Novel series of 1,2,4-trioxane derivatives as antimalarial agents

Among three series of 1,2,4-trioxane derivatives, five compounds showed good in vitro antimalarial activity, three compounds of which exhibited better activity against P. falciparum resistant (RKL9) strain than the sensitive (3D7) one. Two best compounds were one from aryl series and the other from heteroaryl series with IC₅₀ values of 1.24 µM and 1.24 µM and 1.06 µM and 1.17 µM, against sensitive and resistant strains, respectively. Further, trioxane derivatives exhibited good binding affinity for the P. falciparum cysteine protease falcipain 2 receptor (PDB id: 3BPF) with well defined drug-like and pharmacokinetic properties based on Lipinski’s rule of five with additional physicochemical and ADMET parameters. In view of having antimalarial potential, 1,2,4-trioxane derivative(s) reported herein may be useful as novel antimalarial lead(s) in the discovery and development of future antimalarial drug candidates as P. falciparum falcipain 2 inhibitors against resistant malaria.     

Spiroadamantyl 1,2,4-trioxolane, 1,2,4-trioxane,and 1,2,4-trioxepane pairs: Relationship between peroxide bond iron(II) reactivity,heme alkylation efficiency,and antimalarial activity

These data suggest that iron(II) reactivity for a set of homologous spiroadamantyl 1,2,4-trioxolane, 1,2,4-trioxane, and 1,2,4-trioxepane peroxide heterocycles is a necessary, but insufficient, property of animalarial peroxides. Heme alkylation efficiency appears to give a more accurate prediction of antimalarial activity than FeSO₄-mediated reaction rates, suggesting that antimalarial activity is not merely dependent on peroxide bond cleavage, but also on the ability of reactive intermediates to alkylate heme or other proximal targets.     

1,2,4-Triazino-[5,6b]indole derivatives: effects of the trifluoromethyl group on in vitro antimalarial activity

In an attempt to search for new and alternative antimalarial agents, a series of unsubstituted and 6-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazino[5,6b]indole and 5H-1,2,4-triazolo[1',5',2,3]-1,2,4-triazino[5,6b]indole derivatives were synthesized and their chemical structures confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR, elemental, IR and mass spectrophotometric analyses. The in vitro antimalarial activities of these compounds were evaluated against the chloroquine-sensitive (D10) and the chloroquine-resistant (RSA11) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The 1,2,4-triazino[5,6b]indole derivatives (4, 6 and 8) with a trifluoromethyl group at position 6 exhibit increased in vitro activity when compared to the unsubstituted analogues, which are all devoid of activity. The presence of the trifluoromethyl group in the 5H-1,2,4-triazolo[1',5',2,3]-1,2,4-triazino[5,6b]indole ring system leads to compounds with diminished antimalarial activity when compared to the corresponding unsubstituted analogues. The compounds associate with ferriprotoporphyrin IX and interact with DNA to more or less the same extent.     

Novel spiroanellated 1,2,4-trioxanes with high in vitro antimalarial activities

A remarkable increase in antimalarial in vitro activity was achieved by integration of spiroadamantane motifs in 6-alkylidene 1,2,4-trioxanes 3a-h via diastereoselective photooxygenation of allylic alcohols and subsequent BF(3)-catalyzed peroxyacetalization with adamantanone to give the active compounds 3e-h.     

Orally active antimalarials: synthesis and bioevaluation of a new series of steroid-based 1,2,4-trioxanes against multi-drug resistant malaria in mice

A new series of steroid-based 1,2,4-trioxanes 7a-f, 8a-f and 9b-e have been synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial activity against multi-drug resistant Plasmodium yoelii in Swiss mice by oral route. The biological activity shows a strong dependence on the size and the nature of the steroidal side chain. Pregnane-based trioxanes 8a-f show better activity profile than trioxanes 7a-f and 9b-e, derived from cholesterol and tigogenine, respectively.     

