Yes / Current drugs against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) suffer from several serious drawbacks. The search for novel, effective, brain permeable, safe, and inexpensive antitrypanosomal compounds is therefore an urgent need. We have recently reported that the 4-aminoquinoline derivative huprine Y, developed in our group as an anticholinesterasic agent, exhibits a submicromolar potency against Trypanosoma brucei and that its homo- and hetero-dimerization can result in to up to three-fold increased potency and selectivity. As an alternative strategy towards more potent smaller molecule anti-HAT agents, we have explored the introduction of ω-cyanoalkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, or ω-guanidinoalkyl chains at the primary amino group of huprine or the simplified 4-aminoquinoline analogue tacrine. Here, we describe the evaluation of a small in-house library and a second generation of newly synthesized derivatives, which has led to the identification of 13 side chain modified 4-aminoquinoline derivatives with submicromolar potencies against T. brucei. Among these compounds, the guanidinononyltacrine analogue 15e exhibits a 5-fold increased antitrypanosomal potency, 10-fold increased selectivity, and 100-fold decreased anticholinesterasic activity relative to the parent huprine Y. Its biological profile, lower molecular weight relative to dimeric compounds, reduced lipophilicity, and ease of synthesis, make it an interesting anti-HAT lead, amenable to further optimization to eliminate its remaining anticholinesterasic activity. / Wellcome Trust

No description available.

MSc (Chemistry) / Department of Chemistry / Rauvolfia caffra Sond, a species of evergreen trees and shrubs in the dogbane family, (Apocynaceae), is used as a medicinal plant among traditional communities in many countries for the treatment of malaria, diabetes, coughs, gastrointestinal disturbances, skin infections, impotence, insomnia, diarrhoea, dysentery, scabies, worm infections, and both parasitic and microbial infections. Phytochemical studies have revealed that indole alkaloids are the major constituents of the stem bark. However, there are limited studies linking the compounds with the ethnomedicinal uses. The aim of this study is to isolate and characterize bioactive compounds from Rauvolfia caffra Sond. The highest phenolic content found in a fraction was 16.06±0.125 mg GAE/g, while the highest flavonoid content measured was 9.453±0.081 mg QE/g. In the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and reducing power tests, a lowest IC50 value of 0.022±0.003 μg/mL and IC0.5 value 0.518±0.044 μg/mL, respectively, was found. Six compounds were isolated from the stem bark, including lupeol, a pentacyclic tri-terpenoid isolated for the first time from the genus Rauvolfia; raucaffricine, a rare glycoalkaloid of the monoterpenoid indole class; N-methylsarpagine, an indole alkaloid isolated for the time from R. caffra and spegatrine, an indole alkaloid isolated for the first time from R. caffra, respectively. Concerning antimicrobial activity, the highest activity of a fraction was against B. cereus with MIC values as low as 12.5 mg/mL. One fraction at the tested concentration (250 μg/mL) decreased the viability of Plasmodium falciparum (4.149±6.979 %) with an IC50 value of 6.533 μg/mL. The crude extract and some fractions affected the viability of the Trypanosomes at the tested concentration (250 μg/mL), giving -0.133 ± 0.206 %, 11.334 ± 2.692 %, 1.026 ± 0.143 % and 20.769 ± 9.054 % with IC50 values of 18.50 μg/mL, 14.15 μg/mL, 15.58 μg/mL and 34.71 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the fractions did not show significant cytotoxic effects at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. / NRF