Evaluation of the Cytotoxic and Antiviral Effects of Small Molecules Selected by In Silico Studies as Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry.

The spike protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) relies on host cell surface glycans to facilitate interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor. This interaction between ACE2 and the spike protein is a gateway for the virus to enter host cells and may be targeted by antiviral drugs to inhibit viral infection. Therefore, targeting the interaction between these two proteins is an interesting strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. A library of glycan mimetics and derivatives was selected for a virtual screening performed against both ACE2 and spike proteins. Subsequently, in vitro assays were performed on eleven of the most promising in silico compounds to evaluate: (i) their efficacy in inhibiting cell infection by SARS-CoV-2 (using the Vero CCL-81 cell line as a model), (ii) their impact on ACE2 expression (in the Vero CCL-81 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines), and (iii) their cytotoxicity in a human lung cell line (A549). We identified five synthetic compounds with the potential to block SARS-CoV-2 infection, three of them without relevant toxicity in human lung cells. Xanthene 1 stood out as the most promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent, inhibiting viral infection and viral replication in Vero CCL-81 cells, without causing cytotoxicity to human lung cells.

New diarylpentanoids and chalcones as potential antimicrobial adjuvants.

Antimicrobial resistance arises due to several adaptation mechanisms, being the overexpression of efflux pumps (EPs) one of the most worrisome. In bacteria, EPs can also play important roles in virulence, quorum-sensing (QS) and biofilm formation. To identify new potential antimicrobial adjuvants, a library of diarylpentanoids and chalcones was synthesized and tested. These compounds presented encouraging results in potentiating the activity of antimicrobials, being diarylpentanoid 13 the most promising. Compounds 9, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 23 displayed EP inhibitory effect, mainly in Staphylococcus aureus 272123. Compounds 13, 19, 22, and 23 exhibited inhibitory effect on biofilm formation in S. aureus 272,123 while 13 and 22 inhibited QS in the pair Sphingomonas paucimobilis Ezf 10-17 and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. The overall results, demonstrated that diarylpentanoid 13 and chalcone 22 were active against all the resistance mechanisms tested, suggesting their potential as antimicrobial adjuvants.

Natural and Synthetic Xanthone Derivatives Counteract Oxidative Stress via Nrf2 Modulation in Inflamed Human Macrophages.

Natural products have attracted attention due to their safety and potential effectiveness as anti-inflammatory drugs. Particularly, xanthones owning a unique 9H-xanthen-9-one scaffold, are endowed with a large diversity of medical applications, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, because their core accommodates a vast variety of substituents at different positions. Among others, α- and γ-mangostin are the major known xanthones purified from Garcinia mangostana with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by in vitro and in vivo modulation of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2) pathway. However, the main mechanism of action of xanthones and their derivatives is still only partially disclosed, and further investigations are needed to improve their potential clinical outcomes. In this light, a library of xanthone derivatives was synthesized and biologically evaluated in vitro on human macrophages under pro-inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were performed by means of matched molecular pairs (MMPs). The data obtained revealed that the most promising compounds in terms of biocompatibility and counteraction of cytotoxicity are the ones that enhance the Nrf2 translocation, confirming a tight relationship between the xanthone scaffold and the Nrf2 activation as a sign of intracellular cell response towards oxidative stress and inflammation.

Marine Ingredients for Sensitive Skin: Market Overview.

Marine ingredients are a source of new chemical entities with biological action, which is the reason why they have gained relevance in the cosmetic industry. The facial care category is the most relevant in this industry, and within it, the sensitive skin segment occupies a prominent position. This work analyzed the use of marine ingredients in 88 facial cosmetics for sensitive skin from multinational brands, as well as their composition and the scientific evidence that supports their efficacy. Marine ingredients were used in 27% of the cosmetic products for sensitive skin and included the species Laminaria ochroleuca, Ascophyllum nodosum (brown macroalgae), Asparagopsis armata (red macroalgae), and Chlorella vulgaris (microalgae). Carotenoids, polysaccharides, and lipids are the chemical classes highlighted in these preparations. Two ingredients, namely the Ascophyllum nodosum extract and Asparagopsis armata extracts, present clinical evidence supporting their use for sensitive skin. Overall, marine ingredients used in cosmetics for sensitive skin are proposed to reduce skin inflammation and improve the barrier function. Marine-derived preparations constitute promising active ingredients for sensitive skin cosmetic products. Their in-depth study, focusing on the extracted metabolites, randomized placebo-controlled studies including volunteers with sensitive skin, and the use of extraction methods that are more profitable may provide a great opportunity for the cosmetic industry.

