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Silva RA, Damasio DS, Coelho LD, de Morais-Teixeira E, Queiroz-Junior CM, Souza PE, Azevedo RB, Tedesco A, Ferreira LA, Oliveira MC, Aguiar MG. Combination of the Topical Photodynamic Therapy of Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine Liposomes with Fexinidazole Oral Self-Emulsifying System as a New Strategy for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:509. [PMID: 38675171 PMCID: PMC11054953 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease. The treatment is restricted to drugs, such as meglumine antimoniate and amphotericin B, that exhibit toxic effects, high cost, long-term treatment, and limited efficacy. The development of new alternative therapies, including the identification of effective drugs for the topical and oral treatment of CL, is of great interest. In this sense, a combination of topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine liposomes (Lip-ClAlPc) and the oral administration of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system containing fexinidazole (SEDDS-FEX) emerges as a new strategy. The aim of the present study was to prepare, characterize, and evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy with Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX in the experimental treatment of Leishmania (Leishmania) major. Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX were prepared, and the antileishmanial efficacy study was conducted with the following groups: 1. Lip-ClAlPc (0.05 mL); 2. SEDDS-FEX (50 mg/kg/day); 3. Lip-ClAlPc (0.05 mL)+SEDDS-FEX (50 mg/kg/day) combination; 4. FEX suspension (50 mg/kg/day); and 5. control (untreated). BALB/c mice received 10 sessions of topical Lip-ClAlPc on alternate days and 20 consecutive days of SEDDS-FEX or FEX oral suspension. Therapeutical efficacy was evaluated via the parasite burden (limiting-dilution assay), lesion size (mm), healing of the lesion, and histological analyses. Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX presented physicochemical characteristics that are compatible with the administration routes used in the treatments. Lip-ClAlPc+SEDDS-FEX led to a significant reduction in the parasitic burden in the lesion and spleen when compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and the complete healing of the lesion in 43% of animals. The Lip-ClAlPc+SEDDS-FEX combination may be promising for the treatment of CL caused by L. major.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaela Ariany Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.A.S.); (D.S.D.); (L.D.C.); (L.A.F.)
| | - Danielle Soter Damasio
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.A.S.); (D.S.D.); (L.D.C.); (L.A.F.)
| | - Larissa Dutra Coelho
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.A.S.); (D.S.D.); (L.D.C.); (L.A.F.)
| | - Eliane de Morais-Teixeira
- Clinical Research and Public Policy Group on Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte 330190-002, Brazil;
| | - Celso M. Queiroz-Junior
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
| | - Paulo Eduardo Souza
- Laboratory of Software and Instrumentation in Applied Physics and Laboratory of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Institute of Physics, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil;
| | - Ricardo Bentes Azevedo
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil;
| | - Antônio Tedesco
- Department of Chemistry, Center of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering—Photobiology and Photomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, Brazil;
| | - Lucas Antônio Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.A.S.); (D.S.D.); (L.D.C.); (L.A.F.)
| | - Mônica Cristina Oliveira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.A.S.); (D.S.D.); (L.D.C.); (L.A.F.)
| | - Marta Gontijo Aguiar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.A.S.); (D.S.D.); (L.D.C.); (L.A.F.)
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Sozanschi A, Asiki H, Amaral M, de Castro Levatti EV, Tempone AG, Wheeler RJ, Anderson EA. Synthesis and Evaluation of (Bis)benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids as Antiparasitic Agents. JACS AU 2024; 4:847-854. [PMID: 38425909 PMCID: PMC10900488 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that severely impact the developing world. With current therapies suffering from poor efficacy and safety profiles as well as emerging resistance, new drug leads are direly needed. In this work, 26 alkaloids (9 natural and 17 synthetic) belonging to the benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BI) family were evaluated against both the pro/trypomastigote and amastigote forms of the parasites Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agents of these diseases. These alkaloids were synthesized via an efficient and modular enantioselective approach based on Bischler-Napieralski cyclization/Noyori asymmetric transfer hydrogenation to build the tetrahydroisoquinoline core. The bis-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BBI) alkaloids were prepared using an Ullmann coupling of two BI units to form the biaryl ether linkage, which enabled a comprehensive survey of the influence of BI stereochemistry on bioactivity. Preliminary studies into the mechanism of action against Leishmania mexicana demonstrate that these compounds interfere with the cell cycle, potentially through inhibition of kinetoplast division, which may offer opportunities to identify a new target/mechanism of action. Three of the synthesized alkaloids showed promising druglike potential, meeting the Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi) criteria for a hit against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sozanschi
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Hannah Asiki
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
- Peter
Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford , OX1 3SY, U.K.
