Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

New imidazolidinic bioisosters: potential candidates for antischistosomal drugs

Abstract

The emergence of strains of Schistosoma resistant to praziquantel has drawn attention to the search for new schistosomacide drugs. Imidazolidinic derivatives have performed outstandingly against adult S. mansoni worms when evaluated in vitro. The molecular modification of imidazolidine by way of bioisosteric replacement gives rise to variations in its biological response. This study verifies the potential of substituent groups in the derivatives (Z)3-benzyl-5-(2-fluoro-benzylidene)-imidazolidine-2,4-dione NE4, 3-benzyl-5-(4-chloro-arylazo)-4-thioxo-imidazolidin -2-ona PT5, 3-benzyl-5-(3-fluoro-benzylidene)-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT53; 3-benzyl-1-methyl-5-(4-methyl-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT63; 3-benzyl-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2-thioxo -imidazolidin-4-one JT68; 3-(4-chloro-benzyl)-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT69; 3-(4-phenyl-benzyl)-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT72 by determining the viability in vitro of adult S. mansoni worms in the presence of these derivatives. The susceptibility of the worms obtained from mice and kept in culture in the presence of different concentrations was determined by way of schistosomacide kinetic, observed every 24 h over a period of eight days. The results show that the worms were more sensitive to the PT5 derivative at a concentration of 58 µM which killed 100% of the worms after 24 h of contact, also giving rise to alterations in the tegument surface of the worms with the formation of bubbles and peeling. These observations suggest a strong electronic contribution of the arylazo grouping in the biological response.

Schistosoma mansoni; imidazolidines; in vitro susceptibility


New imidazolidinic bioisosters: potential candidates for antischistosomal drugs

Maira GR PittaI,1 1 Corresponding author: jcmonica@globo.com ; Andréa CA SilvaI; Juliana Kelle AL NevesI; Poliana G SilvaI; João I IrmãoII; Elizabeth MalagueñoIII; José V SantanaIII; Maria CA LimaI; Suely L GaldinoI; Ivan R PittaI; Mônica CPA AlbuquerqueII,III

IDepartamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s/nº, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brasil

IIDepartamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s/nº, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brasil

IIILaboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego s/nº, Cidade Universitária, 50670-901 Recife, PE, Brasil

ABSTRACT

The emergence of strains of Schistosoma resistant to praziquantel has drawn attention to the search for new schistosomacide drugs. Imidazolidinic derivatives have performed outstandingly against adult S. mansoni worms when evaluated in vitro. The molecular modification of imidazolidine by way of bioisosteric replacement gives rise to variations in its biological response. This study verifies the potential of substituent groups in the derivatives (Z)3-benzyl-5-(2-fluoro-benzylidene)-imidazolidine-2,4-dione NE4, 3-benzyl-5-(4-chloro-arylazo)-4-thioxo-imidazolidin -2-ona PT5, 3-benzyl-5-(3-fluoro-benzylidene)-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT53; 3-benzyl-1-methyl-5-(4-methyl-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT63; 3-benzyl-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2-thioxo -imidazolidin-4-one JT68; 3-(4-chloro-benzyl)-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT69; 3-(4-phenyl-benzyl)-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT72 by determining the viability in vitro of adult S. mansoni worms in the presence of these derivatives. The susceptibility of the worms obtained from mice and kept in culture in the presence of different concentrations was determined by way of schistosomacide kinetic, observed every 24 h over a period of eight days. The results show that the worms were more sensitive to the PT5 derivative at a concentration of 58 µM which killed 100% of the worms after 24 h of contact, also giving rise to alterations in the tegument surface of the worms with the formation of bubbles and peeling. These observations suggest a strong electronic contribution of the arylazo grouping in the biological response.

Key words:Schistosoma mansoni - imidazolidines - in vitro susceptibility

Schistosomiasis is still a major public health problem in Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America (WHO 1993). For some species of Schistosoma that infect humans, praziquantel, an isoquinolin-4-one, is the only effective drug (Davis & Wegner 1979). However, its continuous use for more than 25 years, against infections caused by both cestodes and trematodes, has made the parasites resistant (Silva et al. 2005). At present, various research groups are dedicating themselves to identifying new schistosomacide agents obtained from natural (Hamed & Hetta 2005, Tallima et al. 2005, Massoud et al. 2005) and synthetic sources (Bahgat et al. 2005, Abass & Mostafa 2005).

