Inmaculada Ramírez-Macías

In Vitro and in Vivo Trypanocidal Activity of Flavonoids from Delphinium staphisagria against Chagas Disease

The in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activities of nine flavonoids (1-9) isolated from the aerial parts of Delphinium staphisagria have been studied in both the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease. The antiproliferative activity of these substances against Trypanosoma cruzi (epimastigote, amastigote, and trypomastigote forms) in some cases exhibited more potent antitrypanosomatid activity and lower toxicity than the reference drug, benznidazole. Studies in vitro using ultrastructural analysis together with metabolism-excretion studies were also performed in order to identify the possible action mechanism of the compounds tested. Alterations mainly at the level of the mitochondria may explain metabolic changes in succinate and acetate production, perhaps due to the disturbance of the enzymes involved in sugar metabolism within the mitochondrion. In vivo studies provided results consistent with those observed in vitro. No signs of toxicity were detected in mice treated with the flavonoids tested, and the parasitic charge was significantly lower than in the control assay with benznidazole. The effects of these compounds were also demonstrated with the change in the anti-T. cruzi antibody levels during the chronic stage.

In vitro and in vivo antiparasital activity against Trypanosoma cruzi of three novel 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one-based complexes.

Conventional reactions of the versatile multidentate ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (HmtpO) with metallic(II) perchlorate salts lead to three novel multidimensional complexes [Cu(HmtpO)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2)·H(2)O (1), {[Cu(HmtpO)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) ·2HmtpO}(n) (2) and {[Co(HmtpO)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2)·2H(2)O}(n) (3). We have tested the antiparasital activity in vitro and in vivo of the three new complexes against Trypanosoma cruzi showing very promising results and overcoming clearly the reference drug commonly used for the Chagas disease treatment, benznidazole.

In vitro leishmanicidal activity of imidazole- or pyrazole-based benzo[g]phthalazine derivatives against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis species

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of imidazole-based (1-4) and pyrazole-based (5-6) benzo[g]phthalazine derivatives against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis. METHODS The in vitro activity of compounds 1-6 was assayed on extracellular promastigote and axenic amastigote forms, and on intracellular amastigote forms of the parasites. Infectivity and cytotoxicity tests were performed on J774.2 macrophage cells using meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) as the reference drug. The mechanisms of action were analysed by iron superoxide dismutase (Fe-SOD) and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) inhibition, metabolite excretion and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). RESULTS Compounds 1-6 were more active and less toxic than meglumine antimoniate. Data on infection rates and amastigote mean numbers showed that 2, 4 and 6 were more active than 1, 3 and 5 in both L. infantum and L. braziliensis. The inhibitory effect of these compounds on the antioxidant enzyme Fe-SOD of promastigote forms of the parasites was remarkable, whereas inhibition of human CuZn-SOD was negligible. The ultrastructural alterations observed in treated promastigote forms confirmed the greater cell damage caused by the most active compounds 2, 4 and 6. The modifications observed by (1)H-NMR in the nature and amounts of catabolites excreted by the parasites after treatment with 1-6 suggested that the catabolic mechanisms could depend on the structure of the side chains linked to the benzo[g]phthalazine moiety. CONCLUSIONS All the compounds assayed were active in vitro against the two Leishmania species and were less toxic against mammalian cells than the reference drug, but the monosubstituted compounds were significantly more effective and less toxic than their disubstituted counterparts.

Biological activity of three novel complexes with the ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one against Leishmania spp.

OBJECTIVES We report on new 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine complexes that have been developed and examined for both antiproliferative in vitro activity against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis, and report their possible mechanism of action on L. infantum and L. braziliensis. RESULTS Antileishmanial effects are described for newly synthesized Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes containing 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (HmtpO) as a ligand. These complexes display a wide structural diversity: (i) mononuclear unit, [Cu(HmtpO)2(H2O)3](ClO4)2·H2O (1); (ii) two-dimensional framework, {[Cu(HmtpO)2(H2O)2](ClO4)(2)·2HmtpO}n (2); and (iii) chains, {[Co(HmtpO)(H2O)3](ClO4)(2)·2H2O}n (3). Compounds 1 and 2 appeared to be the most active against L. infantum (IC50 20.0 and 24.4 μM, respectively), and compounds 1 and 3 the most active against L. braziliensis (IC50 22.1 and 23.5 μM, respectively), with IC50s similar to those of the reference drug, glucantime (18.0 μM for L. infantum and 25.6 μM for L. braziliensis). These compounds were not toxic towards J774.2 macrophages. IC25 decreased infection capacity and severely reduced the multiplication of intracellular amastigotes, following the trend 1>3>2 for L. infantum and 3>1>2 for L. braziliensis. These complexes had an effect on the energy metabolism of the parasites at the level of the NAD+/NADH balance and the organelle membranes, causing their degradation and cell death. CONCLUSIONS Cellular proliferation, metabolic and ultrastructural studies showed that the compounds 2>1>3 were highly active against L. infantum and L. braziliensis.

In Vivo Trypanosomicidal Activity of Imidazole- or Pyrazole-Based Benzo(g)phthalazine Derivatives against Acute and Chronic Phases of Chagas Disease

The in vivo trypanosomicidal activity of the imidazole-based benzo[g]phthalazine derivatives 1-4 and of the new related pyrazole-based compounds 5 and 6 has been studied in both the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease. As a rule, compounds 1-6 were more active and less toxic than benznidazole in the two stages of the disease, and the monosubstituted derivatives 2, 4, and 6 were more effective than their disubstituted analogs. Feasible mechanisms of action of compounds 1-6 against the parasite have been explored by considering their inhibitory effect on the Fe-SOD enzyme, the nature of the excreted metabolites and the ultrastructural alterations produced. A complementary histopathological analysis has confirmed that the monosubstituted derivatives are less toxic than the reference drug, with the behavior of the imidazole-based compound 4 being especially noteworthy.

