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Silva JV, Santos SDS, Machini MT, Giarolla J. Neglected tropical diseases and infectious illnesses: potential targeted peptides employed as hits compounds in drug design. J Drug Target 2020; 29:269-283. [PMID: 33059502 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2020.1837843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and infectious illnesses, such as malaria, tuberculosis and Zika fever, represent a major public health concern in many countries and regions worldwide, especially in developing ones. They cause thousands of deaths per year, and certainly compromise the life of affected patients. The drugs available for therapy are toxic, have considerable adverse effects, and are obsolete, especially with respect to resistance. In this context, targeted peptides are considered promising in the design of new drugs, since they have specific action and reduced toxicity. Indeed, there is a rising interest in these targeted compounds within the pharmaceutical industry, proving their importance to the Pharmaceutical Sciences field. Many have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as medicines, plus there are more than 300 peptides currently in clinical trials. The main purpose of this review is to show the most promising potential targeted peptides acting as hits molecules in NTDs and other infectious illnesses. We hope to contribute to the discovery of medicines in this relatively neglected area, which will be extremely useful in improving the health of many suffering people.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Vitor Silva
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Soraya da Silva Santos
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M Teresa Machini
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jeanine Giarolla
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Walsh ME, Naudzius EM, Diaz SJ, Wismar TW, Martchenko Shilman M, Schulz D. Identification of clinically approved small molecules that inhibit growth and affect transcript levels of developmentally regulated genes in the African trypanosome. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007790. [PMID: 32168320 PMCID: PMC7094864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei are unicellular parasites endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa that cause fatal disease in humans and animals. Infection with these parasites is caused by the bite of the tsetse fly vector, and parasites living extracellularly in the blood of infected animals evade the host immune system through antigenic variation. Existing drugs for Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis are difficult to administer and can have serious side effects. Resistance to some drugs is also increasing, creating an urgent need for alternative trypanosomiasis therapeutics. We screened a library of 1,585 U.S. or foreign-approved drugs and identified 154 compounds that inhibit trypanosome growth. As all of these compounds have already undergone testing for human toxicity, they represent good candidates for repurposing as trypanosome therapeutics. In addition to identifying drugs that inhibit trypanosome growth, we wished to identify small molecules that can induce bloodstream form parasites to differentiate into forms adapted for the insect vector. These insect stage parasites lack the immune evasion mechanisms prevalent in bloodstream forms, making them vulnerable to the host immune system. To identify drugs that increase transcript levels of an invariant, insect-stage specific surface protein called procyclin, we engineered bloodstream reporter parasites that express Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) following induction or stabilization of the procyclin transcript. Using these bloodstream reporter strains in combination with automated flow cytometry, we identified eflornithine, spironolactone, and phenothiazine as small molecules that increase abundance of procyclin transcript. Both eflornithine and spironolactone also affect transcript levels for a subset of differentiation associated genes. While we failed to identify compounds that increase levels of procyclin protein on the cell surface, this study is proof of principle that these fluorescent reporter parasites represent a useful tool for future small molecule or genetic screens aimed at identifying molecules or processes that initiate remodeling of the parasite surface during life cycle stage transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Elle Walsh
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, United States of America
| | - Eleanor Mary Naudzius
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, United States of America
| | - Savanah Jessica Diaz
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, United States of America
| | | | - Mikhail Martchenko Shilman
- School of Applied Life Sciences, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, California, United States of America
| | - Danae Schulz
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, United States of America
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3
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Vale N, Ferreira A, Matos J, Fresco P, Gouveia MJ. Amino Acids in the Development of Prodrugs. Molecules 2018; 23:E2318. [PMID: 30208629 PMCID: PMC6225300 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23092318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although drugs currently used for the various types of diseases (e.g., antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial, etc.) are effective, they present several undesirable pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties. Most of the drugs have low bioavailability, lack of sensitivity, and do not target only the damaged cells, thus also affecting normal cells. Moreover, there is the risk of developing resistance against drugs upon chronic treatment. Consequently, their potential clinical applications might be limited and therefore, it is mandatory to find strategies that improve those properties of therapeutic agents. The development of prodrugs using amino acids as moieties has resulted in improvements in several properties, namely increased bioavailability, decreased toxicity of the parent drug, accurate delivery to target tissues or organs, and prevention of fast metabolism. Herein, we provide an overview of models currently in use of prodrug design with amino acids. Furthermore, we review the challenges related to the permeability of poorly absorbed drugs and transport and deliver on target organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Vale
