Novel Imidazo[4,5-c][1,2,6]thiadiazine 2,2-dioxides as antiproliferative trypanosoma cruzi drugs: Computational screening from neural network, synthesis and in vivo biological properties.

A new family of imidazo[4,5-c][1,2,6]thiadiazine 2,2-dioxide with antiproliferative Trypanosoma cruzi properties was identified from a neural network model published by our group. The synthesis and evaluation of this new class of trypanocidal agents are described. These compounds inhibit the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi, comparable with benznidazole or nifurtimox. In vitro assays were performed to study their effects on the growth of the epimastigote form of the Tulahuen 2 strain, as well as the epimastigote and amastigote forms of CL clone B5 of Trypanosoma cruzi. To verify selectivity towards parasite cells, the non-specific cytotoxicity of the most relevant compounds was studied in mammalian cells, i.e. J774 murine macrophages and NCTC clone 929 fibroblasts. Furthermore, these compounds were assayed regarding the inhibition of cruzipain. In vivo studies revealed that one of the compounds, 19, showed interesting trypanocidal activity, and could be a very promising candidate for the treatment of Chagas disease.

Mutagenicity of N-oxide containing heterocycles and related compounds: experimental and theoretical studies.

In the development of new drugs, it is very important to know the effects these may bring to those who consume them. Drugs which act upon certain diseases must not cause toxic side effects on healthy organs. These toxic side effects can be quite varied, i.e. mutagenicity, clastogenicity, teratogenicity, etc., but undoubtedly the mutagenicity officiate in the selection process, during preclinical testing, to advance in clinical trials. Mutagenic compounds are removed and cannot continue its development. There are preclinical studies of mutagenicity and genotoxicity, ranging from in vitro to in vivo studies. Particularly, Ames test is recommended by ICH as the first input in these studies. Herein, we investigated the mutagenicity of an in-house chemical library of eighty five N-oxide containing heterocycles using Ames test in Salmonella thyphimurium TA 98 with and without S9 activation and the use of neural networks in order to predict this nondesired activity. N-oxide containing heterocycles are especially relevant regarding its pharmacological activities as antitrypanosoma, anti-leishmania, anti-tuberculosis, anti-cancer, chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, and analgesic agents. In some cases, a relationship was found between the presence of N-oxide and mutagenicity. Specifically, benzofuroxan system seems to be responsible for the mutagenicity of certain agents against Chagas disease and certain anti-inflammatory agents. However other N-oxides, such as furoxans with anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerosis activities, seem to lack mutagenicity. In other cases, such as quinoxaline dioxides with anti-parasitic activity, mutagenicity shows to be substituent dependent. Applying CODES neural network two models were defined, one without metabolism and other with metabolism. These models predict the mutagenicity with and without metabolism in an excellent manner.

Bioactive-guided identification of labdane diterpenoids from aerial parts of Aristeguietia glutinosa as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents.

A bioactive-guided investigation of the hydro-ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Aristeguietia glutinosa Lam. resulted in the isolation of two diterpenoids, (+)-15-hydroxy-labd-7-en-17-al (1) and (+)-13,14,15,16-tetranor-labd-7-en-17,12-olide (2), as the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi active principles. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The hydro-ethanolic extract showed anti-T. cruzi activity (IC50 = 19.6 microg/mL) whereas the isolated compounds 1 and 2 were near to seven- and one and a half-fold (IC50 = 3.0 and 15.6 microg/mL), respectively more active than the original extract. Labdene 1, equipotent as the reference compound (Nifurtimox), displayed low hemolytic activity, low toxicity against murine macrophages, and absence of mutagenicity. These results support the vernacular medicinal use of this plant as an anti-T. cruzi agent.

Novel Phenazine 5,10-Dioxides Release OH in Simulated Hypoxia and Induce Reduction of Tumour Volume In Vivo.

Phenazine 5,10-dioxides (PDOs) are a new class of bioreductive cytotoxins, which could act towards tumours containing hypoxic regions. The PDOs selective-hypoxic bioreduction was probed in vitro; however, the mechanism of action has not been completely explained. Besides, PDOs in vivo antitumour activities have not been demonstrated hitherto. We study the mechanism of hypoxic/normoxic cytotoxicity of PDO representative members. Electron spin resonance is used to confirm (•)OH production, alkaline comet assay to determine genotoxicity, and gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry to analyze DNA fragmentation and cell cycle distribution. Chemically induced rat breast tumours are employed to evaluate in vivo activities. For the most selective cytotoxin, 7(8)-bromo-2-hydroxyphenazine 5,10-dioxide (PDO1), exclusive hypoxic (•)OH production is evidenced, while for the unselective ones, (•)OH is produced in both conditions (normoxia and simulated hypoxia). In normoxia (Caco-2 cells), PDO1 induces cell-cycle arrest and DNA fragmentation but does not significantly induce apoptosis neither at IC(50) nor IC(80). No difference in the comet-assay scores are observed in normoxia and simulated hypoxia being the unselective 2-amino-7(8)-bromophenazine 5,10-dioxide (PDO2) the most genotoxic. The in vivo efficacy with the absence of systemic toxicity of PDO1 and PDO2 is checked out. Results from this study highlight the potential of PDOs as new therapeutics for cancer.

3-Trifluoromethylquinoxaline N,N'-dioxides as anti-trypanosomatid agents. Identification of optimal anti-T. cruzi agents and mechanism of action studies.

For a fourth approach of quinoxaline N,N'-dioxides as anti-trypanosomatid agents against T. cruzi and Leishmania, we found extremely active derivatives. The present study allows us to state the correct requirements for obtaining optimal in vitro anti-T. cruzi activity. Derivatives possessing electron-withdrawing substituents in the 2-, 3-, 6-, and 7-positions were the most active compounds. With regard to these features and taking into account their mammal cytotoxicity, some trifluoromethylquinoxaline N,N'-dioxides have been proposed as candidates for further clinical studies. Consequently, mutagenicity and in vivo analyses were performed with the most promising derivatives. In addition, with regard to the mechanism of action studies, it was demonstrated that mitochondrial dehydrogenases are involved in the anti-T. cruzi activity of the most active derivatives.