Raphael S. F. Silva

The effects on Trypanosoma cruzi of novel synthetic naphthoquinones are mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction.

Despite ongoing efforts, the current treatment for Chagas disease is still unsatisfactory, mainly because of the severe side effects and variable efficacy of the available nitroheterocycles. Our group has been assaying natural quinones isolated from Brazilian flora, and their derivatives, as alternative chemotherapeutic agents against Trypanosoma cruzi. From C-allyl lawsone three naphthofuranquinones were synthesized, which were active against trypomastigotes and epimastigotes. Here, we further investigated the activity and the mechanisms of action of these quinones. They exhibited powerful effects on intracellular amastigotes, presenting low toxicity to the host cells. Ultrastructural analyses of treated epimastigotes and trypomastigotes indicated a potent effect of the three naphthofuranquinones on the parasite mitochondrion, which appeared drastically swollen and with a washed-out matrix profile. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of rhodamine 123-stained T. cruzi showed that the three naphthofuranquinones caused a potent dose-dependent collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, especially in the epimastigote form. Naphthofuranquinones also decreased specifically mitochondrial complex I-III activity in both epimastigotes and trypomastigotes, parallel to a reduction in succinate-induced oxygen consumption. Mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide formation was also increased in epimastigotes after treatment with the naphthofuranquinones. Our results indicate that the trypanocidal action of the naphthofuranquinones is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to increased reactive oxygen species generation and parasite death.

Chemical characterization of bio-oils using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The liquid product obtained via the biomass flash pyrolysis is commonly called bio-oil or pyrolysis oil. Bio-oils can be used as sources for chemicals or as fuels, primarily in mixtures or emulsions with fossil fuels. A detailed chemical characterization of bio-oil is necessary to determine its potential uses. Such characterization demands a powerful analytical technique such as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). Limited chemical information can be obtained from conventional gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC-MS) because of the large number of compounds and coelutions. Thus, GC×GC-TOFMS was used for the individual identification of bio-oil components from two samples prepared via the flash pyrolysis of empty palm fruit bunch and pine wood chips. To the best of our knowledge, few papers have reported comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) for bio-oil analysis. Many classes of compounds such as phenols, benzenediols, cyclopentenones, furanones, indanones and alkylpyridines were identified. Several coelutions present in the GC-MS were resolved using GC×GC-TOFMS. Many peaks were detected for the samples by GC-MS (~166 and 129), but 631 and 857 were detected by GC×GC-TOFMS, respectively. The GC×GC-TOFMS analyses indicated that the major classes of components (analytes>0.5% relative area) in the two bio-oil samples are ketones, cyclopentenones, furanones, furans, phenols, benzenediols, methoxy- and dimethoxy-phenols and sugars. In addition, esters, aldehydes and pyridines were found for sample obtained from empty palm fruit bunch, while alcohols and cyclopentanediones were found in sample prepared from pine wood chips indicating different composition profiles due to the biomass sources. The elucidation of the composition of empty fruit bunch and pine wood chips bio-oils indicates that these oils are suitable for the production of value-added chemicals. The high quantity of phenol in the bio-oil of empty palm fruit bunch is of interest because phenol isolated from the bio-oil could provide an alternative to the phenol obtained from petroleum. The anhydrosugars found mainly in the bio-oil sample of pine wood chips can be isolated and fermented to produce ethanol or lipids. GC×GC-TOFMS can be used to increase the knowledge of the chemical composition of bio-oils allowing the improved usage of this attractive renewable energy source in bio-fuels.

A macrolactone from benzo[a]phenazine with potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We report here an alternative to the MCPBA or ozonolysis-based oxidation methods of quinoxaline-featuring compounds prepared from beta-lapachones. The use of peracetic acid allowed a simple preparation of the corresponding macrolactones by cleavage of the ring system. These lactones were evaluated for their antimycobacterial potential and compound 4 turned out to have an MIC of 0.62 microg per mL on Mycocabteriumtuberculosis H37Rv. These results justify further research into its value as a potential lead for an original treatment of tuberculosis.

Activity of β-lapachone derivatives against rifampicin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The increase of incidence of tuberculosis (TB) with resistant strains and HIV co-infection has reinforced the necessity of developing new drugs for its treatment. The reaction of naphthoquinones with aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of ammonium acetate led to the synthesis of the three β-lapachone derivatives (naphthoimidazoles) that were tested in this study. Phenazines were prepared by the reaction of the respective naphtoquinone with o-phenylenediamine in acetic acid under reflux. The antimicrobial activity of the derivatives was evaluated in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC 27294) and the rifampicin-resistant strain (ATCC 35338) containing a His-526-Tir mutation in the rpoB gene. Using the Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA) method, bioactive molecules were observed in the susceptible and resistant strains with MICs ranging from 2.2 μM to 17 μM. The naphthoimidazoles with p-toluyl and indolyl group attached to the imidazole ring were more active against the H37Rv strain (MIC 9.12 μM and 4.2 μM, respectively) than the rifampicin-resistant strain (MIC 8.3 μM and 17 μM, respectively). The phenazine with the allyl-pyran group was most active among the two strains and had an MIC of 2.2 mM. These results show the potential of these molecules as prototypes for future drugs used in treating TB.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry: new biomarker parameter proposition for the characterization of biodegraded oil