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Abigail Ferreira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
- LAQV&REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Joana Matos
- SpiroChem AG, Rosental Area, WRO-1074-3, Mattenstrasse 24, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Paula Fresco
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Gouveia
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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Azad CS, Saxena M, Siddiqui AJ, Bhardwaj J, Puri SK, Dutta GP, Anand N, Saxena AK. Synthesis of primaquine glyco-conjugates as potential tissue schizontocidal antimalarial agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2017; 90:254-261. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chandra S. Azad
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
| | - Mridula Saxena
- Department of Chemistry; Amity University (Lucknow Campus); Lucknow UP India
| | - Arif J. Siddiqui
- Division of Parasitology; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
| | - Jyoti Bhardwaj
- Division of Parasitology; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
| | - Sunil K. Puri
- Division of Parasitology; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
| | - Guru P. Dutta
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
| | - Nitya Anand
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
| | - Anil K. Saxena
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry; CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute; Lucknow UP India
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5
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Davanço MG, Aguiar ACC, dos Santos LA, Padilha EC, Campos ML, de Andrade CR, da Fonseca LM, dos Santos JL, Chin CM, Krettli AU, Peccinini RG. Evaluation of antimalarial activity and toxicity of a new primaquine prodrug. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105217. [PMID: 25133630 PMCID: PMC4136845 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent of the five species causing malaria in humans. The current available treatment for P. vivax malaria is limited and unsatisfactory due to at least two drawbacks: the undesirable side effects of primaquine (PQ) and drug resistance to chloroquine. Phenylalanine-alanine-PQ (Phe-Ala-PQ) is a PQ prodrug with a more favorable pharmacokinetic profile compared to PQ. The toxicity of this prodrug was evaluated in in vitro assays using a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2), a monkey kidney cell line (BGM), and human red blood cells deficient in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD). In addition, in vivo toxicity assays were performed with rats that received multiple doses of Phe-Ala-PQ to evaluate biochemical, hematological, and histopathological parameters. The activity was assessed by the inhibition of the sporogonic cycle using a chicken malaria parasite. Phe-Ala-PQ blocked malaria transmission in Aedes mosquitoes. When compared with PQ, it was less cytotoxic to BGM and HepG2 cells and caused less hemolysis of G6PD-deficient red blood cells at similar concentrations. The prodrug caused less alteration in the biochemical parameters than did PQ. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidney did show differences between the control and Phe-Ala-PQ-treated groups, but they were not statistically significant. Taken together, the results highlight the prodrug as a novel lead compound candidate for the treatment of P. vivax malaria and as a blocker of malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Gomes Davanço
- Departamento de Princípios Ativos Naturais e Toxicologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Leandro Alves dos Santos
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elias Carvalho Padilha
- Departamento de Princípios Ativos Naturais e Toxicologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michel Leandro Campos
- Departamento de Princípios Ativos Naturais e Toxicologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cleverton Roberto de Andrade
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Marcos da Fonseca
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jean Leandro dos Santos
- Laboratório de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos – Lapdesf, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Chung Man Chin
- Laboratório de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos – Lapdesf, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Rosangela Gonçalves Peccinini
- Departamento de Princípios Ativos Naturais e Toxicologia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Planer JD, Hulverson MA, Arif JA, Ranade RM, Don R, Buckner FS. Synergy testing of FDA-approved drugs identifies potent drug combinations against Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2977. [PMID: 25033456 PMCID: PMC4102417 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An estimated 8 million persons, mainly in Latin America, are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Existing antiparasitic drugs for Chagas disease have significant toxicities and suboptimal effectiveness, hence new therapeutic strategies need to be devised to address this neglected tropical disease. Due to the high research and development costs of bringing new chemical entities to the clinic, we and others have investigated the strategy of repurposing existing drugs for Chagas disease. Screens of FDA-approved drugs (described in this paper) have revealed a variety of chemical classes that have growth inhibitory activity against mammalian