Leishmania amazonensis growth inhibitors: biological and theoretical features of sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives.

Current drugs for treating leishmaniasis are still associated with significant toxicity and failure rates. Thus, new effective and less toxic antileishmanial agents are still in need. Herein, we tested a series of sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives against L. amazonensis promastigote and amastigote forms to identify its antileishmanial profile against this species compared to L. braziliensis. In addition, we used molecular modeling tools to determine stereoelectronic features that may lead to the antileishmanial profile. Interestingly, all tested compounds were able to affect L. amazonensis promastigote form in a concentration-dependent manner and with low cytotoxicity, except for derivative 3g. However, our results showed that compound 3f (para-Cl) presents the best profile against both L. amazonensis forms (promastigote and amastigote), differently from that observed for L. braziliensis, when compound 3i was the most active. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of these derivatives pointed molecular volume, HOMO density, and conformational aspects as important characteristics for parasitic profile. Overall, sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives may be pointed out not only as lead compounds for treating leishmaniasis (i.e., 3f) but also as experimental tools presenting parasite-selectivity (i.e., 3i).

In vitro testing for genotoxicity of violacein assessed by Comet and Micronucleus assays.

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram (-) bacteria found in water samples and soils from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Violacein, the major pigment produced by these bacteria, has been shown to have antibiotic, antitumoral and trypanocidal activities. In the present work, the genotoxicity of violacein was investigated in four different cell lines by using the alkaline Comet assay and in VERO cells using the Micronucleus test. In the alkaline Comet assay, violacein, when tested at concentrations ranging from 0.19 to 1.5 microM, did not induce a significant increase in DNA damage in HEp-2 and MA104 cells. However, violacein was positive for DNA damage in FRhK-4 cells and for both DNA damage and micronuclei in VERO cells, in a concentration-response relationship. The results of this study indicated that violacein is genotoxic in VERO and FRhK-4 cells. These findings contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the pharmacological potential of violacein.

Potent anti-respiratory syncytial virus activity of a cholestanol-sulfated tetrasaccharide conjugate.

A number of different viruses including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) initiate infection of cells by binding to cell surface glycosaminoglycans and sulfated oligo- and polysaccharide mimetics of these receptors exhibit potent antiviral activity in cultured cells. We investigated whether the introduction of different lipophilic groups to the reducing end of sulfated oligosaccharides would modulate their anti-RSV activity. Our results demonstrate that the cholestanol-conjugated tetrasaccharide (PG545) exhibited ∼5- to 16-fold enhanced anti-RSV activity in cultured cells compared with unmodified sulfated oligosaccharides. Furthermore, PG545 displayed virus-inactivating (virucidal) activity, a feature absent in sulfated oligosaccharides. To inhibit RSV infectivity PG545 had to be present during the initial steps of viral infection of cells. The anti-RSV activity of PG545 was due to both partial inhibition of the virus attachment to cells and a more profound interference with some post-attachment steps as PG545 efficiently neutralized infectivity of the cell-adsorbed virus. The anti-RSV activity of PG545 was reduced when tested in the presence of human nasal secretions. Serial passages of RSV in the presence of increasing concentrations of PG545 selected for weakly resistant viral variants that comprised the F168S and the P180S amino acid substitutions in the viral G protein. Altogether we identified a novel and potent inhibitor of RSV, which unlike sulfated oligo- and polysaccharide compounds, could irreversibly inactivate RSV infectivity.

Development of a stability-indicating LC method for determination of a synthetic chalcone derivative in a nanoemulsion dosage form and identification of the main photodegradation product by LC-MS.

This study aimed to develop and validate a stability indicating LC for the determination of 5-(2-benzoylethenyl)-N-benzyl-2 methoxybenzenesulfonamide (SCD - a synthetic chalcone derivative), and evaluate the degradation profile of the compound under different stress conditions recommended by International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). Chromatographic separation was performed on a silica C18 column, methanol-water mobile phase 70:30 (v:v), pH 5.0 adjusted with the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1); detection by UV absorption at 330 nm. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness and specificity. The SCD was subjected to forced degradation and peak photodegradation product was well separated from the pure substance, with retention times significantly different, indicating the specificity of the method. Second-order degradation kinetics of SCD was observed under photodegradation and base-induced degradation. In order to identify the product formed under photodegradation, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed. These results indicate that the method can be successfully used in order to assay SCD in a nanoemulsion dosage form, and that this formulation has a protective effect over SCD degradation.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and SAR of sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives with potential antileishmanial activity.

Despite clinical importance of leishmaniasis, an infectious disease that affects 12 thousand million people in 88 countries, the treatment is still unsatisfactory due to its limited efficacy, cost expensive and undesirable side effects. Aiming to develop new antileishmanial lead compounds, we used a rational approach to synthesize a new set of sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives (3a-3i) and evaluate the sulfonamide and methoxy moieties as promising adding-groups to chalcones. For that purpose we tested this new set against Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes and determined its cell toxicity profile. Interestingly all compounds presented a concentration-dependent antileishmanial profile and the benzylamino derivative (3i) showed a biological activity better than pentamidine. None of these compounds affected Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, which suggests a specific antileishmanial profile. The structure-activity analysis of these sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives pointed the molecular volume, the HOMO density concentrated in the chalcone moiety and the conformational structure of the compounds as important structural and stereoelectronic features for the antileishmanial activity. In addition, these compounds also fulfilled Lipinski rule of 5 and presented druglikeness similar to antileishmanial drugs. Altogether these results point the sulfonamide 4-methoxychalcone derivatives as potential lead compounds for designing new candidates for leishmaniasis treatment.