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Torchelsen FKVDS, Mazzeti AL, Mosqueira VCF. Drugs in preclinical and early clinical development for the treatment of Chagas´s disease: the current status. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024; 33:575-590. [PMID: 38686546 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2349289] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is spreading faster than expected in different countries, and little progress has been reported in the discovery of new drugs to combat Trypanosoma cruzi infection in humans. Recent clinical trials have ended with small hope. The pathophysiology of this neglected disease and the genetic diversity of parasites are exceptionally complex. The only two drugs available to treat patients are far from being safe, and their efficacy in the chronic phase is still unsatisfactory. AREAS COVERED This review offers a comprehensive examination and critical review of data reported in the last 10 years, and it is focused on findings of clinical trials and data acquired in vivo in preclinical studies. EXPERT OPINION The in vivo investigations classically in mice and dog models are also challenging and time-consuming to attest cure for infection. Poorly standardized protocols, availability of diagnosis methods and disease progression markers, the use of different T. cruzi strains with variable benznidazole sensitivities, and animals in different acute and chronic phases of infection contribute to it. More synchronized efforts between research groups in this field are required to put in evidence new promising substances, drug combinations, repurposing strategies, and new pharmaceutical formulations to impact the therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Karoline Vieira da Silva Torchelsen
- School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Health, Academic Unit of Passos, University of Minas Gerais State, Passos, Brazil
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Elso OG, Cerny N, Laurella LC, Bivona AE, Sánchez Alberti A, Morales C, Catalán CAN, Malchiodi EL, Sülsen VP. In silico toxicologic profile and in vivo trypanocidal activity of estafietin, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Stevia alpina Griseb. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:690-695. [PMID: 36938813 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2188208] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting 6-8 million people worldwide. Only two drugs are available for its treatment, having a limited efficacy and adverse side-effects. Estafietin is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Stevia alpina with in vitro activity against T. cruzi and low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. The aim of this work was to predict the toxicologic profile of estafietin by in silico methods and assess its in vivo activity on a murine model of Chagas disease. Estafietin showed low toxicity according to pkCSM web tool and passed the PAINS filter from PAINS-remover web server. The treatment of infected mice with 1 mg/Kg/day of estafietin for five consecutive days administrated by intraperitoneal route significatively decreased parasitemia levels and reduced inflammatory infiltrates and myocyte damage on muscle tissue. These results suggest that estafietin had effect both on acute and chronic stages of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando G Elso
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 13th floor, (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura C Laurella
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Sánchez Alberti
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 13th floor, (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celina Morales
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cesar A N Catalán
- Instituto de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho 471, (T4000INI), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria P Sülsen
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Milagre MM, Torchelsen FKVDS, Pedrosa TCF, Teixeira GM, Sampaio LS, Saúde-Guimarães DA, Branquinho RT, Mosqueira VCF, Lana MD. Lychnopholide loaded in surface modified polylactide nanocapsules (LYC-PLA-PEG-NC) cure mice infected by Trypanosoma cruzi strain a prototype of resistance to benznidazole and nifurtimox: First insights of its mechanism of action. Exp Parasitol 2023; 255:108647. [PMID: 37914151 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108647] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) remains neglected and causes high morbidity and mortality. The great difficulty is the lack of effective treatment. The current drugs cause side effects and have limited therapeutic efficacy in the chronic phase. This study aims to fulfil some gaps in studies of the natural substance lychnopholide nanoencapsulated LYC-PLA-PEG-NC (LYC-NC) and free (Free-LYC): the activity in epimastigotes and amastigotes to determine its selectivity index (SI), the therapeutic efficacy in mice infected with Colombian Trypanosoma cruzi strain and insight of the mechanism of LYC-NC action on T. cruzi. The SI was obtained by calculation of the ratio between the IC50 value toward H9c2 cells divided by the IC50 value in the anti-T. cruzi test. Infected Swiss mice were treated with 2 and 12 mg/kg/day via intravenous and oral, respectively, and the therapeutic efficacy was determined. The IC50 of LYC-NC and Free-LYC for epimastigotes of T. cruzi were similar. Both were active against amastigotes in cell culture, particularly Free-LYC. The SI of LYC-NC and Free-LYC were 45.38 and 32.11, respectively. LYC-NC 2 and 12 mg/kg/day cured parasitologically, 62.5% and 80% of the animals, respectively, infected with a strain resistant to treatment. The fluorescent NC was distributed in the cardiomyocyte cytoplasm, infected or not, and interacted with the trypomastigotes. Together, these results represent advances in demonstrating LYC as a potent new therapeutic option for treating CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Marques Milagre
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gabriel Marques Teixeira
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Larissa Silva Sampaio
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Dênia Antunes Saúde-Guimarães
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Renata Tupinambá Branquinho
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carla Furtado Mosqueira
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Marta de Lana
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Escola de Farmácia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.
