Synthesis and biological evaluation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity of a novel scaffold of thiazolidinone derivatives

Abstract

We designed and synthesised novel N-substituted 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives for the evaluation of their anti-Toxoplasma gondii efficacy. This scaffold was functionalised both at the N1-hydrazine portion with three structurally different moieties and at the lactam nitrogen with substituted benzyl groups selected on the basis of our previous structure-activity relationships studies. Using three different assay methods, the compounds were assessed in vitro to determine both the levels of efficacy against the tachyzoites of T. gondii (IC₅₀ = 5–148 μM), as well as any evidence of cytotoxicity towards human host cells (TD₅₀ = 68 to ≥320 μM). Results revealed that ferrocene-based thiazolidinones can possess potent anti-tachyzoite activity (TI =2–64).

Keywords:

• Toxoplasma
• parasite growth inhibition
• host cell invasion
• cytotoxicity
• 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one
• ferrocene

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by FILAS (research project n° ASR2, Regione Lazio, Italy) and the Stanley Medical Research Institute (LJ-B).

Disclosure statement

The authors state no conflict of interest and have received no payment in preparation of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FILAS (research project n° ASR2, Regione Lazio, Italy) and the Stanley Medical Research Institute (LJ-B).