Enhancement of the antimalarial activity of ciprofloxacin using a double prodrug/bioorganometallic approach

J Med Chem. 2009 Dec 24;52(24):7954-7. doi: 10.1021/jm901357n.

Abstract

The derivatization of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin greatly increases its antimalarial activity by combining bioorganometallic chemistry and the prodrug approach. Two new achiral compounds 2 and 4 were found to be 10- to 100-fold more active than ciprofloxacin against Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-susceptible and chloroquine-resistant strains. These achiral derivatives killed parasites more rapidly than did ciprofloxacin. Compounds 2 and 4 were revealed to be promising leads, creating a new family of antimalarial agents.

MeSH terms

  • Aminoquinolines / chemistry
  • Aminoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Ciprofloxacin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ciprofloxacin / chemistry
  • Ciprofloxacin / pharmacology
  • Ferrous Compounds / chemistry
  • Ferrous Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Metallocenes
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Aminoquinolines
  • Antimalarials
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Metallocenes
  • Prodrugs
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • ferroquine
  • ferrocene