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The syntheses of a new series of derivatives of 1,2,5-oxadiazole N-oxide, benzo[1,2-c]1,2,5-oxadiazole N-oxide, and quinoxaline di-N-oxide are described. In vitro antitrypanosomal activity of these compounds was tested against epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. For the most effective drugs, derivatives IIIe and IIIf, the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) was determined as well as their cytotoxicity against mammalian fibroblasts. Electrochemical studies and ESR spectroscopy show that the highest activities observed are associated with the facile monoelectronation of the N-oxide moiety. Lipophilic-hydrophilic balance of the compounds could also play an important role in their effectiveness as antichagasic drugs.

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Ibogaine is a potent psychedelic alkaloid that has been the focus of intense research because of its intriguing anti-addictive properties. According to anecdotic reports, ibogaine has been originally classified as an oneirogenic psychedelic; i.e., induces a dream-like cognitive activity while awake. However, the effects of ibogaine administration on wakefulness (W) and sleep have not been thoroughly assessed. The main aim of our study was to characterize the acute effects of ibogaine administration on W and sleep. For this purpose, polysomnographic recordings on chronically prepared rats were performed in the light phase during 6 h. Animals were treated with ibogaine (20 and 40 mg/kg) or vehicle, immediately before the beginning of the recordings. Furthermore, in order to evaluate associated motor behaviors during the W period, a different group of animals was tested for 2 h after ibogaine treatment on an open field with video-tracking software. Compared to control, animals treated with ibogaine showed an increase in time spent in W. This effect was accompanied by a decrease in slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye movements (REM) sleep time. REM sleep latency was significantly increased in animals treated with the higher ibogaine dose. While the effects on W and SWS were observed during the first 2 h of recordings, the decrement in REM sleep time was observed throughout the recording time. Accordingly, ibogaine treatment with the lower dose promoted an increase on locomotion, while tremor and flat body posture were observed only with the higher dose in a time-dependent manner. In contrast, head shake response, a behavior which has been associated in rats with the 5HT2A receptor activation by hallucinogens, was not modified. We conclude that ibogaine promotes a waking state that is accompanied by a robust and long-lasting REM sleep suppression. In addition, it produces a dose-dependent unusual motor profile along with other serotonin-related behaviors. Since ibogaine is metabolized to produce noribogaine, further experiments are needed to elucidate if the metabolite and/or the parent drug produced these effects.

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As part of an ongoing program on the chemistry and biological activity of N-oxide-containing molecules, a number of novel 1,2, 5-oxadiazole N-oxide, benzo[1,2-c]1,2,5-oxadiazole N-oxide, and quinoxaline N,N'-dioxide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their herbicidal activity. Many of these compounds exhibited moderate to good herbicidal pre-emergence activity against Triticum aestivum. Dose-response studies were done on the more representative compounds (12, 20, and 26). The most active compound, butylcarbamoylbenzo[1,2-c]1,2,5-oxadiazole N-oxide, 26, displayed herbicidal activity at concentrations as low as 24 g/ha.

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