In vitro antischistosomal evaluation of some newly synthesized praziquantel derivatives

Praziquantel, 2-(cyclohexylcarbonyl)-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one, was used as the parent starting material to synthesize a new series of praziquantel-3-arylidene derivatives 1a–c and praziquantel–Mannich bases 2a–d, hoping to obtain new antischistosomal compounds of more activity and lower adverse effects. The antischistosomal activity of the newly synthesized compounds was evaluated using in vitro Schistosoma mansoni worm killing tests. Both compounds 2c and 2d exhibited significant in vitro antischistosomal activity and may offer promising use as an antischistosomal drug either alone or in combination with praziquantel.     

Schistosomiasis Chemotherapy

After malaria, schistosomiasis (or bilharzia) is the second most prevalent disease in Africa, and is occurring in over 70 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. It is estimated that 600 million people are at risk of infection, 200 million people are infected, and at least 200 000 deaths per year are associated with the disease. All schistosome species are transmitted through contact with fresh water that is infested with free‐swimming forms of the parasite, which is known as cercariae and produced by snails. When located in the blood vessels of the host, larval and adult schistosomes digest red cells to acquire amino acids for growth and development. Vaccine candidates have been unsuccessful up to now. Against such devastating parasitic disease, the antischistosomal arsenal is currently limited to a single drug, praziquantel, which has been used for more than 35 years. Because the question of the reduction of the activity of praziquantel was raised recently, it is thus urgent to create new and safe antischistosomal drugs that should be combined with praziquantel to develop efficient bitherapies.     

Development of Smart Polymer Microparticles through Suspension Polymerization for Treatment of Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects millions of people, especially low‐income people, and is considered a major public health problem in underdeveloped countries. The drug used most often for the treatment of the disease is praziquantel (PZQ), which has a strong and characteristic bitter taste that makes treatment of children inconvenient. For this reason, the present work investigates the development of smart pH‐sensitive polymer microparticles produced through suspension polymerizations to be used as vehicles for the controlled release of praziquantel in the body. The microparticles are produced through copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and the cationic comonomers diethylaminoethyl methacrylate or dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. The obtained results indicate that microparticles with sizes in the range of 10–1100 µm can be formed successfully, allowing high PZQ encapsulation efficiencies (>80%). Zeta potential analyses and drug release assays confirm the pH‐sensitive responses of the cationic copolymers, leading to effective release of PZQ (around 80% in pH 1.2) in acidic media that simulate the organic fluids present in the stomach.     

Tetrasubstituted pyrazinones derived from the reaction of praziquantel with N-bromosuccinimide

When praziquantel was exposed to N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of ethanol, a tricyclic 3-bromo-1-ethoxy pyrazinone was formed. From this and the analogous 1,3-dibromopyrazinone, a small library of 3-alkylamino-1-ethoxy, 1,3-dialkoxy, 3-alkoxy-1-bromo, and 3-alkylamino-1-bromo substituted pyrazinones were synthesized in high yields.     

A straightforward and efficient synthesis of praziquantel enantiomers and their 4′-hydroxy derivatives

A new method for the synthesis of praziquantel enantiomers via resolution of praziquanamine with (S)-(+)-naproxen was developed. The four 4′-hydroxy derivatives were obtained through each single praziquanamine enantiomer, coupling with cis- and trans-4-(benzyloxy)cyclohexanecarboxylic acids and subsequent hydrogenolysis for the deprotection of the 4′-OH cyclohexane residue. Additionally, the in vitro cysticidal activity of the compounds was tested, finding that (R)-(−)-praziquantel is the eutomer.     

In Situ Incorporation of Praziquantel in Polymer Microparticles through Suspension Polymerization for Treatment of Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is one of the major public health problems worldwide. Even though this is a common illness among preschool children in poor countries, treatment is carried out mainly through the administration of praziquantel tablets, which has some disadvantages, such as the strong bitter taste. As an alternative to overcome this problem, the development of new encapsulated praziquantel formulations is demanded. For this reason, suspension polymerizations are carried out for the in situ encapsulation of praziquantel into polymer microparticles, using methyl methacrylate (MMA) and cationic compounds (diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, DEAEMA, and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, DMAEMA) as comonomers. This technique allows for the preparation of polymer microparticles with high encapsulation efficiencies (>90%) with characteristic sizes ranging from 0.5 to 1500 µm. Drug release profiles show that praziquantel is released from poly(methyl methacrylate) microparticles slowly due to the existence of strong diffusional resistance. On the other hand, the addition of cationic comonomers renders polymer particles sensitive to pH variations, allowing for faster release of praziquantel in acidic environments, as found in the stomach.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the stereoselective biotransformation of the chiral drug praziquantel.

A selective reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantification of praziquantel and its monohydroxylated metabolites in serum is described. The quantitative analysis was followed by determination of the enantiomeric ratio of praziquantel and trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel, the main metabolite of praziquantel in humans, on a cellulose tris-3,5-dimethyl-phenylcarbamate column (Chiralcel OD). Serum level data for five volunteers after oral administration of racemic praziquantel were compared with in vitro metabolism data for praziquantel, obtained with liver microsomes of different species.     

