Synthesis and in vitro antimalarial activity of a series of bisquinoline and bispyrrolo[1,2a]quinoxaline compounds

Abstract

Series of bisquinolines 4e15 and bispyrrolo[1,2a]quinoxalines 16e20 containing various polyamine linkers were synthesized. The aqueous solubility and distribution coefficient were experimentally determined. The compounds were screened for antimalarial activity alongside chloroquine against D10 and Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The growth inhibitory effects of biscompounds 4e9 were assessed against various cancer cell lines. The aqueous solubility was found to increase with an increase in potential proton.ation sites. Bisquinolines 8 and 9 featuring triethylenetetramine and N,N0-bis(3- aminopropyl)ethylene-diamine linkers, respectively, were the most active of all synthesized compounds. They were found as potent as chloroquine against D10 but significantly more potent against the Dd2 strain, with good selectivity towards parasitic cells. Compound 4 containing a diethylenetriamine bridge displayed the most important anticancer activity of the series, and was a more effective antiproliferative inhibitor than etoposide against all three TK10, UACC62 and MCF7 cancer cell lines