Antileishmanial activity of imidothiocarbamates and imidoselenocarbamates

Parasitol Res. 2011 Jan;108(1):233-9. doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-2073-x. Epub 2010 Oct 5.

Abstract

In the present study, a family of 15 imidothio- and imidoselenocarbamates (1-15) analogs have been synthesized and screened for their in vitro antileishmanial potential against Leishmania infantum promastigotes. The six most active ones (2, 4, 7, 13, 14, and 15) were also tested in an axenic amastigote model. In order to establish their selectivity indexes (SI) the cytotoxic effect of each compound was also assayed against Jurkat and THP-1 cell lines. Compounds 2 and 4, both with a pyridine moiety, showed a moderate antileishmanial activity with an IC(50) value of 4.68 ± 0.46 and 3.03 ± 0.24 μM, respectively, in the amastigote model. The activity was compared with that of standard drugs, edelfosine (IC₅₀ = 0.82 ± 0.13 μM) and miltefosine (IC₅₀ = 2.84 ± 0.10 μM). Related to selectivity, the SI of both compounds are similar to those of the standard drugs when compared against the THP-1 cell line. Moreover, compound 4 was able to reduce the number of amastigote-infected THP-1 cells to 40% of that observed in untreated controls after a 96-h period of treatment. These derivatives thus represent two new leads for further studies aimed at establishing their mechanism of action.

MeSH terms

  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carbamates / chemistry
  • Carbamates / pharmacology*
  • Carbamates / toxicity
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Imides / chemistry
  • Imides / pharmacology*
  • Imides / toxicity
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Leishmania infantum / drug effects*
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Selenium / pharmacology*
  • Selenium / toxicity
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Carbamates
  • Imides
  • Selenium