Synthesis and antiprotozoal activities of benzyl phenyl ether diamidine derivatives.

Sixty-two cationic benzyl phenyl ether derivatives (36 amidines and 26 prodrugs) were prepared and assayed for activities in vitro and in vivo against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (STIB900), and in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (K1) and Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes. 3-Amidinobenzyl 4-amidino-2-iodo-6-methoxyphenyl ether dihydrochloride (55, IC50 = 3.0 nM) and seven other compounds exhibited IC50 values below 10 nM against T. b. rhodesiense in vitro. The 2-bromo-4,4'-diamidino analogue 19 (IC50 = 4.0 nM) and 12 other analogues were more potent than pentamidine (IC50 = 46 nM) against P. falciparum. The 3',4-diamidino-2,6-diiodo analogue 49 (IC50 = 1.4 µM) and two other compounds were more effective than pentamidine (IC50 = 1.8 µM) against L. donovani. A prodrug, 3',4-bis(N″-methoxy)amidino-2-bromo derivative 38, was the most efficacious against trypanosome infected mice, attaining 4/4 cures in four daily 25 mg/kg oral doses, and the 2-chloro-4,4'-diamidine 18 cured 3/4 mice in four daily 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal doses.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal properties of pentamidine congeners bearing the benzofuran motif.

Forty-eight cationically substituted pentamidine congeners possessing benzofuran rings were synthesized by a copper mediated heteroannulation of substituted o-iodophenols with phenyl acetylenes. Activities of compounds 1-48 against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani and cytotoxicities for mammalian cells were influenced by the nature of cationic substituents, placement of the benzofuran fragment, and the length of the carbon linker between aromatic moieties. Several dications exhibited superior antiplasmodial and antileishmanial potencies compared to pentamidine.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of pyridyl analogues of pentamidine.

A series of novel pyridyl analogues 1-18 of antiprotozoal drug 1,5-bis(4-amidinophenoxy)pentane (pentamidine) has been synthesized and tested for in vitro activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani, and for cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Antiprotozoal properties of compounds 1-18 depended on the placement of cationic moieties on the pyridine rings as well as the nature of substituents on the amidine groups. Diamidine 6 with cationic moieties adjacent to pyridine nitrogen atoms was the most promising compound in the series showing superior in vitro activities against T. brucei rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani compared to pentamidine. An oral prodrug of diamidine 6, diamidoxime 9, administered at 25 mg/kg daily for 4 days, exhibited excellent antitrypanosomal efficacy in vivo curing all infected animals in the STIB900 acute mouse model of trypanosomiasis.

Structure-activity study of pentamidine analogues as antiprotozoal agents.

Diamidine 1 (pentamidine) and 65 analogues (2-66) have been tested for in vitro antiprotozoal activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani, and for cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Dications 32, 64, and 66 exhibited antitrypanosomal potencies equal or greater than melarsoprol (IC(50) = 4 nM). Nine congeners (2-4, 12, 27, 30, and 64-66) were more active against P. falciparum than artemisinin (IC(50) = 6 nM). Eight compounds (12, 32, 33, 44, 59, 62, 64, and 66) exhibited equal or better antileishmanial activities than 1 (IC(50) = 1.8 microM). Several congeners were more active than 1 in vivo, curing at least 2/4 infected animals in the acute mouse model of trypanosomiasis. The diimidazoline 66 was the most promising compound in the series, showing excellent in vitro activities and high selectivities against T. b. rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani combined with high antitrypanosomal efficacy in vivo.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of cationic 2-phenylbenzofurans.

A series of cationically substituted 2-phenylbenzofurans 1- 49 have been synthesized, and their in vitro antiprotozoal properties against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani, as well as cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, have been evaluated. Eight dications exhibited antitrypanosomal activities comparable to that of pentamidine and melarsoprol. Twenty-six compounds were more active than pentamidine, and seven dications demonstrated increased activities against P. falciparum than artemisinin. Five congeners were more active against L. donovani than pentamidine. Introduction of methoxy or hydroxy groups in the 7- and/or 2'-position afforded derivatives that were highly selective against T. b. rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani. Fourteen 2-phenylbenzofurans displayed excellent in vivo efficacies in the acute mouse model of trypanosomiasis, curing 3/4 or 4/4 animals at 4 x 5 mg/kg. Diamidine 1 and di( N-isopropyl)amidine 45, administered at 4 x 1 mg/kg, exhibited potency comparable to that of melarsoprol, providing 3/4 and 2/4 cures, respectively.

