The ABCG2 protein in vitro transports the xenobiotic thiabendazole and increases the appearance of its residues in milk.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic and fungicide used in humans, animals, and agricultural commodities. TBZ residues are present in crops and animal products, including milk, posing a risk to food safety and public health. ABCG2 is a membrane transporter which affects bioavailability and milk secretion of xenobiotics. Therefore, the aim of this work was to characterize the role of ABCG2 in the in vitro transport and secretion into milk of 5-hydroxythiabendazole (5OH-TBZ), the main TBZ metabolite. Using MDCK-II polarized cells transduced with several species variants of ABCG2, we first demonstrated that 5OH-TBZ is efficiently in vitro transported by ABCG2. Subsequently, using Abcg2 knockout mice, we demonstrated that 5OH-TBZ secretion into milk was affected by Abcg2, with a more than 2-fold higher milk concentration and milk to plasma ratio in wild-type mice compared to their Abcg2-/- counterpart.

Iridium solvent complex as a new sensitive probe to detect benzimidazole pesticides based on photoluminescent signals "switch-on" via coordination mechanism.

An iridium solvent complex (abbreviated as Ir-probe) has been synthesized and reported as a new photoluminescent "switch-on" probe to detect benzimidazole pesticides via coordination mechanism in this work. This new probe could successfully distinguish benzimidazole pesticides from other kinds of common pesticides widely used in agriculture activities. Thiabendazole (TBZ) and carbendazim (CBZ) as the representative benzimidazole pesticides, this probe exhibited good analytical performance with the linear ranges of 0.05 µM to 20 µM for TBZ and 3 µM to 40 µM for CBZ, and the corresponding limit of detection (LOD, 3σ/S) is 0.03 µM and 0.5 µM for analyzing TBZ and CBZ, respectively. In addition, the proposed method in this work also has good recoveries in analyzing TBZ and CBZ residues in the real samples.

Experimental and theoretical characterization of the strong effects on DNA stability caused by half-sandwich Ru(II) and Ir(III) bearing thiabendazole complexes.

The synthesis and characterization of two half-sandwich complexes of Ru(II) and Ir(III) with thiabendazole as ancillary ligand and their DNA binding ability were investigated using experimental and computational methods. 1H NMR and acid-base studies have shown that aquo-complexes are the reactive species. Kinetic studies show that both complexes bind covalently to DNA through the metal site and non covalently through the ancillary ligand. Thermal stability studies, viscosity, circular dichroism measurements and quantum chemical calculations have shown that the covalent binding causes breaking of the H-bonding between base pairs, bringing about DNA denaturation and compaction. Additionally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations shed light into the binding features of the Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes and their respective enantiomers toward double-helical DNA, highlighting the important role played by the NˆN ancillary ligand once the complexes are covalently linked to DNA. Moreover, metal quantification in the nucleus of SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells were carried out by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), both complexes are more internalized than cisplatin after 4 h of exposition. However, in spite of the dramatic changes in the helicity of the DNA secondary structure induced by these complexes and their nuclear localization, antiproliferative studies have revealed that both, Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes, cannot be considered cytotoxic. This unexpected behavior can be justified by the fast formation of aquo-complexes, which may react with components of the cell culture medium or the cytoplasm compartment in such a way that they may become deactivated before reaching DNA.

Thiabendazole-based Rh(III) and Ir(III) biscyclometallated complexes with mitochondria-targeted anticancer activity and metal-sensitive photodynamic activity.

Two pairs of Rh(III) and Ir(III) biscyclometallated complexes with thiabendazole (L1), named [Ir-a]Cl and [Rh-a]Cl, and N-benzyl-thiabendazole (L2), named [Ir-b]Cl and [Rh-b]Cl, have been designed and synthesized to explore the photophysical and biological effects that arise from changing both the metal center and the ancillary ligand. In the dark, the four metal complexes exhibit greater cytotoxicity than cisplatin against human colon (SW480) and human lung (A549) adenocarcinoma cell lines. Moreover, the pair of complexes bearing the ligand L2 is markedly more cytotoxic and present higher uptake values than complexes with L1, thereby their biological properties were studied further to determine their mechanism of action. Interestingly, in spite of the different metal center both the [Ir-b]Cl and [Rh-b]Cl complexes are responsible for the loss of mitochondrial functionality and the activation of apoptotic cell death pathways. Moreover, the photodynamic activity of the four complexes, [Ir-a,b]Cl and [Rh-a,b]Cl, was tested using visible blue light (460 nm) under soft irradiation conditions (20 min, 5.5 mW cm-2). While the Rh complexes are not photopotentiated, the phototoxicity index (IC50 non-irradiated/IC50 irradiated) of [Ir-a]Cl and [Ir-b]Cl complexes was 15.8 and 3.6, respectively. We also demonstrate that only the Ir derivatives are capable of photocatalyzing the oxidation of S-containing l-amino acids under blue light irradiation, [Ir-a]Cl being more active than [Ir-b]Cl, which provides a reasonable mechanism for their biological action (oxidative stress could be selectively promoted through a photocatalytic action) upon irradiation. This different PDT behaviour depending on the metal center and the ancillary substituent may be useful for future rational design of metal-based photosensitizers.

