Atividade leishmanicida de análogos de alcalóides marinhos e bioisósteros do resveratrol em Leishmania amazonensis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the leishmanicidal activity of marine alkaloid analogues and bioisosteres of resveratrol in L. amazonensis. We tested 12 3alkylpyridine marine alkaloid analogues of and 7 bioisosteres of resveratrol, 4 complexed to gold, in promastigotes of L. amazonensis and in peritoneal macrophages. In both cases, the viability of the cells was checked using the MTT colorimetric method. Compounds with significant antipromastigote activity and selectivity by the parasite, when compared to the host cell, were tested on intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis, which effect of the compounds was determined by counting the number of intracellular parasites. Supernatant was also collected for measure of the nitric oxide (NO), by the Griess method. Most compounds showed antipromastigote effect, especially compounds 4 and 5 of the marine alkaloid analogues, with IC50 of 1.07 and 1.09 µM, respectively. Regarding the bioisosteres of resveratrol, the gold complex 17 was the most active (IC50 of 5.18 µM). All compounds tested in amastigotes exhibited activity, including the compound 10 (IC50 = 0.27 µM), among marine alkaloid analogues, and the compound 19, among gold complexes with bioisosteres of resveratrol (IC50 = 5.77 µM). Most marine alkaloid analogues showed significant toxicity in peritoneal macrophages, while only two bioisosteres of resveratrol complexed to gold were toxic to host cell. However, all compounds tested in amastigotes showed significant selectivity for intracellular parasite. Regarding the specificity of the molecules, marine analogues were specific to amastigote forms, suggesting that the target of these compounds is unique to this stage, while most of bioisosteres of resveratrol complexed to gold showed similar effect on promastigotes and amastigotes of L. amazonensis, suggesting common targets of these compounds in both stages of the parasite. None of compounds induced significant NO production by L. amazonensis-infected macrophages, suggesting that this molecule is not directly related with the antiparasitic effect. In summary, the study showed that the compounds have significant potential leishmanicidal and encourages in vivo studies, as well as the action mechanism.