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Robledo SM, Pérez-Silanes S, Fernández-Rubio C, Poveda A, Monzote L, González VM, Alonso-Collado P, Carrión J. Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Advances in the Development of Cell-Penetrating and Antimicrobial Peptides against Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease. Pathogens 2023; 12:939. [PMID: 37513786 PMCID: PMC10383258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2020, the WHO established the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, which aims to control and eradicate 20 diseases, including leishmaniosis and Chagas disease. In addition, since 2015, the WHO has been developing a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this context, the achievement of innovative strategies as an alternative to replace conventional therapies is a first-order socio-sanitary priority, especially regarding endemic zoonoses in poor regions, such as those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections. In this scenario, it is worth highlighting a group of natural peptide molecules (AMPs and CPPs) that are promising strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy against these neglected zoonoses, as they avoid the development of toxicity and resistance of conventional treatments. This review presents the novelties of these peptide molecules and their ability to cross a whole system of cell membranes as well as stimulate host immune defenses or even serve as vectors of molecules. The efforts of the biotechnological sector will make it possible to overcome the limitations of antimicrobial peptides through encapsulation and functionalization methods to obtain approval for these treatments to be used in clinical programs for the eradication of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Robledo
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Rubio
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Poveda
- DNA Replication and Genome Instability Unit, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública (GIBCIZ), Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Lianet Monzote
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Apartado Postal No. 601, Marianao 13, La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Víctor M González
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo Km. 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Alonso-Collado
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Carrión
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Durão R, Ramalhete C, Madureira AM, Mendes E, Duarte N. Plant Terpenoids as Hit Compounds against Trypanosomiasis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030340. [PMID: 35337138 PMCID: PMC8951850 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) are vector-borne neglected tropical diseases, caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. These diseases were circumscribed to South American and African countries in the past. However, human migration, military interventions, and climate changes have had an important effect on their worldwide propagation, particularly Chagas disease. Currently, the treatment of trypanosomiasis is not ideal, becoming a challenge in poor populations with limited resources. Exploring natural products from higher plants remains a valuable approach to find new hits and enlarge the pipeline of new drugs against protozoal human infections. This review covers the recent studies (2016–2021) on plant terpenoids, and their semi-synthetic derivatives, which have shown promising in vitro and in vivo activities against Trypanosoma parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Durão
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.Ulisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.D.); (C.R.); (A.M.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Cátia Ramalhete
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.Ulisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.D.); (C.R.); (A.M.M.); (E.M.)