Cu(II)-dipeptide complexes of 2-(4'-thiazolyl)benzimidazole: synthesis, DNA oxidative damage, antioxidant and in vitro antitumor activity.

Two new Cu(II)-dipeptide complexes of 2-(4'-thiazolyl)benzimidazole, [Cu(Gly-Gly)(TBZ)(Cl)]·4H2O (1) and [Cu(Gly-l-Leu)(TBZ)(Cl)]·H2O (2) (Gly-Gly=glycyl-glycine anion, Gly-l-Leu=glycyl-l-leucine anion and TBZ=2-(4'-thiazolyl)benzimidazole) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements and spectroscopy methods (IR, UV-visible, electrospray ionization mass spectra (ESI-MS) and EPR). The DNA binding and cleavage properties of the complexes monitored by multi-spectroscopic techniques (UV absorption, fluorescence and circular dichroism), viscosity determination and agarose gel electrophoresis indicated that the complexes bound to calf thymus (CT)-DNA via a partial intercalative mode with considerable intrinsic binding constants (Kb=1.64×10(5)M(-1) for 1 and 2.59×10(5)M(-1) for 2), and cleaved pBR322 DNA efficiently in the mediation of ascorbic acid (AA), probably via an oxidative damage mechanism induced by OH. The antioxidant activities of the complexes have been evaluated by means of modified nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) photoreduction and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays using HepG2 cells as a model, and it was found that IC50 values of 1 and 2 for dismutation of O2(-) were 0.172 and 0.247µM, respectively, and the CAA50 values were 10.57 and 10.74µM. In addition, the complexes were subjected to in vitro cytotoxicity against three human carcinoma cell lines (HeLa, A549 and HepG2), which revealed that the complexes exhibited effective cytotoxicity (IC50 values varying from 33.17 to 100µM) and selective inhibition toward HeLa cell lines. These findings indicate that the complexes have the potential to act as effective metallopeptide chemotherapeutic agents.

Use of spermine and thiabendazole as analyte protectants to improve direct analysis of 16 carbamates by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in green vegetable matrices.

The carbamates are a well-known thermosensible pesticides class, which are highly prone to degradation via fragmentation and/or rearrangement mechanisms leading to a difficult direct gas chromatography (GC) analysis, i.e., without derivatization. In this paper, spermine and thiabendazole both at 1 mg/mL were highlighted as efficient analyte protectants to improve the direct and simultaneous analysis of 16 carbamates both in solvent and green vegetable matrices. These two molecules were compared in mixture or in combination with three well-known efficient analyte protectants 3-ethoxy-1,2-propanediol, D-sorbitol, and L-gulonic acid-gamma-lactone. The potential benefits were investigated in GC hyphenated to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with two injection modes: programmable temperature vaporizing injector in a solvent split mode (PTV-SSI) and on-column injection (OCI). It was shown that the combined effect of the five protective agents led to the best sensitivity improvement with limits of detection between 0.1-0.4 and 0.03-0.1 microg/kg and limits of quantification between 0.3-1.1 and 0.1-0.5 microg/kg for PTV-SSI and OCI mode, respectively. The correlation coefficients from the analyzed 1-500 microg/kg range were all >0.999 both in the solvent and matrices studied. The recoveries of carbamates from three spiked matrices over five replicates at 20 and 100 microg/kg were in the range 90-107% with relative standard deviation (RSD) equal to 2-7% for PTV-SSI and 92-107% with an RSD equal to 1-6% for OCI. The use of spermine and thiabendazole with other analyte protectants shows very efficient partial or total reduction of breakdown of the most sensitive carbamates such as the N-sulfenylated ones.

Environmental water samples analysis of pesticides by means of chemometrics combined with fluorimetric multioptosensing.

A single flow-through optosensor spectrofluorimetric system is proposed for the resolution of mixtures of three pesticides, alpha-naphthol, o-phenylphenol and thiabendazole, at microg l(-1) levels using a partial least-squares (PLS) calibration approach. The sensor was developed in conjunction with a monochannel flow-injection analysis system with fluorimetric detection using C18 silicagel as an active sorbent substrate in the flow cell. By using 20% methanol-water (v:v) solution as carrier solution, the multisensor responds linearly in the measuring range without requiring additional reagents or derivatization. First derivative emission spectra of the corresponding analytes recorded during the process of retention-elution were used to provide multivariate data. The different kinetic on the retention process of the analytes on the sensing zone allows the selection of a time matrix for each analyte providing best results in the PLS approach. Accurate prediction results were obtained for the three analytes with RMSEP values of 1.86%, 3.34% and 0.50% were obtained for alpha-naphthol, o-phenylphenol and thiabendazole respectively. In the analysis of environmental waters samples, a mean recovery of 103% was obtained.

