The schistosomicidal and toxic effects of some N-p-aminophenoxyalkylamides

Several N-(omega-p-aminophenoxyalkyl)amides were active against Schistosoma mansoni in mice. One of the most effective, N-(5-p-aminophenoxypentyl)benzamide (M&B3002), acted more rapidly than lucanthone on adult worms but less rapidly than antimony potassium tartrate. It was inactive against immature worms. This compound and M&B2948A (N-(5-p-aminophenoxypentyl)phthalimide) were both active against S. mansoni in hamsters. In monkeys M&B2948A was inactive, whilst M&B3002 was not tested for therapeutic activity. Several of the compounds were examined for the production of visual impairment in cats. Although this property was not entirely absent, its incidence was very much lower in this amide series than among other omega-p-aminophenoxyalkyl derivatives not containing an amide group. M&B3002 and M&B2948A produced impairment of vision in only a small proportion of the large number of cats tested. The general toxicology of the two drugs was studied in several species, and also their absorption and excretion in mice and rats; this was to provide information for a clinical trial.

The structure of Miracil D, a DNA-binding drug

The crystal structure of the drug Miracil D has been determined. Although the accuracy of the analysis is limited by disorder, it is apparent that the thioxanthone ring system is planar. The proximal nitrogen atom of the side-chain probably forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen. The rest of the side-chain has a large degree of conformational mobility.

The interaction of aminoalkylaminoanthraquinones with deoxyribonucleic acid

A series of aminoalkylaminoanthraquinones have been prepared as potential intercalating agents. The binding to DNA of these compounds and the known intercalating drugs chloroquine, lucanthone, daunorubicin and doxorubicin has been characterized by spectrophotometric titration. The association constant for the interaction with DNA has been determined for each compound from a Scatchard plot. The compounds synthesized had association constants between 0-5 and 4-2 times 10(6) compared with 0-93, 0-90, 3-10 and 2-49 times 10(6) for chloroquine, lucanthone, daunorubicin and doxorubicin respectively.