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We validated a new method, based on luciferine/luciferase bioluminescence, for drug screening on promastigotes of different Leishmania species. Results obtained with this new, rapid, reproducible, and reliable method are in good accordance with results obtained by the conventional MTT assay. This bioluminescence assay has a lower detection limit., (© 2013.)

A series of nitrated 2-substituted-quinolines was synthesized and evaluated in vitro toward Leishmania donovani promastigotes. In parallel, the in vitro cytotoxicity of these molecules was assessed on the murine J774 and human HepG2 cell lines. Thus, a very promising antileishmanial hit molecule was identified (compound 21), displaying an IC(50) value of 6.6 μM and CC(50) values ≥ 100 μM, conferring quite good selectivity index to this molecule, in comparison with 3 drug-compounds of reference (amphotericin B, miltefosine and pentamidine). Compound 21 also appears as an efficient in vitro antileishmanial molecule against both Leishmania infantum promastigotes and the intracellular L. donovani amastigotes (respective IC(50) = 7.6 and 6.5 μM). Moreover, hit quinoline 21 does not show neither significant antiplasmodial nor antitoxoplasmic in vitro activity and though, presents a selective antileishmanial activity. Finally, a structure-activity relationships study enabled to define precisely the antileishmanial pharmacophore based on this nitroquinoline scaffold: 2-hydroxy-8-nitroquinoline., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The synthesis of β-carbolines and their in vitro antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activities were described herein. These molecules have also been studied concerning their in vitro cytotoxicity toward the human cell line THP1, in order to calculate their respective selectivity indexes (SI). Among the 20 tested molecules, four exhibited significant antiplasmodial activity on the W2 multi-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain (0.7 < IC₅₀ < 1.7 μM), in comparison with two references drugs (chloroquine and doxycycline), and a low cytotoxicity. These β-carbolines were also evaluated concerning their in vitro antileshmanial activity on Leishmania donovani promastigotes, permitting to identify an antileshmanial hit compound, displaying quite promising activity (IC₅₀ = 6.1 μM) in comparison with amphotericin B and pentamidine chosen as reference drugs. Finally, structure-activity relationships were discussed, pointing out that molecules presenting a para-substituted phenyl moiety at position 1 of the β-carboline ring displayed the best biological profile., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

A new series of monoamidoxime derivatives was synthesized using manganese(III) acetate by microwave irradiation. Several amidoximes (27-31, 33, 38) showed valuable in vitro activities toward Leishmania donovani promastigotes, exhibiting IC(50) values between 5.21 and 7.89 μM. In parallel, the cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated on murine J774A.1 cells, revealing the corresponding selectivity index (SI). Among the 13 tested compounds, 4 monoamidoximes (27-30) exhibited an SI more than 20 times better than pentamidine. Moreover, monoamidoxime 28 (4-[5-Benzyl-3-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)-5-methyl-4,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl]-N'-hydroxybenzimidamide) is 40 times more selective than pentamidine, and 1.6 times more than amphotericin B, used as reference drug compounds., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

An original series of amidoxime derivatives was synthesized using manganese(III) acetate, Buchwald-Hartwig and Heck reactions. Two amidoximes (39 and 52) showed interesting in vitro activities toward Leishmania donovani promastigotes, exhibiting 8.3 and 8.8 μM IC(50) values. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated on human THP1 cells, giving access to the corresponding selectivity index. Among the 25 tested compounds, amidoximes 38 and 39 and diamidoximes 50 and 52 exhibited a better selectivity index than pentamidine used as a drug compound reference., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A large series of 4-arylcoumarins was synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and evaluated for antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani. Several compounds were found to strongly inhibit the proliferation of human cell line and/or parasites. The 4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin exhibit a potent activity on L. donovani amastigotes with a selectivity index (SI=265) twice than amphotericin B (SI=140)., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The multistep synthesis of new quinazoline-derived molecules and their in vitro antiplasmodial evaluation on the W2 chloroquino-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain is described herein. These molecules have also been studied concerning their in vitro cytotoxicity toward two human cell lines (K652 and HepG2) in order to calculate their respective selectivity indexes (S.I.). Among the fourteen tested molecules, two exhibited both significant antiplasmodial activity (IC(50)=0.95 and 1.3 microM) and low toxicity (IC(50)>100 or 125 microM), compared with two reference drugs: chloroquine and doxycycline. The structure activity relationships establish that the molecular scaffold which exerts the best profile is the 6-nitro-2-(tosylmethyl)-N-(3-substituted-phenyl)-quinazolin-4-amine. The hit molecules were finally investigated regarding their potential action toward two other protozoa, Leishmania donovani and Toxoplasma gondii, showing that these molecules display a selective antiplasmodial activity., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)