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Um método alternativo por eletroforese capilar de zona (CZE) para determinação de ciprofloxacina (CPFLX), gatifloxacina (GTFLX), moxifloxacina (MFLX) e ofloxacina (OFLX) foi validado. O sistema de eletrólito utilizado consistiu da mistura de 25 mmol L -1 de TRIS/ HCl e 15 mmol L -1 de tetraborato de sódio em meio aquoso resultando em pH 8,87. A análise foi realizada sob detecção direta por UV em 282 nm com tempo de análise de 3 min. Os parâmetros analíticos de validação avaliados foram: linearidade (r > 0,998), seletividade (comparação entre a inclinação da curva de calibração de padronização externa e curva de calibração de adição de padrão), repetitividade em área para amostras (RSD %: < 3,94% para CPFLX, < 3,87% para GTFLX, 1,30% para MFLX e < 1,88% para OFLX), precisão intermediária em área para amostras (RSD%: < 3,59% para CPFLX, < 3,09% para GTFLX, 2,67% para MFLX e < 2,25% para OFLX), exatidão (média da faixa de recuperação: 101,2% para CPFLX, 101,0% para GTFLX, 101,3% para MFLX e 99,9% para OFLX), limite de detecção (mg L -1 : 2,72 para CPFLX, 1,92 para GTFLX, 0,795 para MFLX e 1,05 para OFLX), limite de quantificação (mg L -1 : 9,06 para CPFLX, 6,40 para GTFLX, 2,65 para MFLX e 3,50 para OFLX) e robustez. Devido à simplicidade, seletividade, precisão, exatidão e rapidez, o método pode ser uma alternativa interessante para auxiliar o controle da qualidade dessas drogas na indústria farmacêutica.An alternative capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for the determination of ciprofloxacin (CPFLX), gatifloxacin (GTFLX), moxifloxacin (MFLX) and ofloxacin (OFLX) through a simple aqueous electrolyte system consisting of 25 mmol L -1 of TRIS/ hydrochloride and 15 mmol L -1 of sodium tetraborate buffer mixture (pH 8.87) using direct UV detection at 282 nm within 3 min was validated. The analytical parameters of validation evaluated were: linearity (r > 0.998), selectivity (comparison between slope of the calibration curve of external standard and calibration curve of standard addition), repeatability in area for sample (RSD%: < 3.94% for CPFLX, < 3.87% for GTFLX, 1.30% for MFLX and < 1.88% for OFLX), intermediate precision in area for sample (RSD%: < 3.59% for CPFLX, < 3.09% for GTFLX, 2.67% for MFLX and < 2.25% for OFLX), accuracy (mean of recovery range: 101.2% for CPFLX, 101.0% for GTFLX, 101.3% for MFLX and 99.9% for OFLX), limit of detection (mg L -1 : 2.72 for CPFLX, 1.92 for GTFLX, 0.795 for MFLX and 1.05 for OFLX), limit of quantification (mg L -1 : 9.06 for CPFLX, 6.40 for GTFLX, 2.65 for MFLX and 3.50 for OFLX) and robustness. Due to its simplicity, selectivity, precision, accuracy and rapidity, the methodology can be an interesting alternative for quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry of these drugs.

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A series of thirty-two isoniazid derivatives have been evaluated for their activity against four human cancer cell lines with potent cytotoxicity (IC50 ranging from 0.61 to 3.36 μg/mL). The structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated the number, the positions, and the types of substituents attached to the aromatic ring as being critical factors for the biological activity. Briefly, we observed that the presence of a hydroxyl group on the benzene ring plays an important role in the anticancer activity of this series, especially when it is located in ortho-position. Among the thirty-two compounds, three displayed good cytotoxic activity when compared to the reference drug doxorubicin and are thus being considered leading compounds of this new class.

The present article describes a series of 21 N '-benzylidene-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazides 4a-4v, which were synthesized and evaluated for their cell viabilities in non-infected and Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-infected macrophages. Subsequently, the non-cytotoxic compounds 4c, 4g, 4h, 4j, 4l and 4t were assessed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ATCC 27294 using the microplate Alamar Blue assay and the activity expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration in μg/mL. These compounds exhibited a significant activity (50-100 μg/mL) when compared to the first-line drugs, such as pyrazinamide (PZA >100 μg/mL). These results could be considered a good starting point for further studies to develop new lead compounds to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Concurrently, leishmaniasis and AIDS are global public health issues and the overlap between these diseases adds additional treats to the management of co-infected patients. Lopinavir (LPV) has a well characterized anti-HIV and leishmanicidal action, and to analyze its combined action with miltefosine (MFS) could help to envisage strategies to the management of co-infected patients. Here, we evaluate the interaction between LPV and MFS against Leishmania infantum infection by in vitro and in vivo approaches. The effect of the compounds alone or in association was assessed for 72 h in mouse peritoneal macrophages infected with L. infantum by the determination of the IC 50 s and FICIs. Subsequently, mice were orally treated twice daily during 5 days with the compounds alone or in association and evaluated after 30 days. The in vitro assays revealed an IC 50 of 0.24 μM and 9.89 μM of MFS and LPV, respectively, and an additive effect of the compounds (FICI 1.28). The in vivo assays revealed that LPV alone reduced the parasite load in the spleen and liver by 52 and 40%, respectively. The combined treatment of infected BALB/c mice revealed that the compounds alone required at least two times higher doses than when administered in association to virtually eliminate the parasite. Mice plasma biochemical parameters assessed revealed that the combined therapy did not present any relevant hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, the association of MFS with LPV allowed a reduction in each compound concentration to achieve the same outcome in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Although a pronounced synergistic effect was not evidenced, it does not discard that such combination could be useful in humans co-infected with HIV and Leishmania parasites.

A new synthetic antimalarial drug, a salt derived from two antimalarial molecules, mefloquine (MQ) and artesunate (AS), here named MEFAS, has been tested for its pharmacological activity. Combinations of AS plus MQ hydrochloride are currently being used in areas with drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites; although AS clears parasitemia in shorter time periods than any other antimalarial drug, it does not cure infected patients; in addition, MQ causes side effects and is rather expensive, important problems considering that malaria affects mostly populations in poor countries. Here, we show that MEFAS is more effective than the combination of AS and MQ, tested in parallel at different mass proportions, against P. falciparum (chloroquine-resistant clone W2 and chloroquine-sensitive clone 3D7) in vitro and in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, promoting cure of this infection. MEFAS tested against HepG2 hepatoma cells exhibited lower toxicity than the antimalarials AS and MQ alone or combined. Possible targets of MEFAS have been studied by confocal microscopy using fluorescent probes (Fluo-4 AM and BCECF-AM) in P. falciparum synchronous culture of W2-infected red blood cells. Dynamic images show that MEFAS exhibited intracellular action increasing cytoplasmic Ca 2؉ at 1.0 ng/ml. This effect was also observed in the presence of tapsigargin, an inhibitor of SERCA, suggesting an intracellular target distinct from the endoplasmic reticulum. Trophozoites loaded with BCECF-AM, when treated with MEFAS, were still able to mobilize protons from the digestive vacuole (DV), altering the pH gradient. However, in the presence of bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of the H ؉ pump from acidic compartments of eukaryotic cells, MEFAS had no action on the DV. In conclusion, the endoplasmic reticulum and DV are intracellular targets for MEFAS in Plasmodium sp., suggesting two modes of action of this new salt. Our data support MEFAS as a candidate for treating human malaria.