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) is an appropriate technique for the elucidation of molecular composition of petrochemical samples, such as biodegraded oils. Biomarkers were separated and identified, and conventional biomarker ratios were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC×GC-TOFMS. In the extracted ion chromatogram m/z 123 + 177 + 191, coelutions between tricyclic terpanes, hopanes and 25-nor-hopanes with secohopanes were resolved by GC×GC-TOFMS. GC×GC-TOFMS allowed the identification of complete series of 25-nor-hopanes, nor-gammacerane, C29 28-nor-spergulanes and oleanane not identified by using GC-MS. The biomarker ratios from the studied oils indicated that they derived from marine source rock deposited under anoxic conditions. The higher chromatographic resolution and sensitivity achieved by using GC×GC-TOFMS allowed for three new parameters to characterize biodegraded oils. These results indicated the superiority of GC×GC-TOFMS for separation and identification of individual and non-target compounds in severely biodegraded oils.

Synthesis and characterization of the antitubercular phenazine lapazine and development of PLGA and PCL nanoparticles for its entrapment.

The aim of this work was to develop and characterize nanoparticles as carriers of lapazine, a phenazine derived from β-lapachone; its antimycobacterial activity is described for the first time as a potential treatment for tuberculosis. The lapazine was synthesized, and by using gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector, it was possible to evaluate its purity degree of almost 100%. For better elucidation of the molecular structure, mass spectroscopy and 1H NMR were carried out and compared to the literature values. Lapazine was assayed in vitro against H37Rv Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a rifampicin-resistant strain, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 3.00 and 1.56 μg mL(-1), respectively. The nanoparticles showed a polydispersity index of 0.16,mean diameter of 188.5 ± 1.7 mm, zeta potential of -15.03 mV, and drug loading of 54.71 mg g(-1) for poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles and a polydispersity index of 0.318,mean diameter of 197.4 ± 2.7 mm, zeta potential of -13.43 mV and drug loading of 137.07 mg g(-1) for poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles. These results indicate that both polymeric formulations have good characteristics as potential lapazine carriers in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Chemoselective oxidation of benzophenazines by m-CPBA: n-oxidation vs. oxidative cleavage

Chemoselectivity is observed when a pyran-benzo[a]phenazine and a furan-benzo[a]phenazine from b-lapachone and nor-b-lapachone, respectively, were submitted to oxidation by m-CPBA. The pyran phenazine furnished mainly macrolactones, while the furan one led exclusively to a phenazine N-8 oxide. To understand this difference in reactivity, we synthesized a new furan phenazine, with the reactive double bond site less hindered than that of the derivative from nor-beta-lapachone. This furan phenazine, upon oxidation with m-CPBA, furnished mainly the expected macrolactone. These experimental results, along with preliminary analysis based on mechanical molecular calculations of the ground state of the substrates, allowed us to suggest that the observed chemoselectivity has a steric oxidant approach control origin, related to the presence of the geminal methyl groups in the phenazine structure. Several of the synthesized compounds are, herein, reported for the first time.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry applied to analysis of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products obtained with and without carbon dioxide addition to feed gas

A cromatografia gasosa bidimensional abrangente acoplada a espectrometria de massas por tempo de voo (CG×CG-EMTDV) foi aplicada para avaliar o efeito do CO2 sobre a distribuicao dos n-alcanos, alcanos ramificados, alquenos e compostos oxigenados em produtos da reacao de Fischer-Tropsch. Coeluicoes de material nao resolvido observadas em CG convencional foram resolvidas por CG×CG-EMTDV.

Mechanism of action of novel naphthofuranquinones on rat liver microsomal peroxidation.

In order to elucidate the effect on mammal systems of new derivatives from 2-hydroxy-3-allyl-naphthoquinone, alpha-iodinated naphthofuranquinone (NPPN-3223), beta-iodinated naphthofuranquinone (NPPN-3222) and beta-methyl naphthofuranquinone (NPPN-3226) synthesized as possible trypanocidal agents, their effect on rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation was investigated. They (a) inhibited NADPH-dependent, iron-catalyzed microsomal rat liver lipid peroxidation; (b) did not inhibit the tert-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation; (c) did not inhibit ascorbate-lipid peroxidation with the exception of NPPN-3226 which did inhibit it; (d) stimulated NADPH oxidation and microsomal oxygen uptake; (e) increased superoxide anion formation by NADPH-supplemented microsomes and (f) stimulated ascorbate oxidation. The three drugs were reduced to their seminaphthofuranquinone radical by the liver NADPH-P450 reductase system, as detected by ESR measurements. These results support the hypothesis that naphthofuranquinones reduction by microsomal NADPH-P450 reductase and semiquinone oxidation by molecular oxygen diverts electrons, preventing microsomal lipid peroxidation. In addition, hydroquinones and/or semiquinones formed by naphthofuranquinones reduction would be capable of lipid peroxidation inhibition and on interacting with the lipid peroxide radicals can lead to an antioxidant effect as we suggested for NPPN-3226 in close agreement to the inhibition of ascorbate-lipid peroxidation. Due to the properties of these molecules and their incoming structure developments, naphthofuranquinones would be considered as potentially promising therapeutic agents, mainly against Chagas disease.

1,4- Addition of diazomethane to a heterodiene: a direct preparation of the oxazolic ring

The reaction of naphthoquinone-oximes (3) and (4) with diazomethane yields directly, in one step, the oxazoles (5) and (6), respectively.