stage Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. Aside from azole antifungal drugs that have low or sub-nanomolar activity, most of the active compounds revealed in these screens have effective concentrations causing 50% inhibition (EC50's) in the low micromolar or high nanomolar range. For example, we have identified an antihistamine (clemastine, EC50 of 0.4 µM), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine, EC50 of 4.4 µM), and an antifolate drug (pyrimethamine, EC50 of 3.8 µM) and others. When tested alone in the murine model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, most compounds had insufficient efficacy to lower parasitemia thus we investigated using combinations of compounds for additive or synergistic activity. Twenty-four active compounds were screened in vitro in all possible combinations. Follow up isobologram studies showed at least 8 drug pairs to have synergistic activity on T. cruzi growth. The combination of the calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, plus the antifungal drug, posaconazole, was found to be more effective at lowering parasitemia in mice than either drug alone, as was the combination of clemastine and posaconazole. Using combinations of FDA-approved drugs is a promising strategy for developing new treatments for Chagas disease. Chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi causes progressive damage to the heart and other organs that is fatal in about 30% of cases. Known as Chagas disease, this is a major public health problem in Latin America. The existing medicines were developed over forty years ago and are not widely used because of toxicity and unreliable effectiveness. To discover better treatments, we screened a collection of existing drugs for growth inhibitory activity on Trypanosoma cruzi. Several dozen orally administered drugs were discovered, but when used by themselves they were not strong enough to cure the infection in an animal model. We tested a set of 24 of these drugs in every two-way combination and identified eight synergistic partners. At least two of these combinations were able to substantially lower parasite levels in the mouse model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Thus, finding pairs of FDA-approved drugs that can be used in combination may be a pragmatic and effective strategy for designing new therapies for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Planer
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Matthew A. Hulverson
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jennifer A. Arif
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ranae M. Ranade
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Robert Don
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frederick S. Buckner
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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7
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Serafim EOP, Silva ATDAE, Moreno ADH, Vizioli EDO, Ferreira EI, Peccinini RG, Ribeiro ML, Chung MC. Pharmacokinetics of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone, a promising new prodrug for Chagas' disease treatment. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:6106-9. [PMID: 24080661 PMCID: PMC3837917 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02522-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH) is a trypanocidal prodrug of nitrofurazone (NF), devoid of mutagenic toxicity. The purpose of this work was to study the chemical conversion of NFOH into NF in sodium acetate buffer (pH 1.2 and 7.4) and in human plasma and to determine preclinical pharmacokinetic parameters in rats. At pH 1.2, the NFOH was totally transformed into NF, the parent drug, after 48 h, while at pH 7.4, after the same period, the hydrolysis rate was 20%. In human plasma, 50% of NFOH was hydrolyzed after 24 h. In the investigation of kinetic disposition, the concentration of drug in serum versus time curve was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters after a single-dose regimen. NFOH showed a time to maximum concentration of drug in serum (Tmax) as 1 h, suggesting faster absorption than NF (4 h). The most important results observed were the volume of distribution (V) of NFOH through the tissues, which showed a rate that is 20-fold higher (337.5 liters/kg of body weight) than that of NF (17.64 liters/kg), and the concentration of NF obtained by in vivo metabolism of NFOH, which was about four times lower (maximum concentration of drug in serum [Cmax] = 0.83 μg/ml; area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h [AUC0-12] = 5.683 μg/ml · h) than observed for administered NF (Cmax = 2.78 μg/ml; AUC0-12 = 54.49 μg/ml · h). These findings can explain the superior activity and lower toxicity of the prodrug NFOH in relation to its parent drug and confirm NFOH as a promising anti-Chagas' disease drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Ometto Pavan Serafim
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemical Institute, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Andréia de Haro Moreno
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Ednir de Oliveira Vizioli
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosângela Gonçalves Peccinini
- Department of Natural Drugs and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Lucia Ribeiro
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemical Institute, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Man Chin Chung
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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8
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Verardo G, Gorassini A. α-N
-Protected dipeptide acids: a simple and efficient synthesis via the easily accessible mixed anhydride method using free amino acids in DMSO and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide. J Pept Sci 2013; 19:315-24. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.2503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2012] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Verardo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Fisica e Ambiente; Università di Udine; Via del Cotonificio 108 I-33100 Udine Italy
