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Araujo SC, de Angelo RM, Barbosa H, Costa-Silva TA, Tempone AG, Lago JHG, Honorio KM. Identification of inhibitors as drug candidates against Chagas disease. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 248:115074. [PMID: 36623331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, after more than a century after its discovery, is still a major public health problem. It is estimated that approximately 10 million people worldwide are infected with T. cruzi. However, the situation is more critical in Latin America and other regions where the disease is endemic. The largest number of cases occurs in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico as more than 100 million people in these regions are located in areas with a high risk of contamination by the vector. The need for new therapeutic alternatives is urgent, as the available drugs have severe limitations such as low efficacy and high toxicity. From this scenario, in this work, we employed the virtual screening technique using cruzain and BDF2 as key biological targets for the survival of the parasite. Our objective was to identify potential inhibitors of T. cruzi trypomastigotes, which could be considered drug candidates against Chagas disease. For this, we employed different in silico methodologies and the obtained results were corroborated using in vitro biological assays. For the VS studies, a database containing synthetic compounds was simulated at the binding site of cruzain and BDF2. In addition, pharmacophoric models were constructed in the initial phases of VS, as well as other advanced analyses (molecular dynamics simulations, calculations of binding free energy, and ADME prediction) were carried out and the results allowed the selection of potential inhibitors of T. cruzi. Based on the obtained data, 32 different compounds commercially available were subjected to biological tests against the trypomastigote form of T. cruzi. As result, 11 of those compounds displayed significant activity against T. cruzi and can be considered potential candidates for the treatment of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Cruz Araujo
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil
| | | | - Henrique Barbosa
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil
| | - Thais Alves Costa-Silva
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil
| | - André Gustavo Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-902, Brazil
| | | | - Kathia Maria Honorio
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil; School of Arts, Science, and Humanities, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, 03828-000, Brazil.
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Oliveira L, Ferrarini M, dos Santos AP, Varela MT, Corrêa ITS, Tempone AG, Melhem MS, Vallim MA, Fernandes JPS, Pascon RC. Coumaric acid analogues inhibit growth and melanin biosynthesis in Cryptococcus neoformans and potentialize amphotericin B antifungal activity. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 153:105473. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Dos Santos Grecco S, Letsyo E, Tempone AG, Ghilardi Lago JH, Jerz G. Electrospray mass-spectrometry guided target isolation of neolignans from Nectandra leucantha (Lauraceae) by high performance- and spiral-coil countercurrent chromatography. J Chromatogr A 2019; 1608:460422. [PMID: 31500882 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2019.460422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Nectandra leucantha (Lauraceae) is a tree indigenous to the tropical Atlantic forests of Brazil, one of the most biodiverse flora hotspots worldwide. This plant species contains high concentrations of neolignan and dehydrodieugenol derivatives that express significant in-vitro activities against various parasite strains. These activities are however responsible for severe tropical human infections, such as Leishmaniasis (Leishmania spp.) and Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), which have been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). In order to optimize the isolation process for these target metabolites, n-hexane extract of the leaves was separated by means of semi-preparative high performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) and scale-up spiral-coil countercurrent chromatography (sp-CCC) systems. Several biphasic solvent mixtures were evaluated for their partitioning effects on neolignans, resulting in the selection of an optimized system n-hexane - ethylacetate - methanol - water (7:3:7:3, v/v/v/v). The chromatographic experiments on the HPCCC and sp-CCC were run in the head-to-tail mode with 500 mg and 16 g injections, respectively. For specific and multiple metabolite detection, the recovered CCC-fractions were off-line injected, in the sequence of recovery, to an electrospray mass-spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) device. A projection of the single ion traces of the target compounds, in the positive ionization mode at a scan range of m/z 100-1500, located chromatographic areas where the co-elution effects occurred and pure target metabolites were present. Five major target neolignans were specifically detected, which enabled the accurate pooling of CCC-fractions for an optimum recovery of the metabolites. The direct comparison of the performance characteristics of the two CCC-devices, with very different mechanical designs was achieved by the conversion of the time axis into a partition ratio (KD) separation scale. As a result, the compound specific KD-elution values of the target neolignan were determined in high precision, while the comparison of the calculated separation factor (α) and resolution factor (RS) values revealed a superior separation performance for the HPCCC system. Also, the reproducibility of detected metabolites in the two CCC experiments was confirmed by small variations (ΔKD ±0.1). Neolignan target compounds with anti-parasite activities were successfully isolated in the 100 mg to 4 g range in a single lab-scale countercurrent chromatographic process step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Dos Santos Grecco
- Anhanguera University of São Paulo, Biotechnology and Innovation in Health and Pharmacy Postgraduate Programs, 05145-200, São Paulo, Brazil; Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, 09210-580, Santo André, Brazil.
