In vitro assessment of 3-alkoxy-5-nitroindazole-derived ethylamines and related compounds as potential antileishmanial drugs.

Leishmaniasis is a widespread neglected tropical disease complex that is responsible of one million new cases per year. Current treatments are outdated and pose many problems that new drugs need to overcome. With the goal of developing new, safe, and affordable drugs, we have studied the in vitro activity of 12 different 5-nitroindazole derivatives that showed previous activity against different strains of Trypanosoma cruzi in a previous work. T. cruzi belongs to the same family as Leishmania spp., and treatments for the disease it produces also needs renewal. Among the derivatives tested, compounds 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12 showed low J774.2 macrophage toxicity, while their effect against both intracellular and extracellular forms of the studied parasites was higher than the ones found for the reference drug Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime®). In addition, their Fe-SOD inhibitory effect, the infection rates, metabolite alteration, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the parasites treated with the selected drugs were studied in order to gain insights into the action mechanism, and the results of these tests were more promising than those found with glucantime, as the leishmanicidal effect of these new drug candidates was higher. The promising results are encouraging to test these derivatives in more complex studies, such as in vivo studies and other experiments that could find out the exact mechanism of action.

Evaluating 5-Nitrothiazoles as Trypanocidal Agents.

The growth-inhibitory properties of a 5-nitrothiazole series were evaluated against Trypanosoma brucei. A subset of related compounds displayed the greatest potency toward the parasite while exhibiting little cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells, with this antiparasitic activity dependent on expression of a type I nitroreductase by the trypanosome. We conclude that the 5-nitrothiazole class of nitroheterocyclic drugs may represent a new lead in the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis.

Novel [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives are trypanocidal by sterol biosynthesis pathway alteration.

Aim: To study a new series of [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-α]pyridine derivatives as trypanocidal agents because current antichagasic pharmacologic therapy is only partially effective. Materials & methods: The effect of the series upon Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and murine macrophages viability, cell cycle, cell death and on the metabolites of the sterol biosynthesis pathway was measured; also, docking in 14α-demethylase was analyzed. Results: Compound 16 inhibits 14α-demethylase producing an imbalance in the cholesterol/ergosterol synthesis pathway, as suggested by a metabolic control and theoretical docking analysis. Consequently, it prevented cell proliferation, stopping the cellular cycle at the G2/M phase, inducing cell death. Conclusion: Although the exact cell death mechanism remained elusive, this series can be used for the further rational design of novel antiparasitic molecules.

Synthesis and Biological in vitro and in vivo Evaluation of 2-(5-Nitroindazol-1-yl)ethylamines and Related Compounds as Potential Therapeutic Alternatives for Chagas Disease.

Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a potentially life-threatening illness that affects 5-8 million people in Latin America, and more than 10 million people worldwide. It is characterized by an acute phase, which is partly resolved by the immune system, but then develops as a chronic disease without an effective treatment. There is an urgent need for new antiprotozoal agents, as the current standard therapeutic options based on benznidazole and nifurtimox are characterized by limited efficacy, toxicity, and frequent failures in treatment. In vitro and in vivo assays were used to identify some new low-cost 5-nitroindazoles as a potential antichagasic therapeutic alternative. Compound 16 (3-benzyloxy-5-nitro-1-vinyl-1H-indazole) showed improved efficiency and lower toxicity than benznidazole in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, and its trypanocidal activity seems to be related to its effect at the mitochondrial level. Therefore, compound 16 is a promising candidate for the development of a new anti-Chagas agent, and further preclinical evaluation should be considered.

Evaluation of the Novel Antichagasic Activity of [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine Derivatives.

BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. This parasite is vulnerable to the effects of ROS as its main defense mechanism against exogenous agents trypanothione is also another weakness of the parasite that investigated related to the inhibition of enzymes belonging P450 system, mainly CYP51. In our group we have synthesized a series of triazoles known as [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridyl ketones, and pyridyl ketones. These families have shown interesting structural features due to the presence of electron withdrawing moieties attached to the main heterocycle (triazoles and/or pyridines) and are proposed as potential target in the parasite, by the presence of the carbonyl group being able to be reduced and form a free radical that could interact with molecular oxygen generating ROS in the parasite. Furthermore, the triazole ring and pyridines have been considered as potent inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis, the lock being part CYP51. RESULT: Our results showed that the series is capable of generating a stable radical species and generate ROS in the parasite. On the other hand these molecules are potent inhibitors of enzymes belonging to the complex P450. We have focused on the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis demonstrating that triazole/ pyridine families are able to affect this pathway being observed the accumulation of squalene and lanosterol.

Novel 3-nitrotriazole-based amides and carbinols as bifunctional antichagasic agents.

3-Nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based amides with a linear, rigid core and 3-nitrotriazole-based fluconazole analogues were synthesized as dual functioning antitrypanosomal agents. Such compounds are excellent substrates for type I nitroreductase (NTR) located in the mitochondrion of trypanosomatids and, at the same time, act as inhibitors of the sterol 14α-demethylase (T. cruzi CYP51) enzyme. Because combination treatments against parasites are often superior to monotherapy, we believe that this emerging class of bifunctional compounds may introduce a new generation of antitrypanosomal drugs. In the present work, the synthesis and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of such compounds is discussed.

