify that, among the ND, antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial activities were between the most searched. Besides, thiosemicarbazone moiety seems to be the most versatile and frequently explored scaffold. As well, phthalimide, isatin, thiazole, and thiazolidone nucleus have been also explored in the ND field.

Conclusion:

Some described compounds, appear to be promising drug candidates, while others could represent a valuable inspiration in the research for new lead compounds.

Alternative oxidase inhibitors: Mitochondrion-targeting as a strategy for new drugs against pathogenic parasites and fungi

The alternative oxidase (AOX) is a ubiquitous terminal oxidase of plants and many fungi, catalyzing the four-electron reduction of oxygen to water alongside the cytochrome-based electron transfer chain. Unlike the classical electron transfer chain, however, the activity of AOX does not generate adenosine triphosphate but has functions such as thermogenesis and stress response. As it lacks a mammalian counterpart, it has been investigated intensely in pathogenic fungi. However, it is in African trypanosomes, which lack cytochrome-based respiration in their infective stages, that trypanosome alternative oxidase (TAO) plays the central and essential role in their energy metabolism. TAO was validated as a drug target decades ago and among the first inhibitors to be identified was salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), which produced the expected trypanocidal effects, especially when potentiated by coadministration with glycerol to inhibit anaerobic energy metabolism as well. However, the efficacy of this combination was too low to be of practical clinical use. The antibiotic ascofuranone (AF) proved a much stronger TAO inhibitor and was able to cure Trypanosoma vivax infections in mice without glycerol and at much lower doses, providing an important proof of concept milestone. Systematic efforts to improve the SHAM and AF scaffolds, aided with the elucidation of the TAO crystal structure, provided detailed structure-activity relationship information and reinvigorated the drug discovery effort. Recently, the coupling of mitochondrion-targeting lipophilic cations to TAO inhibitors has dramatically improved drug targeting and trypanocidal activity while retaining target protein potency. These developments appear to have finally signposted the way to preclinical development of TAO inhibitors.

Indolylalkyltriphenylphosphonium Analogues Are Membrane-Depolarizing Mycobactericidal Agents

Agents that selectively target the mycobacterial membrane could potentially shorten treatment time for tuberculosis, reduce relapse, and curtail emergence of resistant strains. The lipophilicity and extensive charge-delocalized state of the triphenylphosphonium cation strongly favor accumulation within bacterial membranes. Here, we explored the antimycobacterial activities and membrane-targeting properties of indolylalkyltriphenylphosphonium analogues. The most active analogues preferentially inhibited growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MIC₅₀ 2-4 μM) and were bactericidal against Mycobacterium bovis BCG (MBC₉₉ 3 μM). In spite of their propensity to accumulate within membranes, we found no evidence that these compounds permeabilized mycobacterial membranes or induced cell-envelope stress. Our investigations indicated that their bacterical effects stem from sustained depolarization of mycobacterial membranes and ensuing disruptive effects on electron transfer and cell division.

Conjugates of 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate and Salicylhydroxamate and Lipocations Display Potent Antiparasite Effects by Efficiently Targeting the Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense Mitochondrion

We investigated a chemical strategy to boost the trypanocidal activity of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA)- and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM)-based trypanocides with triphenylphosphonium and quinolinium lipophilic cations (LC). Three series of LC conjugates were synthesized that were active in the submicromolar (5a-d and 10d-f) to low nanomolar (6a-f) range against wild-type and multidrug resistant strains of African trypanosomes (Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. congolense). This represented an improvement in trypanocidal potency of at least 200-fold, and up to >10 000-fold, compared with that of non-LC-coupled parent compounds 2,4-DHBA and SHAM. Selectivity over human cells was >500 and reached >23 000 for 6e. Mechanistic studies showed that 6e did not inhibit the cell cycle but affected parasite respiration in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of trypanosome alternative oxidase and the mitochondrial membrane potential was also studied for selected compounds. We conclude that effective mitochondrial targeting greatly potentiated the activity of these series of compounds.