| | - Emmanuel Letsyo
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Ho Technical University, P.O Box HP 217, Ho, Ghana
| | - André Gustavo Tempone
- Center of Parasitology and Mycology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, 01246-902, Brazil
| | | | - Gerold Jerz
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
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Indy Tamayose C, Mesquita JT, Lima ML, Galuppo MK, Tempone AG, Roque N, Ferreira MJP. Anti-trypanosomal activity of flavones and chlorogenic acids from Moquiniastrum floribundum (Asteraceae). Am J Transl Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - ML Lima
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - MK Galuppo
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - AG Tempone
- Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - N Roque
- Bahia Federal University, Salvador, Brazil
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Schmidt TJ, Khalid SA, Romanha AJ, Alves TM, Biavatti MW, Brun R, Da Costa FB, de Castro SL, Ferreira VF, de Lacerda MVG, Lago JHG, Leon LL, Lopes NP, das Neves Amorim RC, Niehues M, Ogungbe IV, Pohlit AM, Scotti MT, Setzer WN, de N C Soeiro M, Steindel M, Tempone AG. The potential of secondary metabolites from plants as drugs or leads against protozoan neglected diseases - part II. Curr Med Chem 2012; 19:2176-2228. [PMID: 22414104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2011] [Revised: 01/15/2012] [Accepted: 01/16/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Infections with protozoan parasites are a major cause of disease and mortality in many tropical countries of the world. Diseases caused by species of the genera Trypanosoma (Human African Trypanosomiasis and Chagas Disease) and Leishmania (various forms of Leishmaniasis) are among the seventeen "Neglected Tropical Diseases" (NTDs) defined by the WHO. Furthermore, malaria (caused by various Plasmodium species) can be considered a neglected disease in certain countries and with regard to availability and affordability of the antimalarials. Living organisms, especially plants, provide an innumerable number of molecules with potential for the treatment of many serious diseases. The current review attempts to give an overview on the potential of such plant-derived natural products as antiprotozoal leads and/or drugs in the fight against NTDs. In part I, a general description of the diseases, the current state of therapy and need for new therapeuticals, assay methods and strategies applied in the search for new plant derived natural products against these diseases and an overview on natural products of terpenoid origin with antiprotozoal potential were given. The present part II compiles the current knowledge on natural products with antiprotozoal activity that are derived from the shikimate pathway (lignans, coumarins, caffeic acid derivatives), quinones of various structural classes, compounds formed via the polyketide pathways (flavonoids and related compounds, chromenes and related benzopyrans and benzofurans, xanthones, acetogenins from Annonaceae and polyacetylenes) as well as the diverse classes of alkaloids. In total, both parts compile the literature on almost 900 different plant-derived natural products and their activity data, taken from over 800 references. These data, as the result of enormous efforts of numerous research groups world-wide, illustrate that plant secondary metabolites represent an immensely rich source of chemical diversity with an extremely high potential to yield a wealth of lead structures towards new therapies for NTDs. Only a small percentage, however, of the roughly 200,000 plant species on earth have been studied chemically and only a small percentage of these plants or their constituents has been investigated for antiprotozoal activity. The repository of plant-derived natural products hence deserves to be investigated even more intensely than it has been up to present.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Münster, Germany.
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Reimão JQ, Tempone AG. Investigation into in vitro anti-leishmanial combinations of calcium channel blockers and current anti-leishmanial drugs. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106:1032-8. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000800022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Sartorelli P, Carvalho CS, Reimão JQ, Lorenzi H, Tempone AG. Antitrypanosomal activity of a diterpene and lignans isolated from Aristolochia cymbifera. Planta Med 2010; 76:1454-1456. [PMID: 20301059 DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Bioguided fractionation of extract from the leaves of Aristolochia cymbifera led to the isolation of the furofuran lignans fargesin, epieudesmin, and sesamin; the dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans hinokinin and kusunokinin; and an ENT-labdane diterpene named copalic acid. Our data demonstrated that copalic acid and kusunokinin were the most active compounds against trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Additionally, copalic acid demonstrated the highest parasite selectivity as a result of low toxicity to mammalian cells, despite a considerable hemolytic activity at higher concentrations. Among the isolated compounds, kusunokinin could be considered the most promising candidate, as it displayed significant activity against intracellular amastigotes (IC(50) = 17 µM) and trypomastigotes (IC(50) = 51 µM) without hemolytic activity. Fargesin, hinokinin, epieudesmin, and sesamin were also effective against trypomastigotes, but these compounds were highly toxic to mammalian cells and no parasite selectivity could be identified. The need for novel drugs for American trypanosomiasis is evident, and these secondary metabolites from A. cymbifera represent a useful tool for drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Sartorelli
- Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema/São Paulo, Brazil.