New hybrid trifluoromethylquinolines as antiplasmodium agents

Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide, and it is responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality. Resistance to current antimalarial drugs has been identified, and new drugs are urgently needed. In this study, we designed and synthesized seventeen novel quinolines based on the structures of mefloquine ((2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-yl)(piperidin-2-yl)methanol) and amodiaquine (4-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino)-2-((diethylamino)methyl)phenol) using ring bioisosteric replacement and molecular hybridization of the functional groups. The compounds were evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and in vivo in mice infected with P. berghei. All derivatives presented anti-P. falciparum activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.083 to 33.0?µM. The compound with the best anti-P. falciparum activity was N-(5-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-amine (12) which showed an IC₅₀ of 0.083?µM. The three most active compounds were selected for antimalarial activity tests against P. berghei-infected mice. Compound 12 was the most active on the 5th day after infection, reducing parasitemia by 66%, which is consistent with its in vitro activity. This is an important result as 12, a simpler molecule than mefloquine, does not contain the stereogenic center, and consequently, its synthesis in the laboratory is easier and less expensive. This system proved promising for the design of potential antimalarial compounds.     

Weak base dispiro-1,2,4-trioxolanes: potent antimalarial ozonides

Thirty weak base 1,2,4-dispiro trioxolanes (secondary ozonides) were synthesized. Amino amide trioxolanes had the best combination of antimalarial and biopharmaceutical properties. Guanidine, aminoxy, and amino acid trioxolanes had poor antimalarial activity. Lipophilic trioxolanes were less stable metabolically than their more polar counterparts.     

Geraniol-derived 1,2,4-trioxanes with potent in-vivo antimalarial activity

Geraniol, an abundantly available naturally occurring allylic alcohol, has been used as a starting material to prepare a series of 6-[alpha-(3'-aryl-3'-hydroxypropyl)vinyl]-1,2,4-trioxanes. Some of these novel trioxanes have shown very promising antimalarial activity against multi-drug resistant Plasmodium yoelii in mice by both intramuscular (im) and oral routes.     

Synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxepanes via application of thiol-olefin co-oxygenation methodology

Thiol-olefin co-oxygenation (TOCO) of substituted allylic alcohols generates beta-hydroxy peroxides that can be condensed in situ with various ketones, to afford a series of functionalised 1,2,4-trioxepanes in good yields. Manipulation of the phenylsulfenyl group in 8a-8c allows for convenient modification to the spiro-trioxepane substituents. Surprisingly, and in contrast to the 1,2,4-trioxanes examined, 1,2,4-trioxepanes are inactive as antimalarials up to 1000 nM and we rationalize this observation based on the inherent stability of these systems to ferrous mediated degradation. FMO calculations clearly show that the sigma* orbital of the peroxide moiety of 1,2,4-trioxane derivatives 4a and 14b are lower in energy and more accessible to attack by Fe(II) compared to their trioxepane analogues 8b and 9b.     

Synthesis of new 6-alkylvinyl/arylalkylvinyl substituted 1,2,4-trioxanes active against multidrug-resistant malaria in mice

3-Alkyl/arylalkyl substituted 2-butenols 9, 10, 23a-d undergo regiospecific photooxygenation to furnish beta-hydroxyhydroperoxides 11, 12, 24a-d, respectively, in reasonable yields. Acid catalyzed condensation of 11, 12, 24a-d with various ketones furnish new 1,2,4-trioxanes 13-18, 25a-d, 26a-d, 27a-d in good yields. Several of these trioxanes show promising antimalarial activity against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium yoelii in mice by oral and intramuscular routes.     

Synthesis and antimalarial evaluation of novel isocryptolepine derivatives

A series of mono- and di-substituted analogues of isocryptolepine have been synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antimalarial activity against chloroquine sensitive (3D7) and resistant (W2mef) Plasmodium falciparum and for cytotoxicity (3T3 cells). Di-halogenated compounds were the most potent derivatives and 8-bromo-2-chloroisocryptolepine displayed the highest selectivity index (106; the ratio of cytotoxicity (IC(50)=9005 nM) to antimalarial activity (IC(50)=85 nM)). Our evaluation of novel isocryptolepine compounds has demonstrated that di-halogenated derivatives are promising antimalarial lead compounds.     