The imidazolidines are a broad class of bioactive compounds that also have schistosomacide properties. Niri-dazol, 1-(5-nitro-thiazol-2-yl)-imidazolidin-2-one, the drug used in the last century, has been widely used for clinical purposes (Cioli et al. 1995).

The schistosomacide properties of imidazoline derivatives has been shown in the case of adult S. mansoni worms in in vitro studies (Oliveira et al. 2004, Albuquerque et al. 2005). It is known that the structural variations lead to alterations in the physical properties and reactivity of the chemical compounds, thereby giving rise to changes in the distribution in the cells and tissues and in access to the active enzyme and receptor centers. The molecular modification of imidazolidine by bioisosteric replacement produces a biological response. This study evaluated the schistosomacide effect of imidazolidine derivatives with different substituent groups by determining their in vitro viability against adult S. mansoni worms.

New 3-benzyl-5-benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidine JT derivatives were obtained in four stages. At first, N-methyl-glicine or sarcosine reacts with ammonium thiocianate to form 1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one. At the same time, Cope esters are obtained by the reaction of substituted benzadehydes with ethyl cyano-acetate in the presence of piperidene (Cope et al. 1941). To obtain the intermediary substitutes in position 5 of the 2-thioxo-imidazolidine nucleus, an addition reaction like that of Michael's was used reacting 1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one with the different Cope esters, to obtain the 5-benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivatives, which react with benzyl bromide to produce the 3-benzyl-5-benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivatives JT.

The synthesis and the physico-chemical properties of the derivatives (Z)3-benzyl-5-(2-fluoro-benzylidene)-imidazolidine-2,4-dione NE4 (Lima et al. 1992) and 3-benzyl-5-(4-chloro-arylazo)-4-thioxo-imidazolidin-2-one PT5 (Brandão et al. 1997) are described in the literature. Crystallographic study of NE4 proved it to have a Z configuration (Simone et al. 1996).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The BH strain of S. mansoni was kept in the laboratory after it had passed through Biomphalaria glabrata molluscs and Swiss mice (Mus musculus). Mice weighing between 20 and 25 g were infected by exposure to a cercarian suspension of S. mansoni with approximately 150 cercarias, using the tail immersion technique (Olivier & Stirewalt 1952).

After seven weeks of infection, the adult S. mansoni worms were removed from the mesenteric and portal veins of the infected mice under aseptic conditions (Duvall & Dewitt 1967). The worms were washed in a RPMI1640 (Sigma) medium kept at pH 7.5 with HEPES 20 mM and supplemented with penicillin (100 UI/ml), streptomicin (100 µg/ml) and 10% bovine fetal serum (Cutilab) and transferred to tissue culture plates containing 2 ml of the same medium. Each well received two worms and these were then incubated at 37ºC in a humid atmosphere containing 5% CO2.

The experiments were approved by the Federal University of Pernambuco's Animal Experiments Ethics Committee, Process no. 185/2004, in accordance with Law 9605 Article 32 Decree 3179 – Art 17.

For the in vitro test with S. mansoni, these compounds were dissolved in 1.6% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and used in concentrations varying from 29 to 640 µM, which were added to the medium containing the worms after a period of 2 h of adaptation to the culture medium. Duplicates were carried out for each concentration used. The parasites were kept for 8 days and monitored every 24 h to evaluate their general condition: motor activity, alterations in the tegument, mortality rate. The control worms were treated with 1.6% of DMSO in an RPMI 1640 medium.