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Tempone AG, Mortara RA, de Andrade HF, Reimão JQ. Therapeutic evaluation of free and liposome-loaded furazolidone in experimental visceral leishmaniasis. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2010; 36:159-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2010] [Revised: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 04/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Quero Reimão J, Nosomi Taniwaki N, Gustavo Tempone A. Furazolidone is a selective in vitro candidate against Leishmania (L.) chagasi: an ultrastructural study. Parasitol Res 2010; 106:1465-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-1826-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 03/03/2010] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Tempone AG, Taniwaki NN, Reimão JQ. Antileishmanial activity and ultrastructural alterations of Leishmania (L.) chagasi treated with the calcium channel blocker nimodipine. Parasitol Res 2009; 105:499-505. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1427-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2009] [Accepted: 03/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Tempone AG, Sartorelli P, Teixeira D, Prado FO, Calixto IARL, Lorenzi H, Melhem MSC. Brazilian flora extracts as source of novel antileishmanial and antifungal compounds. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 103:443-9. [PMID: 18797756 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000500006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2008] [Accepted: 07/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products have long been providing important drug leads for infectious diseases. Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic disease found mainly in developing countries, and it has toxic therapies with few alternatives. Fungal infections have been the main cause of death in immunocompromised patients and new drugs are urgently needed. In this work, a total of 16 plant species belonging to 11 families, selected on an ethnopharmacological basis, were analyzed in vitro against Leishmania (L.) chagasi, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, Candida krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Of these plant species, seven showed antifungal activity against C. krusei, five showed antileishmanial activity against L. chagasi and four against L. amazonensis, among them species of genus Plectranthus. Our findings confirm the traditional therapeutic use of these plants in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory disorders and also offer insights into the isolation of active and novel drug prototypes, especially those used against neglected diseases as Leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gustavo Tempone
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Serviço de Parasitologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brasil.
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Reimão JQ, Migotto AE, Kossuga MH, Berlinck RGS, Tempone AG. Antiprotozoan activity of Brazilian marine cnidarian extracts and of a modified steroid from the octocoral Carijoa riisei. Parasitol Res 2008; 103:1445-50. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-008-1154-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2008] [Accepted: 07/31/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Tempone AG, Pimenta DC, Lebrun I, Sartorelli P, Taniwaki NN, de Andrade HF, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C. Antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of bufadienolides isolated from the toad Rhinella jimi parotoid macrogland secretion. Toxicon 2008; 52:13-21. [PMID: 18588907 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2008.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2008] [Revised: 05/19/2008] [Accepted: 05/20/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Amphibian skin secretions are considered a rich source of biologically active compounds and are known to be rich in peptides, bufadienolides and alkaloids. Bufadienolides are cardioactive steroids from animals and plants that have also been reported to possess antimicrobial activities. Leishmaniasis and American Trypanosomiasis are parasitic diseases found in tropical and subtropical regions. The efforts toward the discovery of new treatments for these diseases have been largely neglected, despite the fact that the only available treatments are highly toxic drugs. In this work, we have isolated, through bioguided assays, the major antileishmanial compounds of the toad Rhinella jimi parotoid macrogland secretion. Mass spectrometry and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic analyses were able to demonstrate that the active molecules are telocinobufagin and hellebrigenin. Both steroids demonstrated activity against Leishmania (L.) chagasi promastigotes, but only hellebrigenin was active against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. These steroids were active against the intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania, with no activation of nitric oxide production by macrophages. Neither cytotoxicity against mouse macrophages nor hemolytic activities were observed. The ultrastructural studies with promastigotes revealed the induction of mitochondrial damage and plasma membrane disturbances by telocinobufagin, resulting in cellular death. This novel biological effect of R. jimi steroids could be used as a template for the design of new therapeutics against Leishmaniasis and American Trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gustavo Tempone
