Activity of a hydroxybibenzyl bryophyte constituent against Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi: In silico, in vitro and in vivo activity studies

The synthesis and potent antiprotozoal activity of 14-hydroxylunularin, a natural hydroxybibenzyl bryophyte constituent is reported. 14-Hydroxylunularin was highly active in vitro assays against culture and intracellular forms of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma. cruzi, in absence of cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Preliminary structure–activity relationship studies showed that the reported bioactivity depends on hybridization at the carbon–carbon bridge, position and number of free hydroxy group on the aromatic rings. The reported results were also in agreement with the in silico prediction using Non-Stochastic Quadratic Fingerprints-based algorithms. The same compound also showed antiprotozoal activity in Leishmania spp. infected mice by oral and subcutaneous administration routes, with an optimal treatment of a daily subcutaneous administration of 10 mg/kg of body weight for 15 days. This study suggested that 14-hydroxylunularin may be chosen as a new candidate in the development of leishmanicidal therapy.

Graphical abstractThe synthesis and potent antiprotozoal activity of 14-hydroxylunularin, a natural hydroxybibenzyl constituent from Ricciocarpos natans is reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide