In vitro activities of 7-substituted 9-chloro and 9-amino-2-methoxyacridines and their bis- and tetra-acridine complexes against Leishmania infantum.
9-Chloro and 9-amino-2-methoxyacridines bearing different substituents in position 7, as well as their corresponding unsubstituted dimeric and tetrameric complexes, were investigated for in vitro antiproliferative properties against Leishmania infantum compared to toxicity towards human monocytes. The results clearly confirmed that several compounds of the 2-methoxyacridine series, together with their corresponding dimeric and tetrameric derivatives, had strong in vitro antiparasitic properties. Antileishmanial activity was shown to depend on the nature of both 7- and 9-substituted groups in monoacridines, while it varied according to the nature of the 9-substituted group and the length of the linker among bis- and tetra-acridines. The effects of acridine derivatives on DNA synthesis raised the hypothesis that DNA metabolism constituted their main target in Leishmania promastigotes; however, secondary effects on other biochemical pathways, including protein and lipid metabolism, were observed, suggesting that acridine compounds could be considered multitarget drugs.
Di Giorgio
Carole
C
Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Hygiène et Zoologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Marseille, France. Carole.Digiorgio@Pharmacie.univ-mrs.fr
Delmas
Florence
F
Filloux
Nathalie
N
Robin
Maxime
M
Seferian
Laetitia
L
Azas
Nadine
N
Gasquet
Monique
M
Costa
Muriel
M
Timon-David
Pierre
P
Galy
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000166:Acridines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000187:drug effects*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000166:Acridines