Synthesis of Ginkgolic Acid Analogues and Evaluation of Their Molluscicidal Activity

Molluskicidal activity of 3-aryl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones against Biomphalaria glabrata

Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent parasitic infectious disease after malaria, which affects millions of people worldwide and causes health and socioeconomic problems. The snail Biomphalaria glabrata is an intermediate host for the helminth, which is the causative agent of schistosomiasis: Schistosoma mansoni. One crucial strategy for controlling the disease is the eradication of the snail host. Niclosamide is the unique molluskicide applied in large-scale control programs, but its selectivity to other species is not adequate. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new molluskicides that are inexpensive, safe, and selective. Quinones are ubiquitous, playing important biological roles in fungi, plants, and others. Many synthetic molecules with relevant biological activities that contain the quinone nucleus in their structure are on the market in the therapy of cancer, malaria, or toxoplasmosis, for example. Derivatives of quinones are tools in the development of new molluskicides for Abbott laboratories. In the present work, 3-aryl-2‑hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (ANs) were tested for molluskicide activity against Biomphalaria glabrata. The lethal concentration was determined for 48 h of continuous exposure. The naphthoquinones were found to have molluskicide properties. AN-15 was recorded as the highest mortality. Additionally, this analog exhibited in silico reduced ambient toxicity when compared to niclosamide. The findings of this study demonstrate that 3-aryl-2‑hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones are effective for the management of Biomphalaria glabrata under laboratory conditions.

Molluscicides against the snail-intermediate host of Schistosoma: a review

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is one of the most prevalent parasitoses in the World. Certain freshwater snail species are the intermediate host in the life cycle of schistosome species. Controlling snails employing molluscicides is an effective, quick, and convenient intervention strategy to prevent the spread of Schistosoma species in endemic regions. Advances have been made in developing both synthetic molluscicides and molluscicides derived from plants. However, at present, the development of molluscicides is not adapted to the actual demand for snails and schistosoma controlling. We undertake a systematic review of exploitation and application of synthetic molluscicides and molluscicides derived from plants to combat intermediate host snails. The detailed molluscicidal activity, structure–activity relationship, structural feature, and possible mechanism of some molluscicides are also highlighted, which may afford an important reference for the design of new, more effective molluscicides with low environmental impact and realize the aim of controlling schistosome at transmission stages.

Ru(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Heck-Type Olefination of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids with Styrenes through Carboxylate-Assisted C-H Bond Activation

A straightforward synthesis of 2-styrylbenzoic acids from aryl carboxylic acids is disclosed through a carboxylate-assisted coupling under Ru(II) catalysis. This protocol is simple and exhibits broad scope with high tolerance of common organic functional groups, providing good to excellent yields of diverse olefinated products. The efficacy of this protocol has been showcased through sequential syntheses of isochromanone, isocoumarin, and formal synthesis of anacardic acid derivative in good yields.

Novel chemical synthesis of ginkgolic acid (13:0) and evaluation of its tyrosinase inhibitory activity

A novel efficient synthesis of ginkgolic acid (13:0) from abundant 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid was successfully developed through a state-of-the-art palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction and catalytic hydrogenation with an overall yield of 34% in five steps. The identity of the synthesized ginkgolic acid (13:0) was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, infrared, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The reaction sequence of this method can be readily extended to the synthesis of other ginkgolic acids. The synthesized ginkgolic acid (13:0) exhibited promising anti-tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀ = 2.8 mg/mL) that was not correlated to antioxidant activity as probed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), ferric reducing ability of plasma, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. The synthetic strategy developed in this work will significantly facilitate biological studies of ginkgolic acids that have great potential applications in food and pharmaceuticals.