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 355, 8 degrees andar CEP 01246-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Tempone AG, Sartorelli P, Mady C, Fernandes F. Natural products to anti-trypanosomal drugs: an overview of new drug prototypes for American Trypanosomiasis. Cardiovasc Hematol Agents Med Chem 2007; 5:222-35. [PMID: 17630949 DOI: 10.2174/187152507781058726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan tropical diseases cause great suffering throughout developing countries, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. American Trypanosomiasis affects 16-18 million people in Latin America, representing a dramatic disease among symptomatic patients. Old, toxic and ineffective chemotherapeutic agents continue to be used for the treatment of Chagas' disease. Since the early days of medicine, chemical substances derived from plants and animals have been used to treat human diseases. In the marine ecosystem ecological pressures, such as competition for space and predation, may have favored several invertebrate organisms to select unique metabolites with an assortment of astonishing biological activities. In terrestrial ecosystems, amphibians present a unique efficient skin secretion system with a variety of glands which produce a myriad of potent bioactive compounds such as peptides, alkaloids, biogenic amines and lipids. Plants contribute with several antitrypanosomal compounds derived mainly from their secondary metabolism. Proteins and peptides from snake venoms have also been considered as novel drug candidates, showing effective activities. In this review, we broadly discuss the epidemiology, pathology, and current treatment of Chagas' disease as well as the contributions of pharmacologically tested marine invertebrate, amphibian, snake and plant compounds which have shown promising antitrypanosomal activities. We also explore these possibilities for developing new chemotherapeutics against Chagas' disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gustavo Tempone
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Departamento de Parasitologia, Inst. Adolfo Lutz - Av. Dr. Arnaldo 355, 8 andar, CEP 01246-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Tempone AG, da Silva ACMP, Brandt CA, Martinez FS, Borborema SET, da Silveira MAB, de Andrade HF. Synthesis and antileishmanial activities of novel 3-substituted quinolines. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2005; 49:1076-80. [PMID: 15728905 PMCID: PMC549264 DOI: 10.1128/aac.49.3.1076-1080.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The antileishmanial efficacy of four novel quinoline derivatives was determined in vitro against Leishmania chagasi, using extracellular and intracellular parasite models. When tested against L. chagasi-infected macrophages, compound 3b demonstrated 8.3-fold greater activity than did the standard pentavalent antimony. No significant activity was found for compounds 3a, 4a, and 4b. The antilesihmanial effect of compound 3b was independent of host cell activation, as demonstrated by nitric oxide production. Ultrastructural studies of promastigotes treated with compound 3b showed mainly enlarged mitochondria, with matrix swelling and reduction in the number of cristae. Synthetic analogues based on the quinoline ring structure, already an established template for antiparasitic drugs, could provide further useful compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gustavo Tempone
- Laboratorio de Parasitologia, Divisao de Biologia Medica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 355, 8 degree andar CEP, 01246-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Tempone AG, Borborema SET, de Andrade HF, de Amorim Gualda NC, Yogi A, Carvalho CS, Bachiega D, Lupo FN, Bonotto SV, Fischer DCH. Antiprotozoal activity of Brazilian plant extracts from isoquinoline alkaloid-producing families. Phytomedicine 2005; 12:382-90. [PMID: 15957374 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2003.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease afflict the poorest countries in the world. The Brazilian flora represents a rich source for the screening of potential antiparasitic compounds. In this work, we tested the total alkaloid and ethanol extracts of nine different plants from Brazilian families which produce isoquinoline alkaloids, to determine their in vitro antiparasitic effect against L. chagasi and T. cruzi parasites. Promastigotes of L. chagasi were shown to be susceptible only to the total alkaloid extracts of A. crassiflora (EC50 value = 24.89 microg/ml), A. coriacea (EC50 value = 41.60 microg/ml), C. ovalifolia (EC50 value = 63.88 microg/ml) and G. australis (EC50 value = 37.88 microg/ml). Except for the G. australis total alkaloids, all the three extracts presented a considerable activity when tested against intracellular amastigotes. The most effective alkaloid extracts were those from A. crassiflora and C. ovalifolia, which reduced the number of infected macrophages at 25 microg/ml by 86.1% and 89.8%, respectively. Among the 18 tested extracts, 16 showed anti-Trypanosoma activity. Eight extracts (A. crassiflora, A. coriacea, C. ovalifolia, D. furfuracea, D. lanceolata, S. guianensis, X. emarginata and G. australis) were the most effective against the trypomastigotes, killing approximately 100% of the parasites at the maximal concentration of 100 microg/ml. Cytotoxicity against mammalian cells was evaluated for all extracts, but potential ones showed little or no cytotoxicity and a considerable antiparasitic effect, including D. furfuracea, D. lanceolata, G. australis, S. guianensis and X. emarginata. Plants are a rich source of natural compounds, and a powerful tool for the development of new arsenals for the therapy of protozoan diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G Tempone