Synthesis of imidazoline and imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazole aryl derivatives containing the methylthio group as possible antibacterial agents

1-Arylimidazolidine-2-thiones (1a-g) were synthesized by the condensation reaction of N-arylethylenediamines with carbon disulfide in xylene medium. Their further alkylation with methyl iodide led to the formation of some biologically active 1-aryl-2-methylthio-imidazolines (2a-g). The 7-(4-methylphenyl)-3-methylthio-5H-6,7-dihydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazole (4b) was obtained by the alkylation of the respective 7-(4-methylphenyl)-2,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(H)-thione (3b) with methyl iodide. Antimicrobial activities of 1-aryl-2-methylthio-imidazolines (2a-g) and the 7-(4-methylphenyl)-3- methylthio-5H-6,7-dihydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazole (4b) are presented. All tested compounds showed MIC in the range of 11.0-89.2 microM. Compounds 2a,e were found to be equipotent to chloramphenicol in vitro, whereas 2a,c,e-g and 4b showed superior activity (MIC) to ampicillin.     

New orally active spiro 1,2,4-trioxanes with high antimalarial potency

A new series of functionalized 1,2,4-trioxanes 10-21 have been prepared and assessed for antimalarial activity in mice. Several of these trioxanes show significant activity. Trioxane 16, the most active compound of the series, has shown activity by oral route which is comparable with that of the clinically used drug, beta-arteether.     

Synthesis of 2-amido, 2-amino, and 2-azido derivatives of the nitrogen analogue of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor salacinol and their inhibitory activities against O-GlcNAcase and NagZ enzymes

Seven 2-substituted derivatives of the nitrogen analogue of salacinol, a naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitor, were synthesized for structure-activity studies with hexosaminidase enzymes. The target zwitterionic compounds were synthesized by means of nucleophilic attack of the 2-azido-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol at the least hindered carbon atom of 2,4-O-benzylidene-L-erythritol-1,3-cyclic sulfate. Hydrogenation of the azido zwitterionic compound in methanol resulted in the reduction of the azide and subsequent methylation of the resulting amine in one pot. A similar reaction, with ethanol as the solvent, gave the N-ethyl derivative. The 2-amino analogues were finally obtained by the reduction of the azide function using triphenylphosphine. Acylation of the amine using acetic, propionic, or valeric anhydride afforded the corresponding 2-amido derivatives. Deprotection of the acylated, coupled products using 80% trifluoroacetic acid proceeded smoothly. Unlike their sulfonium ion counterparts, these compounds were stable and did not undergo ring opening. We also report the synthesis of the parent nitrogen heterocycles, N-Boc-1,2,4-trideoxy-2-amino-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol, and 1,2,4-trideoxy-2-acetamido-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol and its corresponding N-Boc protected compound. The 2-substituted analogues and the parent iminoalditol showed marginal activity (<33% at 250 microM) against human O-GlcNAcase and Vibrio cholerae NagZ enzymes.     

Synthesis and structure elucidation of novel fused 1,2,4-triazine derivatives as potent inhibitors targeting CYP1A1 activity

Synthesis and structure elucidation of new series of novel fused 1,2,4-triazine derivatives 3a-3f, 4a-4i and 6a-6b and their inhibitory activities are presented. Molecular structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, MS spectra and elemental analyses. X-ray crystallographic analysis was performed on 2-acetyl-8-(N,N-diacetylamino)-6-(4-methoxybenzyl)-3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4]triazine 3d and 2-acetyl-8-(N-acetylamino)-6-benzyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4]triazine 4e to secure their structures. The inhibitory effect of these compounds toward the CPY1A1 activity was screened to determine their potential as promising anticancer drugs. Our data showed that compounds 4e, 5a, 5b and 6b possess the highest inhibitory effects among all tested compounds. Furthermore, analysis of triazolotriazine derivatives docking showed that these compounds bind only at the interface of substrate recognition site 2 (SRS2) and (SRS6) at the outer surface of the protein. Amino-acids ASN214, SER216 and ILE462 participate in the binding of these compounds through H-bonds.     

