Synthesis and biological evaluation of isoxazolyl-sulfonamides: A non-cytotoxic scaffold active against Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania amazonensis and Herpes Simplex Virus

Abstract

In this study we report the synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation, and druglikeness assessment of a series of 20 novel isoxazolyl-sulfonamides, obtained by a four-step synthetic route. The compounds had their activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania amazonensis, Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 and cytotoxicity evaluated in phenotypic assays. All compounds have drug-like properties, showed low cytotoxicity and were promising regarding all other biological activities reported herein, especially the inhibitory activity against T. cruzi. The compounds 8 and 16 showed significant potency and selectivity against T. cruzi (GI₅₀ = 14.3 µM, SI > 34.8 and GI₅₀ = 11.6 µM, SI = 29.1, respectively). These values, close to the values of the reference drug benznidazole (GI₅₀ = 10.2 µM), suggest that compounds 8 and 16 represent promising candidates for further pre-clinical development targeting Chagas disease.

Keywords: Herpes Simplex Virus; Isoxazole; Leishmania amazonensis; Sulfonamide; Trypanosoma cruzi.