1
|
Ramos LG, de Souza KR, Barbosa JMC, Salomão K, Sales Junior PA, Rêgo Alves Pereira V, Murta SMF, Ferreira RS, Bernardes TCD, Wardell SMSV, Wardell JL, Boechat N, Carvalho SA. Synthesis and activity of benzimidazole N-Acylhydrazones against Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infantum. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024:129876. [PMID: 38964519 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129876] [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: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we present the design, synthesis, and cytotoxic evaluation of a series of benzimidazole N-acylhydrazones against strains of T. cruzi (Y and Tulahuen) and Leishmania species (L. amazonensis and L. infantum). Compound (E)-N'-((5-Nitrofuran-2-yl)methylene)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbohydrazide demonstrated significant activity against both trypomastigote and amastigote forms (Tulahuen strain), with an IC50/120 h of 0.033 μM and a selectivity index (SI) of 7680. This represents a potency 46 times greater than that of benznidazole (IC50/120 h = 1.520 μM, SI = 1390). Another compound (E)-N'-(2-Hydroxybenzylidene)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbohydrazide showed promising activity against both trypomastigote and amastigote forms (Tulahuen strain), with an IC50/120 h of 3.600 μM and an SI of 14.70. However, its efficacy against L. infantum and L. amazonensis was comparatively lower. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of more effective treatments against Trypanosoma cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laís G Ramos
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos-LASFAR, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos - Farmanguinhos - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 21041-250 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Físico-Química de Materiais, Seção de Engenharia Química, Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Praça General Tibúrcio 80, 22290-270 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kátia R de Souza
- Laboratório de Físico-Química de Materiais, Seção de Engenharia Química, Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Praça General Tibúrcio 80, 22290-270 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana M C Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Kelly Salomão
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Policarpo A Sales Junior
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhaes, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Valéria Rêgo Alves Pereira
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhaes, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Silvane M F Murta
- Grupo Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S Ferreira
- Laboratório de modelagem molecular e planejamento de fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Talita C D Bernardes
- Laboratório de modelagem molecular e planejamento de fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | | | - James L Wardell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland
| | - Nubia Boechat
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos-LASFAR, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos - Farmanguinhos - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 21041-250 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Samir A Carvalho
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos-LASFAR, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos - Farmanguinhos - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 21041-250 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Francesconi V, Rizzo M, Schenone S, Carbone A, Tonelli M. State-of-the-art Review on the Antiparasitic Activity of Benzimidazolebased Derivatives: Facing Malaria, Leishmaniasis, and Trypanosomiasis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1955-1982. [PMID: 37718524 PMCID: PMC11071657 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230915093928] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites represent a significant risk for public health worldwide, afflicting particularly people in more vulnerable categories and cause large morbidity and heavy economic impact. Traditional drugs are limited by their toxicity, low efficacy, route of administration, and cost, reflecting their low priority in global health management. Moreover, the drug resistance phenomenon threatens the positive therapy outcome. This scenario claims the need of addressing more adequate therapies. Among the diverse strategies implemented, the medicinal chemistry efforts have also focused their attention on the benzimidazole nucleus as a promising pharmacophore for the generation of new drug candidates. Hence, the present review provides a global insight into recent progress in benzimidazole-based derivatives drug discovery against important protozoan diseases, such as malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. The more relevant chemical features and structure-activity relationship studies of these molecules are discussed for the purpose of paving the way towards the development of more viable drugs for the treatment of these parasitic infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Francesconi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Marco Rizzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Silvia Schenone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Anna Carbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Racané L, Ptiček L, Kostrun S, Raić-Malić S, Taylor MC, Delves M, Alsford S, Olmo F, Francisco AF, Kelly JM. Bis-6-amidino-benzothiazole Derivative that Cures Experimental Stage 1 African Trypanosomiasis with a Single Dose. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13043-13057. [PMID: 37722077 PMCID: PMC10544003 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
We designed and synthesized a series of symmetric bis-6-amidino-benzothiazole derivatives with aliphatic central units and evaluated their efficacy against bloodstream forms of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei. Of these, a dicationic benzothiazole compound (9a) exhibited sub-nanomolar in vitro potency with remarkable selectivity over mammalian cells (>26,000-fold). Unsubstituted 5-amidine groups and a cyclohexyl spacer were the crucial determinants of trypanocidal activity. In all cases, mice treated with a single dose of 20 mg kg-1 were cured of stage 1 trypanosomiasis. The compound displayed a favorable in vitro ADME profile, with the exception of low membrane permeability. However, we found evidence that uptake by T. brucei is mediated by endocytosis, a process that results in lysosomal sequestration. The compound was also active in low nanomolar concentrations against cultured asexual forms of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Therefore, 9a has exquisite cross-species efficacy and represents a lead compound with considerable therapeutic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livio Racané
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 28a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lucija Ptiček
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb, Prilaz baruna Filipovića 28a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Sanja Kostrun
- Chemistry
Department, Selvita Ltd., Prilaz baruna Filipovića 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Silvana Raić-Malić
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 20, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Martin Craig Taylor
- Department
of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, U.K.