From Natural Xanthones to Synthetic C-1 Aminated 3,4-Dioxygenated Xanthones as Optimized Antifouling Agents.

Biofouling, which occurs when certain marine species attach and accumulate in artificial submerged structures, represents a serious economic and environmental issue worldwide. The discovery of new non-toxic and eco-friendly antifouling systems to control or prevent biofouling is, therefore, a practical and urgent need. In this work, the antifouling activity of a series of 24 xanthones, with chemical similarities to natural products, was exploited. Nine (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 19, 21, and 23) of the tested xanthones presented highly significant anti-settlement responses at 50 µM against the settlement of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae and low toxicity to this macrofouling species. Xanthones 21 and 23 emerged as the most effective larval settlement inhibitors (EC50 = 7.28 and 3.57 µM, respectively). Additionally, xanthone 23 exhibited a therapeutic ratio (LC50/EC50) > 15, as required by the US Navy program attesting its suitability as natural antifouling agents. From the nine tested xanthones, none of the compounds were found to significantly inhibit the growth of the marine biofilm-forming bacterial strains tested. Xanthones 4, 6, 8, 16, 19, 21, and 23 were found to be non-toxic to the marine non-target species Artemia salina (<10% mortality at 50 µM). Insights on the antifouling mode of action of the hit xanthones 21 and 23 suggest that these two compounds affected similar molecular targets and cellular processes in mussel larvae, including that related to mussel adhesion capacity. This work exposes for the first time the relevance of C-1 aminated xanthones with a 3,4-dioxygenated pattern of substitution as new non-toxic products to prevent marine biofouling.

Microsequential injection analysis/lab-on-valve system for the automatic evaluation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A miniaturized microsequential injection/lab-on-valve (µSIA-LOV) system was developed and shown to be a useful alternative to perform inhibitory studies on acetylcholinesterase. These studies are essential for the evaluation of the potential therapeutic effect of drugs commonly used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine were tested, in addition to compounds based on the xanthone scaffold. Four of these xanthone derivatives were identified as having EC50 values between 676 and 4466 µmol/l, showing a potential inhibitory effect higher than the clinical agent rivastigmine. The developed automatic system added advantages of reduction of reagents and sample consumption (around 55 µl per analysis), lower cost per analysis, and the generation of less waste (around 1.2 ml per analysis). The µSIA-LOV system is also a robust, rapid, reliable, and simple system to use. Docking studies suggested a possible mode of interaction with the target acetylcholinesterase protein.

From Natural Products to New Synthetic Small Molecules: A Journey through the World of Xanthones.

This work reviews the contributions of the corresponding author (M.M.M.P.) and her research group to Medicinal Chemistry concerning the isolation from plant and marine sources of xanthone derivatives as well as their synthesis, biological/pharmacological activities, formulation and analytical applications. Although her group activity has been spread over several chemical families with relevance in Medicinal Chemistry, the main focus of the investigation and research has been in the xanthone family. Xanthone derivatives have a variety of activities with great potential for therapeutic applications due to their versatile framework. The group has contributed with several libraries of xanthones derivatives, with a variety of activities such as antitumor, anticoagulant, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and multidrug resistance reversal effects. Besides therapeutic applications, our group has also developed xanthone derivatives with analytical applications as chiral selectors for liquid chromatography and for maritime application as antifouling agents for marine paints. Chemically, it has been challenging to afford green chemistry methods and achieve enantiomeric purity of chiral derivatives. In this review, the structures of the most significant compounds will be presented.

Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Bioactive Indole-Containing Pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones and Study of Their In Vitro Metabolic Profile.

In recent decades, fungi-derived naturally occurring quinazolines have emerged as potential drug candidates. Nevertheless, most studies are conducted for bioactivity assays, and little is known about their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) properties. To perform metabolic studies, the synthesis of the naturally occurring quinazolinone, fiscalin B (1), and its chloro derivative, 4-((1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)-8,10-dichloro-1-isobutyl-1,2-dihydro-6H-pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6(4H)-dione (2), disclosed as an antibacterial agent, was performed in a gram scale using a microwave-assisted polycondensation reaction with 22% and 17% yields, respectively. The structure of the non-natural (+)-fiscalin B was established, for the first time, by X-ray crystallography as (1R,4S)-1, and the absolute configuration of the naturally occurring fiscalin B (-)-1 was confirmed by comparison of its calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra as (1S,4R)-1. in vitro metabolic studies were monitored for this class of natural products for the first time by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The metabolic characteristics of 1 and 2 in human liver microsomes indicated hydration and hydroxylation mass changes introduced to the parent drugs.

