Novel Antiplasmodial Compounds Leveraged with Multistage Potency against the Parasite Plasmodium falciparum: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations and Pharmacokinetic Studies

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 24;64(12):8666-8683. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00659. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Abstract

Hydroxyethylamine (HEA)-based novel compounds were synthesized and their activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 was assessed, identifying a few hits without any apparent toxicity. Hits 5c and 5d also exhibited activity against resistant field strains, PfRKL-9 and PfC580Y. A single dose, 50 mg/Kg, of hits administered to the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei ANKA exhibited up to 70% reduction in the parasite load. Compound 5d tested in combination with artesunate produced an additional antiparasitic effect with a prolonged survival period. Additionally, compound 5d showed 50% inhibition against hepatic P. berghei infection at 1.56 ± 0.56 μM concentration. This compound also considerably delayed the progression of transmission stages, ookinete and oocyst. Furthermore, the toxicity of 5d assessed in mice supported the normal liver and kidney functions. Altogether, HEA analogues (5a-m), particularly 5d, are nontoxic multistage antiplasmodial agents with therapeutic and transmission-blocking efficacy, along with favorable preliminary pharmacokinetic properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / chemical synthesis
  • Antimalarials / metabolism
  • Antimalarials / pharmacokinetics
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Ethanolamines / chemical synthesis
  • Ethanolamines / metabolism
  • Ethanolamines / pharmacokinetics
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Malaria / drug therapy*
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Piperazines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperazines / metabolism
  • Piperazines / pharmacokinetics
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Plasmodium berghei / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Protein Binding
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Ethanolamines
  • Piperazines
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • plasmepsin