Semisynthesis, Antiplasmodial Activity, and Mechanism of Action Studies of Isocoumarin Derivatives

J Nat Prod. 2021 May 28;84(5):1434-1441. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c01032. Epub 2021 May 12.

Abstract

In this study, eight natural isocoumarins (1-8) were isolated from a marine-derived Exserohilum sp. fungus. To explore their structure-activity relationship and discover potent antimalarial leads, a small library of 22 new derivatives (1a-1n, 2a, 3a-3c, 4a-4c, and 7a) were semisynthesized by varying the substituents of the aromatic ring and the aliphatic side chains. The natural compound (1) and three semisynthetic derivatives (1d, 1n, and 2a), possessing an all-cis stereochemistry, exhibited strong antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values of 1.1, 0.8, 0.4, and 2.6 μM, respectively. Mechanism studies show that 1n inhibits hemozoin polymerization and decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential but also inhibits P. falciparum DNA gyrase. 1n not only combines different mechanisms of action but also exhibits a high therapeutic index (CC50/IC50 = 675), high selectivity, and a notable drug-like profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthozoa / microbiology
  • Antimalarials / chemical synthesis
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Aquatic Organisms / chemistry
  • Ascomycota / chemistry*
  • China
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • DNA Gyrase
  • Hemeproteins
  • Isocoumarins / chemical synthesis
  • Isocoumarins / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / enzymology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Hemeproteins
  • Isocoumarins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • hemozoin
  • DNA Gyrase