Synthesis of a Small Library of Nature-Inspired Xanthones and Study of Their Antimicrobial Activity.

A series of thirteen xanthones 3-15 was prepared based on substitutional (appendage) diversity reactions. The series was structurally characterized based on their spectral data and HRMS, and the structures of xanthone derivatives 1, 7, and 8 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This series, along with an in-house series of aminated xanthones 16-33, was tested for in-vitro antimicrobial activity against seven bacterial (including two multidrug-resistant) strains and five fungal strains. 1-(Dibromomethyl)-3,4-dimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one (7) and 1-(dibromomethyl)-3,4,6-trimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one (8) exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested strains. In addition, 3,4-dihydroxy-1-methyl-9H-xanthen-9-one (3) revealed a potent inhibitory effect on the growth of dermatophyte clinical strains (T. rubrum FF5, M. canis FF1 and E. floccosum FF9), with a MIC of 16 µg/mL for all the tested strains. Compounds 3 and 26 showed a potent inhibitory effect on two C. albicans virulence factors: germ tube and biofilm formation.

Efficacy, Stability, and Safety Evaluation of New Polyphenolic Xanthones Towards Identification of Bioactive Compounds to Fight Skin Photoaging.

Antioxidants have long been used in the cosmetic industry to prevent skin photoaging, which is mediated by oxidative stress, making the search for new antioxidant compounds highly desirable in this field. Naturally occurring xanthones are polyphenolic compounds that can be found in microorganisms, fungi, lichens, and some higher plants. This class of polyphenols has a privileged scaffold that grants them several biological activities. We have previously identified simple oxygenated xanthones as promising antioxidants and disclosed as hit, 1,2-dihydroxyxanthone (1). Herein, we synthesized and studied the potential of xanthones with different polyoxygenated patterns as skin antiphotoaging ingredients. In the DPPH antioxidant assay, two newly synthesized derivatives showed IC50 values in the same range as ascorbic acid. The synthesized xanthones were discovered to be excellent tyrosinase inhibitors and weak to moderate collagenase and elastase inhibitors but no activity was revealed against hyaluronidase. Their metal-chelating effect (FeCl3 and CuCl2) as well as their stability at different pH values were characterized to understand their potential to be used as future cosmetic active agents. Among the synthesized polyoxygenated xanthones, 1,2-dihydroxyxanthone (1) was reinforced as the most promising, exhibiting a dual ability to protect the skin against UV damage by combining antioxidant/metal-chelating properties with UV-filter capacity and revealed to be more stable in the pH range that is close to the pH of the skin. Lastly, the phototoxicity of 1,2-dihydroxyxanthone (1) was evaluated in a human keratinocyte cell line and no phototoxicity was observed in the concentration range tested.

Chemistry of the fumiquinazolines and structurally related alkaloids.

Covering: this review covers the literature from 1992 to 2018To date, approximately 80 naturally-occurring secondary metabolites which are structurally-related to fumiquinazolines have been isolated, mainly from marine sources. These alkaloids can be classified into twelve different groups and exhibit different structure motifs depending on the amino acids from which they are derived. This review is focused on isolation, structure elucidation, biological activities, biosynthetic pathways, and synthetic studies of these natural products.

Antithrombotics from the Sea: Polysaccharides and Beyond.

Marine organisms exhibit some advantages as a renewable source of potential drugs, far beyond chemotherapics. Particularly, the number of marine natural products with antithrombotic activity has increased in the last few years, and reports show a wide diversity in scaffolds, beyond the polysaccharide framework. While there are several reviews highlighting the anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities of marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides, reports including other molecules are sparse. Therefore, the present paper provides an update of the recent progress in marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides and quotes other scaffolds that are being considered for investigation due to their antithrombotic effect.

Synthesis of New Proteomimetic Quinazolinone Alkaloids and Evaluation of Their Neuroprotective and Antitumor Effects.