| | - Maiara Amaral
- Laboratory
of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto
de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, 05403-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Andre G. Tempone
- Laboratory
of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Richard J. Wheeler
- Peter
Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford , OX1 3SY, U.K.
| | - Edward A. Anderson
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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Melo MGND, Reino IBDSM, Vaitkevicius-Antão V, Silva JMD, Júnior JNDS, Andrade AFD, Bezerra RP, Marques DDAV, Silva SDFFD, Araújo PSRD, Lorena VMBD, Morais RCSD, Paiva-Cavalcanti MD. Chlorella vulgaris extract and Imiquimod as new therapeutic targets for leishmaniasis: An immunological approach. Immunobiology 2024; 229:152779. [PMID: 38118344 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152779] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic regimen for the treatment of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) is targeted at the death of the parasite; therefore, it is essential to develop a treatment that can act on the parasite, combined with the modulation of the inflammatory profile. Thus, the aim of this study was to make an in vitro evaluation of the therapeutic potential of Chlorella vulgaris extract (CV) and Imiquimod for ATL. Selectivity indices (SI) were determined by inhibitory concentration assays (IC50) in L. braziliensis cells and cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) were measured in human cells using the MTT method, based on the CV microalgae extract (IC50 concentrations of 15.63 to 500 µg/mL; CC50 concentrations of 62.5-1000 µg/mL) in comparison with the reference drugs and Imiquimod. The immune response was evaluated in healthy human cells by gene expression (RT-qPCR) and cytokine production (Flow Cytometry). The CV extract (SI = 6.89) indicated promising results by showing higher SI than meglumine antimoniate (SI = 3.44) (reference drug). In all analyses, CV presented a protective profile by stimulating the production of Th1 profile cytokines to a larger extent than the reference drugs. Imiquimod showed a high expression for Tbx21, GATA3, RORc and Foxp3 genes, with increased production only of the TNF cytokine. Therefore, the data highlight the natural extract and Imiquimod as strong therapeutic or adjuvant candidates against ATL, owing to modulation of immune response profiles, low toxicity in human cells and toxic action on the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Victor Vaitkevicius-Antão
- Department of Microbiology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Fiocruz Pernambuco Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Jady Moreira da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Fiocruz Pernambuco Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - José Noé da Silva Júnior
- Research Support Center, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, UFRPE Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Raquel Pedrosa Bezerra
- Research Support Center, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, UFRPE Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Paulo Sérgio Ramos de Araújo
- Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Departament of Parasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Fiocruz Pernambuco Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Kumar VU, Kt MF, Sharma A, Bisht P, Dhingra S, Ravichandiran V, Ramesh M, Murti K. The Possible Role of Selected Vitamins and Minerals in the Therapeutic Outcomes of Leishmaniasis. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:1672-1688. [PMID: 35779182 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03311-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease declared as an endemic in areas suffering from severe malnutrition and poverty. The factors associated with poverty like low income, ecological factors, and malnutrition cause disruption in immunity and host defense increasing risk of infection. Altered resistance to infection and host susceptibility are associated with low micronutrient levels in undernourished patients. Malnutrition has been recognized as a poor predictive marker for leishmaniasis, in particular the deficiency of trace elements like zinc, iron, and vitamin A, B, C, D which has a prominent function in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity, cell proliferation, human physiology, etc. Malnourishment can exacerbate host sensitivity and pathophysiologic intensity to infection in variety of ways, whereas infection can enhance underlying poor nutrition or enhance host vulnerability and sandfly's urge to attack specific hosts. The intensity of leishmaniasis can be influenced by body mass and micronutrient availability in the blood. Vitamin D, C, zinc, and iron are proved effective in inhibiting the growth of leishmaniasis in both amastigote or promastigote forms, either directly or by acting as precursor for a pathway which inhibits the parasite growth. This article elucidates a new perception to the crucial role of micronutrients and their probable role in the therapeutic outcomes of leishmaniasis. Since there is requirement of novel drugs to fight drug resistance and relapse of leishmaniasis, this article may pave way to understand the importance of micronutrients and their role in therapeutic outcomes of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Udaya Kumar
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Muhammed Favas Kt
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)- SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Ayush Sharma
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Priya Bisht
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Sameer Dhingra
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - V Ravichandiran
- Department of Natural Products, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Kolkata, West Bengal, Kolkata, India
| | - M Ramesh
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, JSS College of Pharmacy Mysuru, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India
| | - Krishna Murti
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Hajipur, Bihar, India.
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