RESULTS

Chemical - In order to obtain the new 3-benzyl-5-benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivative compounds (JT) 5-benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one, potassium carbonate as a catalyst and methanol as a solvent were placed in a flask. The reactional mixture was constantly shaken at room temperature for one hour. Subsequently, the substituted benzyl bromide was added. All reactions were accompanied by chromatographic analysis in a thin layer by way of an adequate elution system. The 3-benzyl-5-benzylidene-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivatives JT were purified by washing with suitable solvents. The fusion points were determined in capillary tubes using a Buchi apparatus. Thin layer chromatography was carried out on Merck 60F254 silicagel chromoplates. The infra-red spectra were produced on KBr tablets at a concentration of 1% using a Perkin Elmer 1310 spectrometer. The magnetic nuclear resonance spectra of 1H NMR protons was carried out using a Bruker AC 200 spectrophotometer in DMSO-d6 or CDCl3 as a solvent and the mass spectra using a Delsi-Nermag R 1010 C spectrometer on electronic impact.

3-benzyl-5-(3-fluoro-benzylidene)-1-methyl-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT53

C18H15FN2OS Yield 41%, M.p. 183-184ºC, Rf (CHCl3:CH3OH 8:2) 0,66,. IR (KBr): u 1680, 1460, 1570 cm-1. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): d3.3 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.57 (s, 2H, CH2), 6.82 (s, 1H, CH), 7.28-7.48 (m, 5H, benzyl), 7.19-7.26 (m, 1H, benzylidene, 4"), 7.28-7.48 (m, 1H, benzylidene, 5"), 7.87 (d, 1H, benzylidene, 2", J=7,81), 9.33-9.39 (m, 1H, benzylidene, 6"). MS m/z (%) 326(M+. 100), 327 (M+.+1 13.7), 328 (M+.+2 3.38), 293(89), 235(12.5), 148(17.1).

3-benzyl-1-methyl-5-(4-methyl-benzylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT63

C19H18N2OS Yield 57%, M.p. 187-189ºC, Rf (CHCl3:CH3OH 6:4) 0,81,. IR (KBr): u 1770, 1600, 1460 cm-1. 1H NMR (CDCl3): d2,39(s, 3H, CH3), 3.28 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.62 (s, 2H, CH2), 6.4 (s, 1H, CH), 7.42-7.46 (m, 2H, benzyl, 2'6'), 7.31-7.35 (m, 3H, benzyl, 3'4'5'), 7.22 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 3"5" J=8.1Hz), 8.11 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 2"6" J=8.1Hz). MS m/z (%) 322(M+. 44.19), 323 (M+.+1 10.97), 324 (M+.+2 1.29), 298(24.2), 145(87.7), 130(58.7), 91(100), 65(43.2).

3-benzyl-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-benzylidene)-2 -thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT68

C19H18N2O2 S Yield 56%, M.p. 178-180ºC, Rf (CHCl3:CH3OH 6:4) 0,78,. IR (KBr): u 1680, 1590, 1460 cm-1. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): d3.29 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3,81 (s, 3H, OCH3), 4.58 (s, 2H, CH2), 6.79 (s, 1H, CH), 7.29-7.48 (m, 3H, benzyl, 3'4'5'), 7.45-7.48 (m, 2H, benzyl, 2'6'), 6.99 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 3"5" J=8.6Hz), 8.32 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 2"6" J=8.6Hz). MS m/z (%) 338(M+. 21.64), 339 (M+.+1 3.18), 340 (M+.+2 0.32), 305(8.6), 161(31.9), 146(100), 91(41.8), 65(17.3).

3-(4-chloro-benzyl)-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-ben zylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT69

C19H17ClN2O 2S Yield 53%, M.p.. 219-219ºC, Rf (CHCl3:CH3OH 6:4) 0,82,. IR (KBr): u 1670, 1590, 1460 cm-1. 1H NMR (CDCl3): d3.28 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3,86 (s, 3H, OCH3), 4.57 (s, 2H, CH2), 6.39 (s, 1H, CH), 7.29 (d, 2H, benzyl, 2'6' J=8.7Hz), 7.29 (d, 2H, benzyl, 3'5' J=8.7Hz), 6.88 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 3"5" J=8.8Hz), 8.25 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 2"6" J=8.8Hz). MS m/z (%) 372(M+. 13.29), 373 (M+.+1 3.79), 374 (M+.+2 6.31), 161(22.1), 146(100), 125(43.4), 90(6.5), 63(17.8).