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of 6-cycloalkylvinyl substituted 1,2,4-trioxanes

6-Cycloalkylvinyl substituted 1,2,4-trioxanes 6-15 have been prepared and tested against multi-drug resistant Plasmodium yoelii in mice. The most active trioxane 11 provides 80% protection to the treated mice. Further derivatization of 11 leads to decrease in antimalarial activity.     

Triterpenoids as inhibitors of erythrocytic and liver stages of Plasmodium infections

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of Momordica balsamina led to the isolation of two new cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, balsaminol F (1) and balsaminoside B (2), along with the known glycosylated cucurbitacins, cucurbita-5,24-diene-3β,23(R)-diol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) and kuguaglycoside A (4). Compound 1 was acylated yielding two new triesters, triacetylbalsaminol F (5) and tribenzoylbalsaminol F (6). The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR experiments (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). Compounds 1-6, were evaluated for their antimalarial activity against the erythrocytic stages of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-sensitive strain 3D7 and the chloroquine-resistant clone Dd2. Assessment of compounds (1-3 and 5, 6) activity against the liver stage of Plasmodium berghei was also performed, measuring the luminescence intensity in Huh-7 cells infected with a firefly luciferase-expressing P. berghei line, PbGFP-Luc(con). Active compounds were shown to inhibit the parasite's intracellular development rather than its ability to invade hepatic cells. Toxicity of compounds (1-3 and 5, 6) was assessed on the same cell line and on mouse primary hepatocytes through the fluorescence measurement of cell confluency. Furthermore, toxicity of compounds 1-6 towards human cells was also investigated in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, showing that they were not toxic or exhibited weak toxicity. In blood stages of P. falciparum, compounds 1-5 displayed antimalarial activity, revealing triacetylbalsaminol F (5) the highest antiplasmodial effects (IC(50) values: 0.4μM, 3D7; 0.2μM, Dd2). The highest antiplasmodial activity against the liver stages of P.berghei was also displayed by compound 5, with high inhibitory activity and no toxicity.     

Synthesis of some new [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines and [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazoles starting from 5-nitro-2-furoic acid and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity

New series of fused 1,2,4-triazoles such as, 6-(aryl)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-5,6-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 4-8, 6-(alkyl/aryl amino)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 9-13 and 6-(4-substituted phenyl)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines 14-18 have been synthesized via the reaction of 4-amino-5-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol 3 with various reagents such as hetero aromatic aldehydes, alkyl/aryl isothiocyanates and 4-substituted phenacyl bromides, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies. The newly synthesized triazolo derivatives have been investigated for their in vitro antibacterial activity. Most of the tested compounds showed interesting antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the most potent antibacterial compounds 11-13 were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines. It was found that compounds 11 and 13 showed higher cytotoxicity against Hep-G2 cell line as compared to standard.     

Novel oxazine skeletons as potential antiplasmodial active ingredients: Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo biology of some oxazine entities produced via cyclization of novel chalcone intermediates

A novel series of 6-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)-4-substituted-phenyl-6H-1,3-oxazin-2-amines were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antimalarial efficacy against chloroquine sensitive (MRC-02) as well as chloroquine resistant (RKL9) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The activity tested was at nanomolar concentration. β-Hematin formation inhibition activity (BHIA(50)) of oxazines were determined and correlated with antimalarial activity. A reasonably good correlation (r?=?0.49 and 0.51, respectively) was observed between antimalarial activity (IC(50)) and BHIA(50). This suggests that antimalarial mode of action of these compounds seems to be similar to that of chloroquine and involves the inhibition of hemozoin formation. Some of the compounds were showing better antimalarial activity than chloroquine against resistant strain of P. falciparum and were also found to be active in the in vivo experiment.     

Antimalarial activity of compounds comprising a primary benzene sulfonamide fragment

Despite the urgent need for effective antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action no new chemical class of antimalarial drug has been approved for use since 1996. To address this, we have used a rational approach to investigate compounds comprising the primary benzene sulfonamide fragment as a potential new antimalarial chemotype. We report the in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum drug sensitive (3D7) and resistant (Dd2) parasites for a panel of fourteen primary benzene sulfonamide compounds. Our findings provide a platform to support the further evaluation of primary benzene sulfonamides as a new antimalarial chemotype, including the identification of the target of these compounds in the parasite.