Pharmacological and biological screening of ascorbigen: protection against glucose-induced endothelial cell toxicity.

Cruciferous vegetables contain significant amounts of ascorbigen and related substances with known molecular structures. This study tested the hypothesis that ascorbigen demonstrates antioxidant properties and protects human umbilical cord endothelial cells against hyperglycemic toxicity in vitro. It was observed that ascorbigen, in micromolar concentrations, protected against endothelial cell death from glucose toxicity. Additionally, ascorbigen at 3.0 mm shifted the concentration response curve of l-phenylephrine to the right, with a reduction in the maximal contractile effects of the agonist. This action was not related to alpha-adrenoceptor blockade. Ascorbigen also relaxed the vascular tone induced by l-phenylephrine, which is not mediated by an endothelial cell nitric oxide-dependent mechanism. On the guinea-pig ileum, the spasmogenic effects of carbachol, histamine and serotonin were reduced in the presence of 3 mM ascorbigen. Spasm of the gut induced by the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine, was antagonized by ascorbigen with an IC50 of 286 microM. This natural product also has a weak antiparasitic activity. The cytoprotective effects of ascorbigen may be highly relevant in the optimum physiological regulation of the function and the therapeutic value of this substance in disease settings needs to be further investigated.

Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal activity of bisbenzofuran cations.

Forty three cationic bisbenzofurans were synthesized either by interaction of o-hydroxyaldehydes with alpha-halogenated ketones followed by intramolecular ring closure or by a copper- or palladium-mediated heteroannulation of substituted o-iodophenols with terminal acetylenes. In vitro antiprotozoal activities of compounds 1-43 against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani and cytotoxicity against mammalian cells were influenced by the position and the type of cationic substituents as well as the length of the carbon linker between aromatic moieties. One bisamidine displayed an antitrypanosomal efficacy comparable to that of pentamidine and melarsoprol. Twenty two compounds were more potent than pentamidine and seven dications were more effective than artemisinin against P. falciparum. Eight bisbenzofurans displayed activity against L. donovani superior to that of pentamidine. Overall, bisamidines connected by two-carbon linkers exhibited the highest efficacies against T. b. rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani.

Synthesis and antiparasitic evaluation of bis-2,5-[4-guanidinophenyl]thiophenes.

A series of bis-2,5-[4-guanidinophenyl]thiophenes were prepared in a five step process starting from 2,5-bis[trimethylstannyl]thiophene. The compounds were evaluated in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T. b. r.), Plasmodium falciparum (P. f.), Leshmania donovani (L. d.) and Trypanasoma cruzi (T. c.), and in vivo against T. b. r. Certain compounds show promising in vitro activity against T. b. r. and P. f. and have superior in vivo activity against T. b. r. to that of pentamidine and furamidine.

Synthesis and antitubulin activity of N1- and N4-substituted 3,5-dinitro sulfanilamides against African trypanosomes and Leishmania.

Thirty analogues of N(1)-phenyl-3,5-dinitro-N(4),N(4)-di-n-propylsulfanilamide (GB-II-5, compound 3), a new antikinetoplastid antimitotic agent, have been synthesized and evaluated. The addition of simple functional groups to the N1 aromatic ring generally decreases antiparasitic and antimitotic potency, but placement of a dibutyl substituent at the N4 nitrogen to give N(1)-phenyl-3,5-dinitro-N(4),N(4)-di-n-butylsulfanilamide (compound 35) augments antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activity. Compound 35 possesses IC(50) values of 0.12 and 2.6 microM against cultured T. brucei and L. donovani amastigote-like forms, surpassing the activity of compound 3 against these parasites by 3.4- and 1.9-fold, respectively. Compound 35 inhibits the assembly of leishmanial tubulin with an IC(50) of 6.9 microM and displays antimitotic effects in cultured T. brucei as assessed by flow cytometry, but shows little effect on purified mammalian tubulin, and displays 100-fold selectivity for trypanosomes over two mammalian cell lines. Although 3 and 35 were not effective in initial in vivo antitrypanosomal assays, the in vitro potency and selectivity of these compounds make N(1)-aryl-3,5-dinitro-N(4),N(4)-dialkylsulfanilamides a promising new class of antikinetoplastid agents that act on parasite tubulin.