New quinazolinone derivatives of the marine-derived alkaloids fiscalin B (3) and fumiquinazoline G (1), with neuroprotective and antitumor effects, were synthesized. Eleven quinazolinone-containing indole alkaloids were synthesized, proceeding the anti analogs via a one-pot method, and the syn analogs by the Mazurkiewicz-Ganesan approach. The neuroprotection capacity of these compounds on the rotenone-damage human neuroblastoma cell SH-SY5y was evaluated using the MTT assay. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed more than 25% protection. The antitumor activity was investigated using the sulforhodamine B assay and some compounds were tested on the non-malignant MCF-12A cells. Fumiquinazoline G (1) was the most potent compound, with GI50 values lower than 20 µM. Compounds 5, 7, and 11 were more active in all tumor cell lines when compared to their enantiomers. Compounds 5, 7, 10, and 11 had very little effect in the viability of the non-malignant cells. Differences between enantiomeric pairs were also noted as being essential for these activities the S-configuration at C-4. These results reinforce the previously described activities of the fiscalin B (3) as substance P inhibitor and fumiquinazoline G (1) as antitumor agent showing potential as lead compounds for the development of drugs for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and cancer, respectively.

Antitumor Activity of Quinazolinone Alkaloids Inspired by Marine Natural Products.

Many fungal quinazolinone metabolites, which contain the methyl-indole pyrazino [1,2-b]quinazoline-3,6-dione core, have been found to possess promising antitumor activity. The purpose of this work was to synthesize the enantiomeric pairs of two members of this quinazolinone family, to explore their potential as antitumor and their ability to revert multidrug resistance. The marine natural product fiscalin B (4c), and antienantiomers (4b, 5b, and 5c) were synthesized via a one-pot approach, while the syn enantiomers (4a, 4d, 5a, and 5d) were synthetized by a multi-step procedure. These strategies used anthranilic acid (i), chiral N-protected α-amino acids (ii), and tryptophan methyl esters (iii) to form the core ring of pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-dione scaffold. Four enantiomeric pairs, with different enantiomeric purities, were obtained with overall yields ranging from 7 to 40%. Compounds 4a⁻d and 5a⁻d were evaluated for their growth inhibitory effect against two tumor cell lines. Differences between enantiomeric pairs were noted and 5a⁻d displayed GI50 values ranging from 31 to 52 µM, which are lower than those of 4a⁻d. Nevertheless, no effect on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) modulation was observed for all compounds. This study disclosed new data for fiscalin B (4c), as well as for its analogues for a future development of novel anticancer drug leads.

Lichen Xanthones as Models for New Antifungal Agents.

Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, the search for new antimicrobial compounds plays an important role in current medicinal chemistry research. Inspired by lichen antimicrobial xanthones, a series of novel chlorinated xanthones was prepared using five chlorination methods (Methods A⁻E) to obtain different patterns of substitution in the xanthone scaffold. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Among them, 3-chloro-4,6-dimethoxy-1-methyl-9H-xanthen-9-one 15 showed promising antibacterial activity against E. faecalis (ATCC 29212 and 29213) and S. aureus ATCC 29213. 2,7-Dichloro-3,4,6-trimethoxy-1-methyl-9H-xanthen-9-one 18 revealed a potent fungistatic and fungicidal activity against dermatophytes clinical strains (T. rubrum, M. canis, and E. floccosum (MIC = 4⁻8 µg/mL)). Moreover, when evaluated for its synergistic effect for T. rubrum, compound 18 exhibited synergy with fluconazole (ΣFIC = 0.289). These results disclosed new hit xanthones for both antibacterial and antifungal activity.

A Practical Toolkit for the Detection, Isolation, Quantification, and Characterization of Siderophores and Metallophores in Microorganisms.

Siderophores are well-recognized low-molecular-weight compounds produced by numerous microorganisms to acquire iron from the surrounding environments. These secondary metabolites can form complexes with other metals besides iron, forming soluble metallophores; because of that, they are widely investigated in either the medicinal or environmental field. One of the bottlenecks of siderophore research is related to the identification of new siderophores from microbial sources. Herein we have compiled a comprehensive range of standard and updated methodologies that have been developed over the past few years to provide a comprehensive toolbox in this area to current researchers.

Siderophores and metallophores: Metal complexation weapons to fight environmental pollution.