Spin trapping: an essential tool for the study of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Electron spin resonance (ESR), called also electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) together with the spin trapping technique, has allowed us to study and understand how free radicals are involved in various pathologies. In this review, the importance of spin trapping technique in the study of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and parasitic diseases is discussed. In addition, advances in the use of this technique as therapeutic agents and other interesting applications as the immuno-spin trapping technique are reviewed.

Identification of the transition state for fast reactions: the trapping of hydroxyl and methyl radicals by DMPO-A DFT approach.

Up to date, attempts to locate the transition state (TS) for the trapping reaction between OH and DMPO have been unsuccessful, and the lack of molecular mechanisms by which OH binds to the spin-trap constitutes a question still unsolved. Herein, we have taken a step forward on this task by describing the theoretical TS for the trapping of OH and CH3 by DMPO and the intrinsic reaction coordinates. This work aims to provide new understandings on the molecular orbital (MO) interactions that rule these reaction paths. Besides we assessed the degree of involvement of weak interactions and the charge transfer (CT) phenomenon involved in such interactions. Regarding the trapping of OH, the beginning of the reaction would be ruled by weak interactions to then give way to stronger MO interactions conducive to the formation of the TS. For CH3, the reaction is, instead, early ruled by significant MO interactions, and a relatively small contribution in the weak interactions range. At the TS, both reactions share the formation of an antibonding orbital responsible for hosting the unpaired electron, and two bonding orbitals between the radical and the spin-trap. Additionally, the charge is transferred primarily from DMPO to OH through ß orbitals, while for CH3, the CT occurs in both directions, so that while DMPO behaves like an α-acceptor/ß-donor, CH3 acts as a ß-acceptor/α-donor. Finally, we provide evidence showing that the resultant theoretical models are in agreement with the hyperfine coupling constants as obtained from biological-ESR spin trapping experiments.

Indazoles: a new top seed structure in the search of efficient drugs against Trypanosoma cruzi.

For years, Chagas disease treatment has been limited to only two drugs of highly questionable and controversial use (Nifurtimox(®) and Benznidazole(®)). In the search of effective drugs, many efforts have been made, but only a few structures have emerged as actual candidates. Heading into this, the multitarget-directed approach appears as the best choice. In this framework, indazoles were shown to be potent Trypanosoma cruzi growth inhibitors, being able to lead both the formation of reactive oxygen species and the inhibition of trypanothione reductase. Herein, we discuss the main structural factors that rule the anti-T. cruzi properties of indazoles, and how they would be involved in the biological properties as well as in the action mechanisms, attempting to make parallels between the old paradigms and current evidences in order to outline what could be the next steps to follow in regard to the future drug design for Chagas disease treatment.

Host-guest interaction between new nitrooxoisoaporphine and ß-cyclodextrins: synthesis, electrochemical, electron spin resonance and molecular modeling studies.

A new nitrooxoisoaporphine derivative was synthetized and characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electron spin resonance. Its aqueous solubility was improved by complexes formation with ß-cyclodextrin, heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-ß-cyclodextrin and (2-hydroxypropyl)-ß-cyclodextrin. In order to assess the inclusion degree reached by nitrooxoisoaporphine in cyclodextris cavity, the stability constants of formation of the complexes were determined by phase-solubility measurements obtaining in all cases a type-A(L) diagram. Moreover, electrochemical studies were carried out, where the observed change in the EPC value indicated a lower feasibility of the nitro group reduction. Additionally, a detailed spatial configuration is proposed for inclusion of derivate within the cyclodextrins cavity by 2D NMR techniques. Finally, these results are further interpreted by means of molecular modeling studies. Thus, theoretical results are in complete agreement with the experimental data.

Biological and chemical study of fused tri- and tetracyclic indazoles and analogues with important antiparasitic activity.

A series of fused tri- and tetracyclic indazoles and analogues compounds (NID) with potential antiparasitic effects were studied using voltamperometric and spectroscopic techniques. Nitroanion radicals generated by cyclic voltammetry were characterized by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) and their spectral lines were explained and analyzed using simulated spectra. In addition, we examined the interaction between radical species generated from nitroindazole derivatives and glutathione (GSH). Biological assays such as activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and cytotoxicity against macrophages were carried out. Finally, spin trapping and molecular modeling studies were also done in order to elucidate the potentials action mechanisms involved in the trypanocidal activity.

ESR, electrochemical, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of 4-substituted and 1,4-disubstituted 7-nitroquinoxalin-2-ones as potential anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents.

Electrochemical and ESR studies were carried out in this work with the aim of characterizing the reduction mechanisms of 4-substituted and 1,4-disubstituted 7-nitroquinoxalin-2-ones by means of cyclic voltammetry in DMSO as aprotic solvent. Two reduction mechanisms were found for these compounds: the first, for compounds bearing a labile hydrogen by following a self-protonation mechanism (ECE steps), and the second, for compounds without labile hydrogen, based on a purely electrochemical reduction mechanism (typical of nitroheterocycles). The electrochemical results were corroborated using ESR spectroscopy allowing us to propose the hyperfine splitting pattern of the nitro-radical, which was later corroborated by the ESR simulation spectra. All these compounds were assayed as growth inhibitors against Trypanosoma cruzi: first, on the non-proliferative (and infective) form of the parasite (trypomastigote stage), and then, the ones that displayed activity, were assayed on the non-infective form (epimastigote stage). Thus, we found four new compounds highly active against T. cruzi. Finally, molecular modeling studies suggest the inhibition of the trypanothione reductase like one of the possible mechanisms involved in the trypanocidal action.