| | - Michael Delves
- Department
of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, U.K.
| | - Sam Alsford
- Department
of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, U.K.
| | - Francisco Olmo
- Department
of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, U.K.
| | - Amanda Fortes Francisco
- Department
of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, U.K.
| | - John M. Kelly
- Department
of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, U.K.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
de Oliveira Rezende Júnior C, Martinez PDG, Ferreira RAA, Koovits PJ, Miranda Soares B, Ferreira LLG, Michelan-Duarte S, Chelucci RC, Andricopulo AD, Matheeussen A, Van Pelt N, Caljon G, Maes L, Campbell S, Kratz JM, Mowbray CE, Dias LC. Hit-to-lead optimization of a 2-aminobenzimidazole series as new candidates for chagas disease. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 246:114925. [PMID: 36459758 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114925] [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: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Because current treatments present several limitations, including long duration, variable efficacy and serious side effects, there is an urgent need to explore new antitrypanosomal drugs. The present study describes the hit-to-lead optimization of a 2-aminobenzimidazole hit 1 identified through in vitro phenotypic screening of a chemical library against intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes, which focused on optimizing potency, selectivity, microsomal stability and lipophilicity. Multiparametric Structure-Activity Relationships were investigated using a set of 277 derivatives. Although the physicochemical and biological properties of the initial hits were improved, a combination of low kinetic solubility and in vitro cytotoxicity against mammalian cells prevented progression of the best compounds to an efficacy study using a mouse model of Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paul John Koovits
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-861, Brazil
| | - Bruna Miranda Soares
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-861, Brazil
| | - Leonardo L G Ferreira
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Simone Michelan-Duarte
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafael Consolin Chelucci
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Adriano D Andricopulo
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - An Matheeussen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Natascha Van Pelt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Simon Campbell
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 15 Chemin Camille-Vidart, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jadel M Kratz
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 15 Chemin Camille-Vidart, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Charles E Mowbray
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), 15 Chemin Camille-Vidart, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luiz Carlos Dias
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, 13083-861, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Simonetti SO, Kaufman TS, Larghi EL. Conjugation of Carbohydrates with Quinolines: A Powerful Synthetic Tool. European J Org Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.202200107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián O. Simonetti
- Instituto de Química Rosario: Instituto de Quimica Rosario Química Orgánica Suipacha 531 S2002LRK Rosario ARGENTINA
| | - Teodoro S. Kaufman
- Instituto de Química Rosario: Instituto de Quimica Rosario Química Orgánica Suipacha 531 S2002LRK Rosario ARGENTINA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ferreira RAA, Junior CDOR, Martinez PDG, Koovits PJ, Soares BM, Ferreira LLG, Michelan-Duarte S, Chelucci RC, Andricopulo AD, Galuppo MK, Uliana SRB, Matheeussen A, Caljon G, Maes L, Campbell S, Kratz JM, Mowbray CE, Dias LC. 2-aminobenzimidazoles for leishmaniasis: From initial hit discovery to in vivo profiling. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009196. [PMID: 33617566 PMCID: PMC7932521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a major infectious disease with hundreds of thousands of new cases and over 20,000 deaths each year. The current drugs to treat this life-threatening infection have several drawbacks such as toxicity and long treatment regimens. A library of 1.8 million compounds, from which the hits reported here are publicly available, was screened against Leishmania infantum as part of an optimization program; a compound was found with a 2-aminobenzimidazole functionality presenting moderate potency, low metabolic stability and high lipophilicity. Several rounds of synthesis were performed to incorporate chemical groups capable of reducing lipophilicity and clearance, leading to the identification of compounds that are active against different parasite strains and have improved in vitro properties. As a result of this optimization program, a group of compounds was further tested in anticipation of in vivo evaluation. In vivo tests were carried out with compounds 29 (L. infantum IC50: 4.1 μM) and 39 (L. infantum IC50: 0.5 μM) in an acute L. infantum VL mouse model, which showed problems of poor exposure and lack of efficacy, despite the good in vitro potency. Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting millions of people worldwide and, in the case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is potentially fatal if untreated. Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania spp. are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, which has different clinical manifestations, including the visceral form and a cutaneous form that causes disfiguring skin lesions. The current treatment options are limited either by the length of treatment or toxic side effects. Starting from a promising hit in an in vitro phenotypic screen, hundreds of analogues were synthesized with the aim of finding a molecule capable of killing the parasite whilst causing little or no harm to the patient. The program led to several active compounds with good in vitro activity against L. infantum intracellular amastigotes, however, in vivo data showed low parasiticidal efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paul John Koovits
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas-SP, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo L. G. Ferreira
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Simone Michelan-Duarte
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael Consolin Chelucci
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano D. Andricopulo
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana K. Galuppo
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia R. B. Uliana
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - An Matheeussen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Simon Campbell
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jadel M. Kratz
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Luiz Carlos Dias
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas-SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|