Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs

Abstract Parasitic worm infections impose a significant public health burden, affecting over 2 billion people, particularly in low-income regions. The limited efficacy of current treatments highlights the urgent need for new anthelmintic agents. This study investigates the potential antiparasitic ac...

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Main Authors: Maria E. Cirino, Thainá R. Teixeira, Alessandro M. H. Silva, Ana C. C. Borges, Lucas Fukui-Silva, Luis G. Wagner, Christiane Fernandes, Malachy McCann, André L. S. Santos, Josué de Moraes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88484-5
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author Maria E. Cirino
Thainá R. Teixeira
Alessandro M. H. Silva
Ana C. C. Borges
Lucas Fukui-Silva
Luis G. Wagner
Christiane Fernandes
Malachy McCann
André L. S. Santos
Josué de Moraes
author_facet Maria E. Cirino
Thainá R. Teixeira
Alessandro M. H. Silva
Ana C. C. Borges
Lucas Fukui-Silva
Luis G. Wagner
Christiane Fernandes
Malachy McCann
André L. S. Santos
Josué de Moraes
author_sort Maria E. Cirino
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Parasitic worm infections impose a significant public health burden, affecting over 2 billion people, particularly in low-income regions. The limited efficacy of current treatments highlights the urgent need for new anthelmintic agents. This study investigates the potential antiparasitic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its metal complexes, [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2.8H2O and [Ag(phendione)2](ClO4), against Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of intestinal schistosomiasis, and Angiostrongylus cantonensis, responsible for eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Additionally, the compounds were tested on Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism for drug discovery. All compounds exhibited strong antiparasitic activity, with Cu-phendione showing the greatest potency (EC50 = 2.3 µM for S. mansoni and 6.4 µM for A. cantonensis). Ag-phendione also demonstrated significant activity, achieving EC₅₀ values of 6.5 µM against S. mansoni and 12.7 µM against A. cantonensis. The lethal dose (LD50) values in C. elegans were over 40 times higher, indicating selective antiparasitic effects. Cytotoxicity assays using Vero cells revealed a low toxicity profile and a high selectivity index. Given the promising biological properties of phendione and its metal complexes, these findings contribute to the growing body of research seeking to address the urgent need for new anthelmintic therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-fb9a7551578848d0b3d399eb7127948b2025-02-09T12:28:43ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-011511810.1038/s41598-025-88484-5Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugsMaria E. Cirino0Thainá R. Teixeira1Alessandro M. H. Silva2Ana C. C. Borges3Lucas Fukui-Silva4Luis G. Wagner5Christiane Fernandes6Malachy McCann7André L. S. Santos8Josué de Moraes9Núcleo de Pesquisas em Doenças Negligenciadas, Universidade GuarulhosNúcleo de Pesquisas em Doenças Negligenciadas, Universidade GuarulhosNúcleo de Pesquisas em Doenças Negligenciadas, Instituto Científico e Tecnológico, Universidade BrasilNúcleo de Pesquisas em Doenças Negligenciadas, Universidade GuarulhosNúcleo de Pesquisas em Doenças Negligenciadas, Universidade GuarulhosDepartamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaDepartamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaDepartment of Chemistry, Maynooth University, National University of IrelandLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroNúcleo de Pesquisas em Doenças Negligenciadas, Universidade GuarulhosAbstract Parasitic worm infections impose a significant public health burden, affecting over 2 billion people, particularly in low-income regions. The limited efficacy of current treatments highlights the urgent need for new anthelmintic agents. This study investigates the potential antiparasitic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its metal complexes, [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2.8H2O and [Ag(phendione)2](ClO4), against Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of intestinal schistosomiasis, and Angiostrongylus cantonensis, responsible for eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Additionally, the compounds were tested on Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism for drug discovery. All compounds exhibited strong antiparasitic activity, with Cu-phendione showing the greatest potency (EC50 = 2.3 µM for S. mansoni and 6.4 µM for A. cantonensis). Ag-phendione also demonstrated significant activity, achieving EC₅₀ values of 6.5 µM against S. mansoni and 12.7 µM against A. cantonensis. The lethal dose (LD50) values in C. elegans were over 40 times higher, indicating selective antiparasitic effects. Cytotoxicity assays using Vero cells revealed a low toxicity profile and a high selectivity index. Given the promising biological properties of phendione and its metal complexes, these findings contribute to the growing body of research seeking to address the urgent need for new anthelmintic therapies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88484-5
spellingShingle Maria E. Cirino
Thainá R. Teixeira
Alessandro M. H. Silva
Ana C. C. Borges
Lucas Fukui-Silva
Luis G. Wagner
Christiane Fernandes
Malachy McCann
André L. S. Santos
Josué de Moraes
Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs
Scientific Reports
title Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs
title_full Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs
title_fullStr Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs
title_full_unstemmed Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs
title_short Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs
title_sort anthelmintic activity of 1 10 phenanthroline 5 6 dione based metallodrugs
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88484-5
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