Siderophores are small molecules of organic nature, released by bacteria to chelate iron from the surrounding environment and subsequently incorporate it into the cytoplasm. In addition to iron, these secondary metabolites can complex with a wide variety of metals, which is why they are commonly studied in the environment. Heavy metals can be very toxic when present in large amounts on the planet, affecting public health and all living organisms. The pollution caused by these toxic metals is increasing, and therefore it is urgent to find practical, sustainable, and economical solutions for remediation. One of the strategies is siderophore-assisted bioremediation, an innovative and advantageous alternative for various environmental applications. This research highlights the various uses of siderophores and metallophores in the environment, underscoring their significance to ecosystems. The study delves into the utilization of siderophores and metallophores in both marine and terrestrial settings (e.g. bioremediation, biocontrol of pathogens, and plant growth promotion), such as bioremediation, biocontrol of pathogens, and plant growth promotion, providing context for the different instances outlined in the existing literature and highlighting their relevance in each field. The study delves into the structures and types of siderophores focusing on their singular characteristics for each application and methodologies used. Focusing on recent developments over the last two decades, the opportunities and challenges associated with siderophores and metallophores applications in the environment were mapped to arm researchers in the fight against environmental pollution.

Antibacterial Potential of Symmetrical Twin-Drug 3,6-Diaminoxanthones.

Global health faces a significant issue with the rise of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. The increasing number of multi-drug resistant microbial pathogens severely threatens public health worldwide. Antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, in particular, present a significant challenge. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new potential antimicrobial targets and discover new chemical entities that can potentially reverse bacterial resistance. The main goal of this research work was to create and develop a library of 3,6-disubstituted xanthones based on twin drugs and molecular extension approaches to inhibit the activity of efflux pumps. The process involved synthesizing 3,6-diaminoxanthones through the reaction of 9-oxo-9H-xanthene-3,6-diyl bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate) with various primary and secondary amines. The resulting 3,6-disubstituted xanthone derivatives were then tested for their in vitro antimicrobial properties against a range of pathogenic strains and their efficacy in inhibiting the activity of efflux pumps, biofilm formation, and quorum-sensing. Several compounds have exhibited effective antibacterial properties against the Gram-positive bacterial species tested. Xanthone 16, in particular, has demonstrated exceptional efficacy with a remarkable MIC of 11 µM (4 µg/mL) against reference strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, and 25 µM (9 µg/mL) against methicillin-resistant S. aureus 272123. Furthermore, some derivatives have shown potential as antibiofilm agents in a crystal violet assay. The ethidium bromide accumulation assay pinpointed certain compounds inhibiting bacterial efflux pumps. The cytotoxic effect of the most promising compounds was examined in mouse fibroblast cell line NIH/3T3, and two monoamine substituted xanthone derivatives with a hydroxyl substituent did not exhibit any cytotoxicity. Overall, the nature of the substituent was critical in determining the antimicrobial spectra of aminated xanthones.

Emerging Target-Directed Approaches for the Treatment and Diagnosis of Microbial Infections.

With the rising levels of drug resistance, developing efficient antimicrobial therapies has become a priority. A promising strategy is the conjugation of antibiotics with relevant moieties that can potentiate their activity by target-directing. The conjugation of siderophores with antibiotics allows them to act as Trojan horses by hijacking the microorganisms' highly developed iron transport systems and using them to carry the antibiotic into the cell. Through the analysis of relevant examples of the past decade, this Perspective aims to reveal the potential of siderophore-antibiotic Trojan horses for the treatment of infections and the role of siderophores in diagnostic techniques. Other conjugated molecules will be the subject of discussion, namely those involving vitamin B12, carbohydrates, and amino acids, as well as conjugated compounds targeting protein degradation and ß-lactamase activated prodrugs.

Effect of Indole-Containing Pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones in the Virulence of Resistant Bacteria.

Drug resistance is rising to alarming levels, constituting one of the major threats to global health. The overexpression of efflux pumps and the formation of biofilms constitute two of the most common resistance mechanisms, favoring the virulence of bacteria. Therefore, the research and development of effective antimicrobial agents that can also counteract resistance mechanisms are extremely important. Pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones, from marine and terrestrial organisms and simpler synthetic analogues, were recently disclosed by us as having relevant antimicrobial properties. In this study, using a multi-step approach, it was possible to synthesize new pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones focusing on compounds with fluorine substituents since, to the best of our knowledge, the synthesis of fluorinated fumiquinazoline derivatives had not been attempted before. The new synthesized derivatives were screened for antibacterial activity and, along with previously synthetized pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones, were characterized for their antibiofilm and efflux-pump-inhibiting effects against representative bacterial species and relevant resistant clinical strains. Several compounds showed relevant antibacterial activity against the tested Gram-positive bacterial species with MIC values in the range of 12.5-77 µM. Furthermore, some derivatives showed promising results as antibiofilm agents in a crystal violet assay. The results of the ethidium bromide accumulation assay suggested that some compounds could potentially inhibit bacterial efflux pumps.