In vitro anti-leishmania evaluation of nickel complexes with a triazolopyrimidine derivative against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis

Studies on the anti-proliferative activity in vitro of seven ternary nickel (II) complexes with a triazolopyrimidine derivative and different aliphatic or aromatic amines as auxiliary ligands against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis have been carried out. These compounds are not toxic for the host cells and two of them are effective at lower concentrations than the reference drug used in the present study (Glucantime). In general, the in vitro growth rate of Leishmania spp. was reduced, its capacity to infect cells was negatively affected and the multiplication of the amastigotes decreased. Ultrastructural analysis and metabolism excretion studies were executed in order to propose a possible mechanism for the action of the assayed compounds. Our results show that the potential mechanism is at the level of organelles membranes, either by direct action on the microtubules or by their disorganization, leading to vacuolization, degradation and ultimately cell death.

In vitro activity of scorpiand-like azamacrocycle derivatives in promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis.

The activity of a family scorpiand-like azamacrocycles against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis was studied using promastigotes, axenic and intracellular amastigotes forms. All the compounds are more active and less toxic than meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime). Moreover, the data on infection rates and amastigotes showed that compounds P2Py, PN and P3Py are the most active against both species of Leishmania. On the other hand, studies on the inhibitory effect of these compounds on SOD enzymes showed that while the inhibition of the Fe-SOD enzyme of the promastigote forms of the parasites is remarkable, the inhibition of human CuZn-SOD and Mn-SOD from Escherichia coli is negligible. The ultrastructural alterations observed in treated promastigote forms confirmed that the compounds having the highest activity were those causing the largest cell damage. The modifications observed by (1)H NMR, and the amounts of catabolites excreted by the parasites after treatment with the compounds, suggested that the catabolic mechanism could depend on the structure of the side chains linked to the aza-scorpiand macrocycles.

Leishmanicidal activity of nine novel flavonoids from Delphinium staphisagria.

Objectives. To evaluate the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of nine flavonoid derivatives from Delphinium staphisagria against L. infantum and L. braziliensis. Design and Methods. The in vitro activity of compounds 1–9 was assayed on extracellular promastigote and axenic amastigote forms and on intracellular amastigote forms of the parasites. Infectivity and cytotoxicity tests were carried on J774.2 macrophage cells using Glucantime as the reference drug. The mechanisms of action were analysed performing metabolite excretion and transmission electronic microscope ultrastructural alteration studies. Results. Nine flavonoids showed leishmanicidal activity against promastigote as well as amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum and L. braziliensis. These compounds were nontoxic to mammalian cells and were effective at similar concentrations up to or lower than that of the reference drug (Glucantime). The results showed that 2″-acetylpetiolaroside (compound 8) was clearly the most active. Conclusion. This study has demonstrated that flavonoid derivatives are active against L. infantum and L. braziliensis.

Lanthanide complexes containing 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo(1,5-a) pyrimidin-7(4H)-one and their therapeutic potential to fight leishmaniasis and Chagas disease☆

In the last years, numerous and significant advances in lanthanide coordination chemistry have been achieved. The unique chemical nature of these metal ions which is conferred by their f-electrons has led to a wide range of coordination compounds with interesting structural, physical and also biological properties. Consequently, lanthanide complexes have found applications mainly in catalysis, gas adsorption, photochemistry and as diagnostic tools. However, research on their therapeutic potential and the understanding of their mechanism of action is still taking its first steps, and there is a distinct lack of research in the parasitology field. In the present work, we describe the synthesis and physical properties of seven new lanthanide complexes with the anionic form of the bioactive ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (HmtpO), namely [Ln(mtpO)3(H2O)6]·9H2O (Ln=La(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III) and Er(III)). In addition, results on the in vitro antiproliferative activity against Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi are described. The high activity of the new compounds against parasite proliferation and their low cytotoxicity against reference host cell lines show a great potential of this type of compounds to become a new generation of highly effective and non-toxic antiparasitic agents to fight the so considered neglected diseases leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

New perspectives on the synthesis and antichagasic activity of 3-alkoxy-1-alkyl-5-nitroindazoles

The synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of some 3-alkoxy-1-alkyl- (1, 4) and 3-alkoxy-1-(ω-aminoalkyl)-5-nitroindazoles (2, 3, 5-8) against different morphological forms of Trypanosoma cruzi are reported. These compounds were prepared using simple alkylation reactions and, usually, taking advantage of the reactivity of some indazole-derived betaines previously studied by us. Most indazole derivatives showed in vitro activities similar or higher than those of the reference drug benznidazole; this fact, along with low unspecific cytotoxicities against Vero cells shown by some of them, led to very good selectivity indexes (SI). The high efficiency of 5-nitroindazoles 1 and 2 against T. cruzi was confirmed by further in vitro studies on infection rates and by an additional in vivo study in a murine model of acute and chronic Chagas disease. Complementary analyses of the changes in the metabolites excreted by the parasite and on the ultrastructural alterations induced after treatment with indazole derivatives 1 and 2 were also conducted.