The efficacy of novel arylimidamides against Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro

Parasitology. 2011 Dec;138(14):1863-9. doi: 10.1017/S0031182011001429. Epub 2011 Sep 9.

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the in vitro biological efficacy and selectivity of 7 novel AIAs upon bloodstream trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. The biological activity of these aromatic compounds was assayed for 48 and 24 h against intracellular parasites and bloodstream forms of T. cruzi (Y strain), respectively. Additional assays were also performed to determine their potential use in blood banks by treating the bloodstream parasites with the compounds diluted in mouse blood for 24 h at 4°C. Toxicity against mammalian cells was evaluated using primary cultures of cardiac cells incubated for 24 and 48 h with the AIAs and then cellular death rates were determined by MTT colorimetric assays. Our data demonstrated the outstanding trypanocidal effect of AIAs against T. cruzi, especially DB1853, DB1862, DB1867 and DB1868, giving IC50 values ranging between 16 and 70 nanomolar against both parasite forms. All AIAs presented superior efficacy to benznidazole and some, such as DB1868, also demonstrated promising activity as a candidate agent for blood prophylaxis. The excellent anti-trypanosomal efficacy of these novel AIAs against T. cruzi stimulates further in vivo studies and justifies the screening of new analogues with the goal of establishing a useful alternative therapy for Chagas disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry
  • Amides / isolation & purification
  • Amides / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy*
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Mice
  • Myocytes, Cardiac
  • Nitroimidazoles / pharmacology
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Trypanocidal Agents / chemistry
  • Trypanocidal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects*

Substances

  • Amides
  • Nitroimidazoles
  • Trypanocidal Agents
  • benzonidazole