高效液相色谱法测定水产品中残留的吡喹酮

建立了一种灵敏度高、操作简单的定量分析水产品中残留的微量吡喹酮的高效液相色谱方法。样品经乙酸乙酯提取、极性硅胶柱净化后进行高效液相色谱分析,以乙腈-水(体积比为50∶50)为流动相,流速为0.9 mL/min,ZORBAX C18色谱柱分离,紫外检测波长为214 nm。在此条件下吡喹酮在0.02～20 mg/L范围内呈线性关系,相关系数为0.99998;吡喹酮的加标回收率在85%以上,检出限为10 μg/kg。     

Enantioselective simultaneous analysis of selected pharmaceuticals in environmental samples by ultrahigh performance supercritical fluid based chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

In order to assess the true impact of each single enantiomer of pharmacologically active compounds (PACs) in the environment, highly efficient, fast and sensitive analytical methods are needed. For the first time this paper focuses on the use of ultrahigh performance supercritical fluid based chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer to develop multi-residue enantioselective methods for chiral PACs in environmental matrices. This technique exploits the advantages of supercritical fluid chromatography, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Two coated modified 2.5 μm-polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases were investigated: an amylose tris-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate column and a cellulose tris-3-chloro-4-methylphenylcarbamate column. The effect of different chromatographic variables on chiral recognition is highlighted. This novel approach resulted in the baseline resolution of 13 enantiomers PACs (aminorex, carprofen, chloramphenicol, 3-N-dechloroethylifosfamide, flurbiprofen, 2-hydroxyibuprofen, ifosfamide, imazalil, naproxen, ofloxacin, omeprazole, praziquantel and tetramisole) and partial resolution of 2 enantiomers PACs (ibuprofen and indoprofen) under fast-gradient conditions (<10 min analysis time).     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 3-Phenyl-10b-benzyl-1,10b-dihydroimdazo[5,1-a]isoquinoline

Praziquantel, 2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one, is a novel antiparasitic drug possessing one chiral center.[1] In the study of structure-activity relationship of praziquantel we were interested in its structural modification. 1-Benzyl Reissert compound of isoquinoline is required as starting materials for the synthesis of praziquantel analogues with modified chiral centers. On the other hand, we want to know what could be obtained when 1-benzyl Reissert compounds were exposed to high pressure catalytic hydrogenation. In this paper we report the results in the hydrogenation of 1-benzyl Reissert compound.     

A short synthesis of praziquantel

The synthesis of praziquantel ( 1 ), a potent anthelmintic agent, is reported. The synthesis requires five steps and proceeds in 16% yield.     

固相萃取-液相色谱-质谱/质谱法同时测定蜂蜜中的多类药物残留

建立了采用固相萃取-液相色谱-质谱/质谱(SPE-LC-MS/MS)对蜂蜜中磺胺类、硝基咪唑类、喹诺酮类、大环内酯类、林可酰胺类和吡喹酮共计6大类54种药物残留同时测定的方法。蜂蜜经磷酸盐缓冲溶液(pH 8)稀释,Oasis HLB固相萃取柱净化后,通过液相色谱-质谱联用技术进行检测(正离子方式,多反应监测模式)。采用同位素稀释内标法或外标法进行定量,线性关系良好,相关系数大于0.992。方法的定量限(LOQ,以信噪比(S/N)大于10计)分别为磺胺类和硝基咪唑类药物1.0 μg/kg,喹诺酮类和林可酰胺类药物2.0 μg/kg,大环内酯类药物3.0 μg/kg,吡喹酮0.3 μg/kg。总体回收率为32.6%～114%,相对标准偏差为1.3%～28.9%。该方法的定量限满足目前国内外药物的最大残留限量要求,可作为蜂蜜中相关药物残留量的筛选检测方法。     

Colorimetric method for the quantitative determination of the antibilharzial drug praziquantel and its application to pharmaceutical preparations.

A method for the colorimetric assay of praziquantel has been developed. For the colorimetric assay, it was necessary to hydrolyse praziquantel with 3 mol dm-3 NaOH, 6 mol dm-3 HCl and 85% phosphoric acid separately. 4-Chloro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl) reacts with the basic hydrolysis product in methanolic aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), resulting in the formation of an orange product with a characteristic absorption maximum at 478 nm. The red-orange product of the interaction between the hydrochloric acid hydrolysis product and NBD-Cl showed an absorption maximum at 486 nm. The colours obtained were stable for 24 h. The colour system obeyed Beer's law in the concentration range 2-15 and 2-18 micrograms ml-1 for the basic hydrolysis product and the acid hydrolysis product, respectively. The results obtained showed good recoveries with relative standard deviations of 0.378 and 0.47% for the basic and the acid hydrolysis product, respectively. The determination limit was found to be 0.124 and 0.150 micrograms ml-1 for the praziquantel basic hydrolysis product and the acid hydrolysis product, respectively. The coloured reaction products obtained with the proposed method were synthesized. The structures of these products were studied and the compounds identified.     