- ATLANTICA—Instituto Universitário, Fábrica da Pólvora de Barcarena, 2730-036 Barcarena, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Madureira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.Ulisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.D.); (C.R.); (A.M.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Eduarda Mendes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.Ulisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.D.); (C.R.); (A.M.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Noélia Duarte
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.Ulisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.D.); (C.R.); (A.M.M.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Sánchez Alberti A, Beer MF, Cerny N, Bivona AE, Fabian L, Morales C, Moglioni A, Malchiodi EL, Donadel OJ, Sülsen VP. In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Studies of Cumanin Diacetate as a Potential Drug against Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:968-978. [PMID: 35036760 PMCID: PMC8757452 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The sesquiterpene lactones cumanin, helenalin, and hymenin and their semisynthetic derivatives were evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated on murine splenocytes. Cumanin diacetate was one of the most active and selective compounds [IC50 = 3.20 ± 0.52 μg/mL, selectivity index (SI) = 26.0]. This sesquiterpene lactone was selected for its evaluation on trypomastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite. The diacetylated derivative of cumanin showed moderate activity on trypomastigotes (IC50 = 32.4 ± 5.8 μg/mL). However, this compound was able to efficiently inhibit parasite replication with an IC50 value of 2.2 ± 0.05 μg/mL against the amastigote forms. Cumanin diacetate showed selectivity against the intracellular forms of Trypanosoma cruzi with an SI value of 52.7. This cumanin analogue was also active on an in vivo model of Chagas disease, leading to a reduction in the parasitemia levels in comparison with nontreated animals. Histopathological analysis of skeletal muscular tissues from treated mice showed only focal interstitial lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates with slight myocyte necrosis; in contrast, nontreated animals showed severe lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates with necrosis of the myocytes. A molecular docking study of cumanin and its derivatives on trypanothione reductase from T. cruzi (TcTR) was performed. The results of ΔG docking achieved let the identification of diacetylated and O-alkylated derivatives of cumanin as good inhibitors of TcTR. Cumanin diacetate could be considered a potential candidate for further studies for the development of new therapies against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Sánchez Alberti
- Instituto
de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155. Piso 13, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra
de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María F. Beer
- Facultad
de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Instituto de Investigaciones
en Tecnología Química (INTEQUI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Área de Química
Orgánica, Almirante
Brown 1445, CP D5700HGC San Luis, Argentina
- Instituto
de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Instituto
de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155. Piso 13, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Augusto E. Bivona
- Cátedra
de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Fabian
- Instituto
de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celina Morales
- Facultad
de Medicina, Departamento de Patología, Instituto de Fisiopatología
Cardiovascular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina
| | - Albertina Moglioni
- Instituto
de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilio L. Malchiodi
- Instituto
de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155. Piso 13, 1121 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra
de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 4°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Osvaldo J. Donadel
- Facultad
de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Instituto de Investigaciones
en Tecnología Química (INTEQUI-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Área de Química
Orgánica, Almirante
Brown 1445, CP D5700HGC San Luis, Argentina
| | - Valeria P. Sülsen
- Instituto
de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra
de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956 2°P, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
- . Tel: 54-11-5287-4286. Fax: 54-11-4508-3642
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Mazzeti AL, Capelari-Oliveira P, Bahia MT, Mosqueira VCF. Review on Experimental Treatment Strategies Against Trypanosoma cruzi. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:409-432. [PMID: 33833592 PMCID: PMC8020333 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s267378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Currently, only nitroheterocyclic nifurtimox (NFX) and benznidazole (BNZ) are available for the treatment of Chagas disease, with limitations such as variable efficacy, long treatment regimens and toxicity. Different strategies have been used to discover new active molecules for the treatment of Chagas disease. Target-based and phenotypic screening led to thousands of compounds with anti-T. cruzi activity, notably the nitroheterocyclic compounds, fexinidazole and its metabolites. In addition, drug repurposing, drug combinations, re-dosing regimens and the development of new formulations have been evaluated. The CYP51 antifungal azoles, as posaconazole, ravuconazole and its prodrug fosravuconazole presented promising results in experimental Chagas disease. Drug combinations of nitroheterocyclic and azoles were able to induce cure in murine infection. New treatment schemes using BNZ showed efficacy in the experimental chronic stage, including against dormant forms of T. cruzi. And finally, sesquiterpene lactone formulated in nanocarriers displayed outstanding efficacy against different strains of T. cruzi, susceptible or resistant to BNZ, the reference drug. These pre-clinical results are encouraging and provide interesting evidence to improve the treatment of patients with Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Galênico e Nanotecnologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil.,Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Patricia Capelari-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Galênico e Nanotecnologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Terezinha Bahia