| | - A. Gorassini
- Dipartimento di Storia e Tutela dei Beni Culturali; Università di Udine; Palazzo Caiselli, Vicolo Florio 2 I-33100 Udine Italy
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9
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Davanço MG, Campos ML, Nogueira MA, Campos SL, Marques RV, dos Santos JL, Chin CM, da Fonseca LM, Peccinini RG. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a primaquine prodrug without red blood cell membrane destabilization property. Biopharm Drug Dispos 2012; 33:437-45. [PMID: 22899089 DOI: 10.1002/bdd.1807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Primaquine is an important therapeutic resource for malaria treatment and it has wide activity against several pathogens. The haematotoxicity of primaquine is the major problem for its therapeutic application. This effect is aggravated by repeated use at high doses and by the wide fluctuation of plasma levels after administration. The primaquine prodrug (Phe-Ala-PQ) was planned in order to modify the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of primaquine. The in vitro conversion of Phe-Ala-PQ to primaquine, and the primaquine pharmacokinetics were evaluated in four groups of rats: two groups that received a single dose of Phe-Ala-PQ, one by intravenous and the other by gavage route, and two other groups that received primaquine diphosphate, by intravenous and gavage routes. In addition, the erythrocyte osmotic fragility was compared in two groups of rats that received multiple doses of primaquine diphosphate or Phe-Ala-PQ, as a parameter of haematotoxicity. The in vitro conversion of Phe-Ala-PQ to primaquine by plasma enzyme action was observed. The pharmacokinetic profile of primaquine from Phe-Ala-PQ was more favourable due to the lower fluctuation of plasma concentrations. Haematotoxicity was not evidenced in the prodrug administration. The results reinforce the need for further studies with this prodrug, promising an alternative in the therapeutic use of primaquine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Gomes Davanço
- Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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10
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Kaur K, Jain M, Khan SI, Jacob MR, Tekwani BL, Singh S, Singh PP, Jain R. Extended side chain analogues of 8-aminoquinolines: Synthesis and evaluation of antiprotozoal, antimicrobial, β-hematin inhibition, and cytotoxic activities. MEDCHEMCOMM 2011. [DOI: 10.1039/c0md00267d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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11
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Parise Filho R, Polli MC, Barberato Filho S, Garcia M, Ferreira EI. Prodrugs available on the Brazilian pharmaceutical market and their corresponding bioactivation pathways. BRAZ J PHARM SCI 2010. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-82502010000300003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to emphasize the importance of prodrug design to therapy, by examining examples available on the Brazilian pharmaceutical market. The principles of prodrug design are briefly discussed herein. Examples of prodrugs from many important therapeutic classes are shown and their advantages relative to the drugs they are derived from are also discussed. Considering the importance of these therapeutic classes, from both therapy and economic standpoints, prodrug design is a very valuable aspect in the research of new drugs and for the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.
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Cerecetto H, González M. Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry in Chagas' Disease: Compounds at The Final Stage of "Hit-To-Lead" Phase. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2010; 3:810-838. [PMID: 27713281 PMCID: PMC4034012 DOI: 10.3390/ph3040810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2010] [Revised: 03/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease, or American trypanosomosiasis, has been the most relevant illness produced by protozoa in Latin America. Synthetic medicinal chemistry efforts have provided an extensive number of chemodiverse hits at the "active-to-hit" stage. However, only a more limited number of these have been studied in vivo in models of Chagas' disease. Herein, we survey some of the cantidates able to surpass the "hit-to-lead" stage discussing their limitations or merit to enter in clinical trials in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cerecetto
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Mercedes González
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Instituto de Química Biológica-Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
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13
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Vale N, Matos J, Moreira R, Gomes P. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry as a valuable tool in the characterization of novel primaquine peptidomimetic derivatives. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (CHICHESTER, ENGLAND) 2009; 15:627-640. [PMID: 19679943 DOI: 10.1255/ejms.1011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Novel primaquine-derived antimalarials have been extensively characterized by electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Experiments by in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the nozzle- skimmer region (NSR) or by tandem-MS are shown to be most valuable tools for the physicochemical characterization of these 8-aminoquinolinic drugs that also bear the biologically relevant imidazolidin-4-one scaffold. It was possible to find parallelism between compound stability in the NSR and its reactivity towards hydrolysis at physiological pH and T. Moreover, tandem-MS fragmentation patterns were characteristic for each family, providing a means for structural distinction of isomers and allowing to find interesting correlations between the relative abundance of particular fragments and relevant structure-activity determinants, such as Charton steric parameter, v. In conclusion, this work provides solid grounds to establish ESI-MS as a key tool for the physicochemical characterization of biopharmaceuticals bearing the 8-aminoquinoline and/or the imidazolidin-4-one moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Vale
- Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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14
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Vale N, Matos J, Moreira R, Gomes P. Amino acids as selective acylating agents: regioselective N1-acylation of imidazolidin-4-one derivatives of the antimalarial drug primaquine. Tetrahedron 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2008.09.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Vale N, Matos J, Gut J, Nogueira F, do Rosário V, Rosenthal PJ, Moreira R, Gomes P. Imidazolidin-4-one peptidomimetic derivatives of primaquine: Synthesis and antimalarial activity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2008; 18:4150-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2008.05.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2008] [Revised: 05/16/2008] [Accepted: 05/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Chung MC, Ferreira EI, Santos JL, Giarolla J, Rando DG, Almeida AE, Bosquesi PL, Menegon RF, Blau L. Prodrugs for the treatment of neglected diseases. Molecules 2007; 13:616-77. [PMID: 18463559 PMCID: PMC6245083 DOI: 10.3390/molecules13030616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2008] [Revised: 03/12/2008] [Accepted: 03/12/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicins San Frontieres (MSF) proposed a classification of diseases as global, neglected and extremely neglected. Global diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and mental (CNS) diseases represent the targets of the majority of the R&D efforts of pharmaceutical companies. Neglected diseases affect millions of people in the world yet existing drug therapy is limited and often inappropriate. Furthermore, extremely neglected diseases affect people living under miserable conditions who barely have access to the bare necessities for survival. Most of these diseases are excluded from the goals of the R&D programs in the pharmaceutical industry and therefore fall outside the pharmaceutical market. About 14 million people,mainly in developing countries, die each year from infectious diseases. From 1975 to 1999,1393 new drugs were approved yet only 1% were for the treatment of neglected diseases[3]. These numbers have not changed until now, so in those countries there is an urgent need for the design and synthesis of new drugs and in this area the prodrug approach is a very interesting field. It provides, among other effects, activity improvements and toxicity decreases for current and new drugs, improving market availability. It is worth noting that it is essential in drug design to save time and money, and prodrug approaches can be considered of high interest in this respect. The present review covers 20 years of research on the design of prodrugs for the treatment of neglected and extremely neglected diseases such as Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis), sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), malaria, sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Chin Chung
- Lapdesf - Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - UNESP Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú Km 1, 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- LAPEN – Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos Potencialmente Ativos em Endemias Tropicais, Departamento de Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas – USP/SP, R. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, B-13S, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil; E-mail:
| | - Jean Leandro Santos
- Lapdesf - Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - UNESP Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú Km 1, 14801-902, Brazil
- LAPEN – Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos Potencialmente Ativos em Endemias Tropicais, Departamento de Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas – USP/SP, R. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, B-13S, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil; E-mail:
| | - Jeanine Giarolla
- LAPEN – Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos Potencialmente Ativos em Endemias Tropicais, Departamento de Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas – USP/SP, R. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, B-13S, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil; E-mail:
| | - Daniela Gonçales Rando
- LAPEN – Laboratório de Planejamento e Síntese de Quimioterápicos Potencialmente Ativos em Endemias Tropicais, Departamento de Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas – USP/SP, R. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, B-13S, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil; E-mail:
| | - Adélia Emília Almeida
- Lapdesf - Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - UNESP Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú Km 1, 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Priscila Longhin Bosquesi
- Lapdesf - Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - UNESP Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú Km 1, 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Renato Farina Menegon
- Lapdesf - Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - UNESP Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú Km 1, 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Lorena Blau
- Lapdesf - Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - UNESP Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú Km 1, 14801-902, Brazil
