Design, synthesis and identification of novel molecular hybrids based on naphthoquinone aromatic hydrazides as potential trypanocide and leishmanicidal agents

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2024 May 13;96(2):e20230375. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202420230375. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

In pursuit of potential agents to treat Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, we report the design, synthesis, and identification novel naphthoquinone hydrazide-based molecular hybrids. The compounds were subjected to in vitro trypanocide and leishmanicidal activities. N'-(1,4-Dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-3,5-dimethoxybenzohydrazide (13) showed the best performance against Trypanosoma cruzi (IC50 1.83 µM) and Leishmania amazonensis (IC50 9.65 µM). 4-Bromo-N'-(1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)benzohydrazide (16) exhibited leishmanicidal activity (IC50 12.16 µM). Regarding trypanocide activity, compound 13 was low cytotoxic to LLC-MK2 cells (SI = 95.28). Furthermore, through molecular modeling studies, the cysteine proteases cruzain, rhodesain and CPB2.8 were identified as the potential biological targets.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Drug Design*
  • Hydrazines* / chemistry
  • Hydrazines* / pharmacology
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Leishmania* / drug effects
  • Naphthoquinones* / chemical synthesis
  • Naphthoquinones* / chemistry
  • Naphthoquinones* / pharmacology
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Trypanocidal Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Trypanocidal Agents* / chemistry
  • Trypanocidal Agents* / pharmacology
  • Trypanosoma cruzi* / drug effects