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Department Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
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Tempone AG, Perez D, Rath S, Vilarinho AL, Mortara RA, de Andrade HF. Targeting Leishmania (L.) chagasi amastigotes through macrophage scavenger receptors: the use of drugs entrapped in liposomes containing phosphatidylserine. J Antimicrob Chemother 2004; 54:60-8. [PMID: 15163652 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkh281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We devised liposome-entrapped antimony with the negatively charged lipid phosphatidylserine-liposome-entrapped antimony (Sb-LP)-in order to improve their targeting to infected macrophages through the interaction with scavenger receptors (SRs). METHODS SR production was indirectly evaluated by its mRNA synthesis in infected and uninfected peritoneal macrophages using RT-PCR. The interaction and cytotoxicity of Sb-LP with SRs and their metabolism were determined by incubation with macrophages in the presence of cytochalasin B, chloroquine or different competitive ligands, with determination of the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) in vitro in infected macrophages. The intracellular trafficking of Sb-LP was evaluated by confocal microscopy using trapped fluorescent dyes. RESULTS Our results showed an up-regulation of macrophage SR mRNA during the initial steps of Leishmania (L.) chagasi infection. By competitive ligand assays, we demonstrated the preferential uptake of Sb-LP by macrophage SRs. Sb-LP was 16-fold more effective (IC50=14.11 microM) than the free drug (IC50=225.9 microM) against L. (L.) chagasi-infected macrophages. The binding and uptake of Sb-LP in macrophages were shown to be energy-dependent and were reduced in the presence of cytochalasin B, showing the dependency of the cell microfilament system. Confocal analysis using trapped fluorescent dyes showed fluorescence of parasites or in their close proximity, compatible with the localized delivery of the liposomes. CONCLUSIONS The uptake of Sb-LP was reduced in infected macrophages, despite their effectiveness and targeting ability, suggesting a low metabolic rate in infected macrophages that could be overcome by the higher efficiency of the liposomal formulation. These in vitro results suggest that liposomes could improve the therapeutic index of old drugs, such as pentavalent antimony, via targeted delivery to Leishmania-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gustavo Tempone
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Dept. Parasitologia - Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
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Rath S, Trivelin LA, Imbrunito TR, Tomazela DM, Jesús MND, Marzal PC, Andrade Junior HFD, Tempone AG. Antimoniais empregados no tratamento da leishmaniose: estado da arte. QUIM NOVA 2003. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-40422003000400018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Tempone AG, Andrade HF, Spencer PJ, Lourenço CO, Rogero JR, Nascimento N. Bothrops moojeni venom kills Leishmania spp. with hydrogen peroxide generated by its L-amino acid oxidase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 280:620-4. [PMID: 11162565 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.4175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an endemic tropical disease in South America, with few therapeutic approaches. Snake venoms are complex protein mixtures with biological actions that could be used as tools for drug development. Here we show that Bothrops moojeni crude venom presented a killing effect in vitro against Leishmania spp. promastigotes, but not with amastigotes, as determined by a viability assay using the mitochondrial oxidative function. Purification of active fractions from crude venom was performed by molecular exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. Anti-Leishmania and l-amino acid oxidase (L-AAO, EC.1.4.3.2.) activities co-eluted in the same fractions. The molecular weight of the active enzyme was estimated to be 140 kDa by molecular exclusion chromatography, and 69 kDa by SDS--PAGE, with a 4.8 isoelectric point. Using substrate subtraction and catalase for scavenging, the action of L-AAO was demonstrated to be hydrogen-peroxide-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G Tempone
- Radiobiology Division, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares-IPEN/CNEN-SP, Travessa R 400, Cid Universitária, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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