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review focuses on recent developments on evaluation of 8-aminoquinoline analogs with broader efficacy and reduced toxicity, which would provide better drugs for treatment of protozoal infections. RECENT FINDINGS The earlier efforts towards development of 8-aminoquinoline analogs have been directed to extensive derivatization programs. This has led to discovery of tafenoquine for prophylaxis against malaria infections and sitamaquine with utility for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Bulaquine, a primaquine pro-drug, has shown reduced methemoglobin toxicity and better malaria-transmission-blocking activity than primaquine. Stereoselective pharmacologic and toxicologic characteristics of chiral 8-aminoquinolines provided the lead for enantiomeric separation of an 8-aminoquinoline analog NPC1161B, with greatly reduced toxicity and potent antimalarial action against blood as well as tissue stages of the parasite. NPC1161B has also shown promising use as an antileishmanial agent. Better understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity and efficacy may help in development of 8-aminoquinoline analogs with superior therapeutic actions, reduced toxicity and broader utility. SUMMARY Extensive derivatization approaches followed by better understanding of structure-activity relationships and biotransformation mechanisms of toxicity have provided 8-aminoquinoline analogs with better pharmacologic and reduced toxicologic profiles. The novel 8-aminoquinoline analogs may have broader utility in public health as future antiprotozoals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babu L Tekwani
- National Center for Natural Products Research and Department of Pharmacology, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
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La-Scalea MA, Menezes CM, Matsutami GC, Polli MC, Serrano SH, Ferreira EI. Molecular modeling of the voltammetric oxidation at a glassy carbon electrode of the antimalarial drug primaquine and its prodrugs succinylprimaquine and maleylprimaquine. Electrochim Acta 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2006.03.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Chung MC, Güido RVC, Martinelli TF, Gonçalves MF, Polli MC, Botelho KCA, Varanda EA, Colli W, Miranda MTM, Ferreira EI. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of potential antichagasic hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH-121): a new nitrofurazone prodrug. Bioorg Med Chem 2004; 11:4779-83. [PMID: 14556793 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2003.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis of mutual prodrugs of nitrofurazone with primaquine, using specific and nonspecific spacer groups, has been previously attempted seeking selective antichagasic agents. The intermediate reaction product, hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH-121), was isolated and tested in LLC-MK(2) culture cells infected with trypomastigotes forms of Trypanosoma cruzi showing higher trypanocidal activity than nitrofurazone and benznidazol in all stages. The mutagenicity tests showed that the prodrug was less toxic than the parent drug. Degradation assays were carried out in pH 1.2 and 7.4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Chin Chung
- Lapdesf- Laboratório de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP, Araraquara, Caixa Postal 502, CEP 14.801-902, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
In this "Critical Review" we made a historical introduction of drugs assayed against Chagas disease beginning in 1912 with the works of Mayer and Rocha Lima up to the experimental use of nitrofurazone. In the beginning of the 70s, nifurtimox and benznidazole were introduced for clinical treatment, but results showed a great variability and there is still a controversy about their use for chronic cases. After the introduction of these nitroheterocycles only a few compounds were assayed in chagasic patients. The great advances in vector control in the South Cone countries, and the demonstration of parasite in chronic patients indicated the urgency to discuss the etiologic treatment during this phase, reinforcing the need to find drugs with more efficacy and less toxicity. We also review potential targets in the parasite and present a survey about new classes of synthetic and natural compounds studied after 1992/1993, with which we intend to give to the reader a general view about experimental studies in the area of the chemotherapy of Chagas disease, complementing the previous papers of Brener (1979) and De Castro (1993).
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Affiliation(s)
- José Rodriques Coura
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
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La-Scalea MA, Chin CM, Cruz ML, Serrano SH, Ferreira EI. Dissociation and electrooxidation of primaquine diphosphate as an approach to the study of anti-chagas prodrugs mechanism of action. Bioelectrochemistry 2001; 53:55-9. [PMID: 11206925 DOI: 10.1016/s0302-4598(00)00093-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the voltammetric behavior of primaquine as a previous support to the further understanding of the delivery and action mechanisms of its respective synthesized prodrugs. There are few papers describing the drug behavior and most of the time no correlation between oxidation process and pH is done. Our results showed that primaquine oxidation is a one-step reaction involving two electrons with the charge transfer process being strongly pH-dependent in acid medium and pH-independent in a weak basic medium, with the neutral form being easily oxidized. This leads to the conclusion that quinoline nitrogen ring neutralization is a determinant step to the formation of the oxidized primaquine form. The existence of a relationship between the primaquine dissociation equilibrium and its electrooxidation process is shown. This work points the importance of voltammetric methodology as a tool for further studies on quantitative relationship studies between chemical structure and biological activity (QSAR) for electroactive drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A La-Scalea
- Departamento de Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
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