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Ceravolo IP, Leoni LF, Krettli AU, Murta SMF, Resende DDM, Cruz MGFDML, Varejão JOS, Mendes LL, Varejão EVV, Kohlhoff M. Novel 2,5-Diketopiperazines with In Vitro Activities against Protozoan Parasites of Tropical Diseases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:223. [PMID: 38399438 PMCID: PMC10893061 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020223] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis are tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania, respectively. These diseases constitute a major burden on public health in several regions worldwide, mainly affecting low-income populations in economically poor countries. Severe side effects of currently available drug treatments and the emergence of resistant parasites need to be addressed by the development of novel drug candidates. Natural 2,5-Diketopiperazines (2,5-DKPs) constitute N-heterocyclic secondary metabolites with a wide range of biological activities of medicinal interest. Its structural and physicochemical properties make the 2,5-DKP ring a versatile, peptide-like, and stable pharmacophore attractive for synthetic drug design. In the present work, twenty-three novel synthetic 2,5-DKPs, previously synthesized through the versatile Ugi multicomponent reaction, were assayed for their anti-protozoal activities against P. falciparum, T. cruzi, and L. infantum. Some of the 2,5-DKPs have shown promising activities against the target protozoans, with inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 5.4 to 9.5 µg/mL. The most active compounds also show low cytotoxicity (CC50), affording selectivity indices ≥ 15. Results allowed for observing a clear relationship between the substitution pattern at the aromatic rings of the 2,5-DKPs and their corresponding anti-Plasmodium activity. Finally, calculated drug-like properties of the compounds revealed points for further structure optimization of promising drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela P. Ceravolo
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (I.P.C.); (L.F.L.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Letícia F. Leoni
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (I.P.C.); (L.F.L.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Antoniana U. Krettli
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (I.P.C.); (L.F.L.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Silvane M. F. Murta
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics of Parasites, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (S.M.F.M.); (D.d.M.R.); (M.G.F.d.M.L.C.)
| | - Daniela de M. Resende
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics of Parasites, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (S.M.F.M.); (D.d.M.R.); (M.G.F.d.M.L.C.)
| | - Mariza G. F. de M. L. Cruz
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics of Parasites, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (S.M.F.M.); (D.d.M.R.); (M.G.F.d.M.L.C.)
| | - Jodieh O. S. Varejão
- Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry Studies and Organic Synthesis, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil; (J.O.S.V.); (L.L.M.); (E.V.V.V.)
| | - Lorena L. Mendes
- Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry Studies and Organic Synthesis, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil; (J.O.S.V.); (L.L.M.); (E.V.V.V.)
| | - Eduardo V. V. Varejão
- Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry Studies and Organic Synthesis, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil; (J.O.S.V.); (L.L.M.); (E.V.V.V.)
| | - Markus Kohlhoff
- Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Chemistry, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil
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Mendes LL, Varejão JOS, de Souza JA, Carneiro JWDM, Valdo AKSM, Martins FT, Ferreira BW, Barreto RW, da Silva TI, Kohlhoff M, Pilau EJ, V Varejão EV. 2,5-Diketopiperazines via Intramolecular N-Alkylation of Ugi Adducts: A Contribution to the Synthesis, Density Functional Theory Study, X-ray Characterization, and Potential Herbicide Application. J Agric Food Chem 2022; 70:1799-1809. [PMID: 35130436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c07790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the herbicidal potential of 2,5-diketopiperazines (2,5-DKPs), we applied a known protocol to produce a series of 2,5-DKPs through intramolecular N-alkylation of Ugi adducts. However, the method was not successful for the cyclization of adducts presenting aromatic rings with some substituents at the ortho position. Results from DFT calculations showed that the presence of voluminous groups at the ortho position of a benzene ring results in destabilization of the transition structure. Lower activation enthalpies for the SN2-type cyclization of Ugi adducts were obtained when bromine, instead of a chlorine anion, is the leaving group, indicating that the activation enthalpy for the cyclization step controls the formation of the 2,5-DKP. Some Ugi adducts and 2,5-DKPs formed crystals with suitable qualities for single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collection. Phytotoxic damage of some 2,5-DKPs on leaves of the weed Euphorbia heterophylla did not differ from those caused by the commercial herbicide diquat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena L Mendes
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av PH Rolfs sn, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36.570-900, Brazil
| | - Jodieh O S Varejão
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av PH Rolfs sn, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36.570-900, Brazil
| | - José Antônio de Souza
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Química, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus Universitário Ministro Petrônio Portella, Bairro Ininga, Teresina, Piauí 64049-550, Brazil
| | - José Walkimar de M Carneiro
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-141, Brazil
| | - Ana K S M Valdo
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av Esperança, sn, Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Felipe T Martins
- Institute of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Av Esperança, sn, Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Bruno W Ferreira
- Department of Phytopathology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av PH Rolfs sn, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Robert W Barreto
- Department of Phytopathology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av PH Rolfs sn, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Toshik I da Silva
- Department of Agronomy, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av PH Rolfs sn, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Markus Kohlhoff
- Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Eduardo J Pilau
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Maringá, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Campus Universitário, Maringá, Paraná 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Eduardo V V Varejão
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av PH Rolfs sn, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36.570-900, Brazil
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Varejão JOS, Barbosa LCA, Varejão EVV, Maltha CRA, King-Díaz B, Lotina-Hennsen B. Cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diones: a new class of herbicides acting as potent photosynthesis inhibitors. J Agric Food Chem 2014; 62:5772-5780. [PMID: 24912105 DOI: 10.1021/jf5014605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In a recent paper, we reported the synthesis and photosynthesis-inhibitory activity of a series of analogues of rubrolides. From quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies, we found that the most efficient compounds are those having higher ability to accept electrons. On the basis of those findings, we directed our effort to synthesize new analogues bearing a strong electron-withdrawing group (nitro) in the benzylidene ring and evaluate their effects on photosynthesis. However, the employed synthetic approach led to novel cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diones as major products. Here, we report the synthesis and mechanism of action of such cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diones as a new class of photosynthesis inhibitors. These compounds block the electron transport at the QB level by interacting at the D1 protein at the reducing side of Photosystem II and act as Hill reaction inhibitors, with higher activity than the corresponding rubrolides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the photosynthesis inhibitory activity of cyclopentenediones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodieh O S Varejão
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa , Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, 36570-000 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Barbosa LCA, Maltha CRA, Demuner AJ, Pinheiro PF, Varejão JOS, Montanari RM, Andrade NJ. Síntese e avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana de furanonas halogenadas e de compostos análogos aos nostoclídeos. QUIM NOVA 2010. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-40422010001000003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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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