In vitro metabolic activation of thiabendazole via 5-hydroxythiabendazole: identification of a glutathione conjugate of 5-hydroxythiabendazole.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a broad-spectrum antihelmintic used for treatment of parasitic infections in animals and humans and as an agricultural fungicide for postharvest treatment of fruits and vegetables. It is teratogenic and nephrotoxic in mice, and cases of hepatotoxicity have been observed in humans. Recent reports have demonstrated a correlation between 5-hydroxythiabendazole (5-OHTBZ) formation, a major metabolite of TBZ, and covalent binding of [(14)C]TBZ to hepatocytes, suggesting another pathway of activation of TBZ. Current in vitro studies were undertaken to probe the bioactivation of TBZ via 5-OHTBZ by cytochrome P450 (P450) and peroxidases and identify the reactive species by trapping with reduced glutathione (GSH). Microsomal incubation of TBZ or 5-OHTBZ supplemented with NADPH and GSH afforded a GSH adduct of 5-OHTBZ and was consistent with a bioactivation pathway that involved a P450-catalyzed two-electron oxidation of 5-OHTBZ to a quinone imine. The same adduct was detected in GSH-fortified incubations of 5-OHTBZ with peroxidases. The identity of the GSH conjugate suggested that the same reactive intermediate was formed by both these enzyme systems. Characterization of the conjugate by mass spectrometry and NMR revealed the addition of GSH at the 4-position of 5-OHTBZ. In addition, the formation of a dimer of 5-OHTBZ was discernible in peroxidase-mediated incubations. These results were consistent with a one-electron oxidation of 5-OHTBZ to a radical species that could undergo disproportionation or an additional one-electron oxidation to form a quinone imine. Overall, these studies suggest that 5-OHTBZ can also play a role in TBZ-induced toxicity via its bioactivation by P450 and peroxidases.

Identification of human and rabbit cytochromes P450 1A2 as major isoforms involved in thiabendazole 5-hydroxylation.

This report characterized one of the major cytochrome P450 isozyme involved in thiabendazole metabolism. This study was undertaken by using both cultured rabbit hepatocytes treated or not with drugs known to specifically induced various cytochromes P450 isoenzymes (i.e., P450 1A1/2 by beta-naphthoflavone, P450 2B4 by phenobarbital, P450 3A6 by rifampicine and P450 4A by clofibrate) and human liver (THLE-5) and bronchial (BEAS-2B) epithelial cells expressing or not the major constitutive human cytochromes P450 (i.e., CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1 or 3A4). Only hepatocytes exposed to beta-naphthoflavone and clofibrate significantly metabolized thiabendazole to 5-hydroxythiabendazole. Extensive biotransformation of this anthelmintic only occurred in human cells expressing CYP1A2. Moreover, experiments performed on rabbit preparations showed good correlations between thiabendazole 5-hydroxylase activity and both ethoxyresorufin and methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activities. Thus, CYP1A2 is a major isoenzyme involved in thiabendazole 5-hydroxylation.

Prodrugs of thiabendazole with increased water-solubility.

The poor peroral absorption of benzimidazole anthelmintics limits their usefulness for the treatment of systemic infections such as alveolar or cystic echinococcosis. The low bioavailability has mainly been attributed to the low aqueous solubility of the benzimidazoles. Using thiabendazole as a model compound the prodrug approach was investigated as a mean to obtain derivatives with improved water-solubilities. Bioreversible derivatization of thiabendazole was performed by N-acylation of the benzimidazole moiety with various chloroformates as well as by N-acyloxymethylation. Both the N-alkoxycarbonyl and the N-acyloxymethyl derivatives were readily hydrolyzed to thiabendazole in human plasma and in rat and pig liver homogenates. The pH-rate profiles for the hydrolysis of the derivatives were determined and the lipophilicity of the compounds was assessed by partition experiments. The water-solubility of the N-alkoxycarbonyl derivatives was up to 12 times higher than that of the parent drug. An N-(4-amino-methylbenzoyl)oxymethyl derivative possessed a 300-fold higher water-solubility. The improved aqueous solubility, adequate lipophilicity and chemical stability combined with a facile enzymatic hydrolysis make such derivatives promising prodrugs for benzimidazole anthelmintics with the aim of improving the peroral bioavailability.