Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of 3-phenylquinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives as antimalarial agents

Eur J Med Chem. 2008 Sep;43(9):1903-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2007.11.024. Epub 2007 Dec 7.

Abstract

As a continuation of our research and with the aim of obtaining new antimalarial agents, new series of 3-phenylquinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives have been synthesized following the classical Beirut reaction. Antiplasmodial activity was evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum by the incorporation of [3H]-hypoxanthine. Cytotoxicity was tested in KB cells by AlamarBlue assay. Twenty-one of the 60 compounds that were assayed against 3D7 (CQ-sensitive) showed enough activity to be also evaluated against K1 (CQ-resistant) strain. Ten of them were shown to be more active than chloroquine in the resistant strain. The most interesting compounds are 7-(methyl or methoxy)-3-(4'-fluoro or chloro)phenylquinoxaline-2-carbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxides because of their low IC50 and their high SI shown for the K1 strain, making them valid new leads.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / chemical synthesis*
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antimalarials / toxicity
  • Cattle
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • KB Cells
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Quinoxalines / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinoxalines / chemistry
  • Quinoxalines / pharmacology*
  • Quinoxalines / toxicity
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Quinoxalines
  • quindoxin