Caged Garcinia Xanthones, a Novel Chemical Scaffold with Potent Antimalarial Activity

Caged Garcinia xanthones (CGXs) constitute a family of natural products that are produced by tropical/subtropical trees of the genus Garcinia CGXs have a unique chemical architecture, defined by the presence of a caged scaffold at the C ring of a xanthone moiety, and exhibit a broad range of biological activities. Here we show that synthetic CGXs exhibit antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, the causative parasite of human malaria, at the intraerythrocytic stages. Their activity can be substantially improved by attaching a triphenylphosphonium group at the A ring of the caged xanthone. Specifically, CR135 and CR142 were found to be highly effective antimalarial inhibitors, with 50% effective concentrations as low as ∼10 nM. CGXs affect malaria parasites at multiple intraerythrocytic stages, with mature stages (trophozoites and schizonts) being more vulnerable than immature rings. Within hours of CGX treatment, malaria parasites display distinct morphological changes, significant reduction of parasitemia (the percentage of infected red blood cells), and aberrant mitochondrial fragmentation. CGXs do not, however, target the mitochondrial electron transport chain, the target of the drug atovaquone and several preclinical candidates. CGXs are cytotoxic to human HEK293 cells at the low micromolar level, which results in a therapeutic window of around 150-fold for the lead compounds. In summary, we show that CGXs are potent antimalarial compounds with structures distinct from those of previously reported antimalarial inhibitors. Our results highlight the potential to further develop Garcinia natural product derivatives as novel antimalarial agents.

Antimalarial activity of abietane ferruginol analogues possessing a phthalimide group

The abietane-type diterpenoid (+)-ferruginol, a bioactive compound isolated from New Zealand's Miro tree (Podocarpus ferruginea), displays relevant pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, cardioprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-plasmodial, leishmanicidal, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. Herein, we demonstrate that ferruginol (1) and some phthalimide containing analogues 2-12 have potential antimalarial activity. The compounds were evaluated against malaria strains 3D7 and K1, and cytotoxicity was measured against a mammalian cell line panel. A promising lead, compound 3, showed potent activity with an EC50 = 86 nM (3D7 strain), 201 nM (K1 strain) and low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells (SI>290). Some structure-activity relationships have been identified for the antimalarial activity in these abietane analogues.

Solid-phase organic synthesis of 2-tridecanyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2-tridecanyl-1,4-naphthodiol that form redox-active micelles and vesicles

The solid-phase synthesis of new amphiphilic compounds is reported. It is based on a newly designed 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative that contains polar and nonpolar groups and self-assembles into micelles or vesicles in water depending on the concentration. They also display redox-active properties.

Synthesis and activity of new triphenylphosphonium derivatives of betulin and betulinic acid against Schistosoma mansoni in vitro and in vivo

We studied the antischistosomal activity of betulin, betulinic acid and its 9 triphenylphosphonium derivatives characterized by a covalently linkage of the hydrophobic fragment of triterpenoid at C(2)- or C(30)-position with the triphenylphosphonium moiety via a hydrocarbon bridge. The triphenylphosphonium salts showed in vitro antischistosomal activity against newly transformed schistosomula (NTS) and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni at low micromolar concentrations. In contrast betulin and betulinic acid were inactive against NTS and adult S. mansoni. Of the 9 triphenylphosphonium derivatives tested, the allyl salts 10 (IC50 of 0.76 μg/mL) and 11 (IC50 of 0.64 μg/mL) demonstrated the highest antischistosomal activity against adult S. mansoni. Low worm burden reductions of 22% were observed in vivo for these two compounds. In conclusion, triphenylphosphonium derivatives were obtained from available natural betulin by simple transformations, rendering it practical and useful for large scale application. However, further structural modifications are necessary to translate the promising antischistosomal in vitro activities into in vivo.

1,4-naphthoquinone cations as antiplasmodial agents: hydroxy-, acyloxy-, and alkoxy-substituted analogues

Cations of hydroxy-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones were synthesized and evaluated as antiplasmodial agents against Plasmodium falciparum. The atovaquone analogues were found to be inactive as antagonists of parasite growth, which was attributed to ionization of the acidic hydroxyl moiety. Upon modification to an alkoxy substituent, the antiplasmodial activity was restored in the sub-100 nM range. Optimal inhibitors were found to possess IC50 values of 17.4-49.5 nM against heteroresistant P. falciparum W2.