Separation of enantiomers by nanoliquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography using a bonded cellulose trisphenylcarbamate stationary phase

A cellulose trisphenylcarbamate-bonded chiral stationary phase was applied to nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) with nonaqueous and aqueous solutions as the mobile phases. Several chiral compounds were successfully resolved on the prepared phase by nano-LC. The applicability of nonaqueous CEC on a cellulose derivative stationary phase was investigated with the organic solvents methanol, hexane, 2-propanol, and tetrahydrofuran (THF) containing acetic acid, as well as triethylamine as the mobile phases. Enantiomers of warfarin and praziquantel were baseline-resolved with plate numbers of 82,300 and 38,800 plates/m, respectively, for the first eluting enantiomer. The influence of applied voltage, concentration of nonpolar solvent, apparent pH, and buffer concentration in the mobile phase on the electroosmotic flow (EOF) and the mobility of the enantiomers was evaluated. Enantioseparations of trans-stilbene oxide and praziquantel were also achieved in aqueous CEC with plate numbers of 111,100 and 107,400 plates/m, respectively, for the first eluting enantiomer. A comparison between nonaqueous CEC and aqueous CEC based on a cellulose trisphenylcarbamate stationary phase was discussed. Pressure-assisted CEC was examined for the chiral separation of praziquantel and faster analysis with high enantioselectivity was acquired with the proper pressurization of the inlet vial.     

Electron impact mass spectrometry of praziquantel derivatives

The electron impact mass spectra of a series of compounds related to the anthelmintic substance praziquantel are described in sufficient detail to permit their assay in biological samples by selected ion monitoring.     

Solid phase synthesis of praziquantel

The first solid phase synthesis of the important anthelmintic praziquantel is described. The synthesis is rapid and efficient. The method may be extended to the synthesis of libraries of urgently needed replacements for this drug.     

Chiral metal–organic framework used as stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received great attention as novel media in separation sciences because of their fascinating structures and unusual properties. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no attempt to utilize chiral MOFs as stationary phases in capillary electrochromatography (CEC). In this study, a homochiral helical MOF [Zn₂(D-Cam)₂(4,4′-bpy)]_n (D-Cam = D-(+)-camphoric acid, 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) was explored as the chiral stationary phase in open tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) for separation of chiral compounds and isomers. The MOFs coated column has been developed using a simple procedure via MOFs post-coated on the sodium silicate layer. The baseline separations of flavanone and praziquantel were achieved on the MOFs coated column with high resolution of more than 2.10. The influences of pH, organic modifier content and buffer concentration on separation were investigated. Besides, the separations of isomers (nitrophenols and ionones) were evaluated. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for the retention time of run-to-run, day-to-day and column-to-column were 1.04%, 2.16% and 3.07%, respectively. The results demonstrated that chiral MOFs are promising for enantioseparation in CEC.     

Treatment of Alzheimer's disease with small-molecule photosensitizers

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that signals for excess β-amyloid(Aβ) aggregation.Although people have made great attempts to control the aggregation of Aβ, no effective medications have been produced yet. Due to its excellent temporal and spatial selectivity, photodynamic treatment has been gradually employed and interfered in the aggregation process of Aβ, with some achievement. To enhance the research and application of photodynamic therapy in Alzheimer’s disease, this pape...     

Les alicaments et la drépanocytose : une mini-revue

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disease affecting particularly the black African population and its diaspora. In recent years, the phytotherapeutical approach seems to show progress with in vitro validation of antisickling activity of several plants used in traditional African medicine against sickle cell disease and isolation of some active molecules. The use of edible medicinal plants is an interesting approach since these plants can be integrated into the daily diet of patient suffering from this chronic disease. Among nearly 75 plants used in Congolese traditional medicine identified by our research team, 16 species belonging to 12 families of edible plants including: Cajanus cajan, Sorghum bicolor, Ipomea batata, Moringa morindoides, Adansania digitata, Ocimum basilicum, Vigna unguiculata. The antisickling activity of these plants used by traditional healers was confirmed in vitro using several tests including Emmel test, hemolysis test and antioxidant activity test. Fifteen of these plants have actually shown biological activity justifying their use in traditional medicine. This activity mainly observed in the polar extracts is mainly due to anthocyanins and organic acids and their derivatives. These plants can be used as nutraceuticals in the treatment of sickle cell disease and the tests done with Vigna unguculata are encouraging.     

Synthesis of tricylic systems incorporating the azepine ring

Some tricyclic compounds (derivatives of pyrazino[2,1-a]benzazepine, diazepino[7,1-a]isoquinoline, and some pyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolines) which are analogs of the anthelmintic praziquantel have been synthesized.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1665–1669, December, 1990.