3-(4-phenyl-benzyl)-1-methyl-5-(4-methoxi-ben zylidene)-2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one JT72

C25H22N2O2 S Yield 67%, M.p. 157-159ºC, Rf (CHCl3:CH3OH 6:4) 0,76,. IR (KBr): u 1670, 1590, 1450 cm-1. 1H NMR (CDCl3): d3.21 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3,84 (s, 3H, OCH3), 4.6 (s, 2H, CH2), 6.34 (s, 1H, CH), 7.63-7.65 (m, 1H), 7.25-7.43 (m, 8H, benzyl), 6.92 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 3"5" J=8.8Hz), 8.23 (d, 2H, benzylidene, 2"6" J=8.8Hz). MS m/z (%) 414(M+. 30.78), 415 (M+.+1 4.36), 167(75.8), 166(49.2), 165(100), 161(25.6), 152(40.9), 146(93.2), 91(9.6).

Biological - The evaluation of the in vitro susceptibility of S. mansoni to the 2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivatives JT53, JT63, JT68, JT69, JT72 revealed that the worms were sensitive during the first 24 h to the compounds JT53, JT63, and JT72, the highest mortality rate occurring after 48 h of contact at a concentration of 644 µM. The JT68 and JT69 compounds, at the same concentration, achieved their maximum response after 72 h. The JT53 and JT72 compounds killed around 9 and 16% of the worms respectively with the lower concentration used. Adult male worms, when submitted to the action of derived arylazo imidazolidine PT5 were shown to be sensitive at all the concentrations used with 100% mortality after 24 h of contact. In the case of female worms, a clear relation was observed between the concentration used and the effect after a period of 24 h. The maximum effect achieved, at concentrations of 58 µM and 116 µM, was after 96 and 72 h, respectively. The sensitivity of the adult S. mansoni worms to the imidazolidine-2,4-dione derivative NE4 could be seen from the first day of treatment onwards. A maximum response of 100% mortality was achieved at the end of the fourth day of exposure to the 320 ìM concentration (Figure).


In all the experiments, the control group remained viable throughout the observation period, and were submitted only to the vehicle used to dissolve the different compounds.

DISCUSSION

The mortality kinetic of adult S. mansoni worms in the presence of imidazolidine derivatives was used to evaluate the schistosomacide properties of the imidazolidine derivatives studied.

It can be seen from Table that the compound arylazo imidazolidine PT5 caused 100% mortality of worms at a concentration of 29 µM in the course of a period of 24 h of contact and was the most active compound. The 2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-one derivatives JT53, JT63, JT68, JT69, and JT72 only reached a similar percentage mortality of worms at a concentration of 644 µM, after 48 h. The longest period of time taken to cause the death of all the worms was 96 h of contact at a concentration of 320 µM in the case of the NE4 derivative.

All the derivatives studied caused alterations in the tegument surface of the worms with the formation of bubbles and peeling, indicating damage to cells, an effect directly related to the duration of exposure. It was also observed that schistosomacide properties followed a dose-response dependent relation.

The mortality rate and the lesions in the teguments suggest that the imidazolidine derivatives are active against S. mansoni. The 3-benzyl-5-(4-chloro-arylazo)-4-thioxo-imidazolidin-2-one PT5 derivative proved to be the most active, probably owing to the participation of the arylazo grouping.