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carla Furtado Mosqueira
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Galênico e Nanotecnologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
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Sesquiterpene Lactones and Diterpenes: Promising Therapeutic Candidates for Infectious Diseases, Neoplasms and Other Chronic Disorders. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26051251. [PMID: 33652593 PMCID: PMC7956199 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
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9
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Torchelsen FKVDS, Silva TM, Milagre MM, Silva RR, Reis LES, Branquinho RT, Silva GN, de Lana M. Evaluation of the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity in vitro and in vivo of silibinin and silibinin in association to benznidazole. Parasitol Res 2020; 120:1511-1517. [PMID: 33236174 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06944-5] [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: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is endemic in Latin America. Drugs available for its treatment are benznidazole (BZ)/nifurtimox (NF), both with low efficacy in the late infection and responsible for several side effects. Studies of new drugs for CD among natural products, and using drug combinations with BZ/NF are recommended. Silibinin (SLB) is a natural compound that inhibits the efflux pump (Pgp) of drugs in host cell membranes, causes death of trypanosomatids, has anti-inflammatory activity, and was never assayed against T. cruzi. Here, in vitro and in vivo activities of SLB, SLB+BZ, and BZ against T. cruzi Y strain were evaluated. Cytotoxicity of SLB in VERO cells by the MTT method revealed IC50 of 250.22 μM. The trypanocidal activity evaluated by resazurin method in epimastigotes showed that SLB 25 μM inhibited parasite growth. SLB IC50 and selectivity index (SI) for amastigote were 79.81 μM and 3.13, respectively. SLB100+BZ10 showed higher parasite inhibition (91.44%) than SLB or BZ. Swiss mice infected with Y strain were treated with SLB, SLB+BZ, and BZ. Parasitemia was evaluated daily and 90, 180, and 240 days after treatment in surviving animals by hemoculture, blood qPCR, and after euthanasia, by qPCR in heart tissue. SLB monotherapy was not able to control the parasitemia/mortality of the animals. Parasitological negativation of 85.7-100% was observed in the experimental groups treated with SLB+BZ. Although SLB had shown activity against T. cruzi in vitro, it was not active in mice. Thus, the results of the therapeutic effect observed with SLB+BZ may be interpreted as a result from BZ action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Karoline Vieira da Silva Torchelsen
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Thaila Martins Silva
- Departamento de Analises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Matheus Marques Milagre
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rodrigues Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Levi Eduardo Soares Reis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Renata Tupinambá Branquinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Farmácia, Escola de Farmácia, UFOP, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Glenda Nicioli Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil.,Departamento de Analises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Marta de Lana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (CiPHARMA), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brazil. .,Departamento de Analises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, Brazil.
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Zeouk I, Sifaoui I, López-Arencibia A, Reyes-Batlle M, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, Bazzocchi IL, Bekhti K, Lorenzo-Morales J, Jiménez IA, Piñero JE. Sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids from Inula viscosa induce programmed cell death in kinetoplastids. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 130:110518. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Trypanocidal Activity of Four Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Asteraceae Species. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25092014. [PMID: 32344932 PMCID: PMC7248990 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25092014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The sesquiterpene lactones eupatoriopicrin, estafietin, eupahakonenin B and minimolide have been isolated from Argentinean Astearaceae species and have been found to be active against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of these compounds by analyzing their effect against the stages of the parasites that are infective for the human. Even more interesting, we aimed to determine the effect of the most active and selective compound on an in vivo model of T. cruzi infection. Eupatoriopicrin was the most active against amastigotes and tripomastigotes (IC50 = 2.3 µg/mL, and 7.2 µg/mL, respectively) and displayed a high selectivity index. This compound was selected to study on an in vivo model of T. cruzi infection. The administration of 1 mg/kg/day of eupatoriopicrin for five consecutive days to infected mice produced a significant reduction in the parasitaemia levels in comparison with non-treated animals (area under parasitaemia curves 4.48 vs. 30.47, respectively). Skeletal muscular tissues from eupatopicrin-treated mice displayed only focal and interstitial lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates and small areas of necrotic; by contrast, skeletal tissues from T. cruzi infected mice treated with the vehicle showed severe lymphocyte inflammatory infiltrates with necrosis of the adjacent myocytes. The results indicate that eupatoriopicrin could be considered a promising candidate for the development of new therapeutic agents for Chagas disease.
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