Received 25 May 2006

Accepted 26 June 2006

Financial support: Finep, CNPq

  • Abass M, Mostafa BB 2005. Synthesis and evaluation of molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of some novel enaminones derived from 4-hydroxyquinolinones: part IX. Bioorg Med Chem 13: 6133-6144.
  • Albuquerque MCA, Silva TG, Pitta MGR, Silva ACA, Silva PG, Malagueño E, Santana JV, Wanderley AG, Lima MCA, Galdino SL, Barbe J, Pitta IR 2005. Synthesis and schistosomicidal activity of new substituted thioxo-imidazolidine compounds. Pharmazie 60: 13-17.
  • Bahgat MM, Maghraby AS, Heiba ME, Ruppel A, Fathalla OA 2005. Synthesis of new 4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydropyrimidine derivatives with an incorporated thiazolidinone moiety and testing their possible serine protease and cercarial elastase inhibitory effects with a possible prospective to block penetration of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae into the mice skin. Arch Pharm Res 28: 1002-1012.
  • Brandão SSF, Rocha Filho JA, Chantegrel J, Albuquerque JFC, Ximenes EA, Galdino SL, Pitta IR, Perrissin M, Luu-Duc C 1997. Synthèse et structure des arylazo-imidazolidines et et arylidèneimidazolidines substituées. Ann Pharm Françaises 55: 206-211.
  • Cioli D, Pica-Mattoccia L 2003. Praziquantel. Parasitol Res 90: S3-9.
  • Cioli D, Pica-Mattoccia L, Archer S 1995. Antischistosomal drugs: past, present ... and future? Pharmac & Ther 68: 35-85.
  • Cope AC, HofmannCM, Wyckoff C, Hardenber E 1941. Condensation reactions. II. Alkylidene cyanoacetic and malonic ester. J Am Chem Soc 63: 3452-3456.
  • Davis A, Wegner DH 1979. Multicentre trials of praziquantel in human schistosomiasis: design and techniques. Bull WHO 57: 767-771.
  • Duvall RH, Dewitt WB 1967. An improved perfusion technique for recovering adult schistosomes from laboratory animals. Am J Trop Med Hyg 16: 483-486.
  • Hamed MA, Hetta MH 2005. Efficacy of Citrus reticulata and Mirazid in treatment of Schistosoma mansoni Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 100: 771-778.
  • King CH, Muchiri EM, Ouma JH 2000. Evidence against rapid emergence of praziquantel resistance in Schistosoma haematobium, Kenya. Emerg Infect Dis 6: 585-594.
  • Lima MCA, Costa DLB, Goes AJS, Galdino SL, Pitta IR, Luu-Duc C. 1992. Synthèse et activité antimicrobienne de derives chlorobenzyl benzylidène imidazolidinediones et thiazolidinediones substituées. Pharmazie 47: 182-184.
  • Massoud AM, el Ebiary FH, Ibrahim SH 2005. Light microscopic study of the effect of new antischistosmal drug (myrrh extract) on the liver of mice. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 35: 971-988.
  • Oliveira SM, Albuquerque MCPA, Pitta MGR, Malagueño E, Santana JV, Lima MCA, Pitta IR, Galdino SL 2004. A resposta do Schistosoma mansoni mantido in vitro frente a derivados imidazolidinônicos. Acta Farm Bonaerense 23: 343-348.
  • Oliver L, Stirewalt MA 1952. An efficient method for exposure of mice to cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni J Parasitol 38: 19-23.
  • Silva IM, Thiengo R, Conceicao MJ, Rey L, Lenzi HL, Pereira Filho E, Ribeiro PC 2005. Therapeutic failure of praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Brazilians returning from Africa. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 100: 445-449.
  • Simone CA, Pereira MA, Luu-Duc C, Pitta IR, Galdino SL, Menezes EHC, Schpector JZ 1996. 3-benzyl-5-(2-fluorobenzylidene)-imidazolidine-2,4-dione. Acta Christ 52: 2771-2772.
  • Tallima H, Salah M, El-Ridi R 2005. In vitro and in vivo effects of unsaturated fatty acids on Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium lung-stage larvae. J Parasitol 91: 1094-1102.
  • WHO-World Health Organization 1993. WHO Technical Report. The control of schistosomiasis: second report of the WHO Expert Committee. Vol. 830. Geneva.
  • 1
    Corresponding author:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      12 Feb 2007
    • Date of issue
      Oct 2006

    History

    • Received
      25 May 2006
    • Accepted
      26 June 2006
    Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde Av. Brasil, 4365 - Pavilhão Mourisco, Manguinhos, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil, Tel.: (55 21) 2562-1222, Fax: (55 21) 2562 1220 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
    E-mail: memorias@fiocruz.br