Polyamine quinoline rhodium complexes: synthesis and pharmacological evaluation as antiparasitic agents against Plasmodium falciparum and Trichomonas vaginalis

ORCID

Kirkwood M. Land: 0000-0001-5951-9630

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Dalton Transactions

Department

Biological Sciences

ISSN

Print: 1477-9226, Electronic: 1477-9234

Volume

44

Issue

33

DOI

10.1039/c5dt02378e

First Page

14906

Last Page

14917

Publication Date

9-7-2015

Abstract

A series of mono- and bis-salicylaldimine ligands and their corresponding Rh(I) complexes were prepared. The compounds were characterised using standard spectroscopic techniques including NMR, IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The salicylaldimine ligands and complexes were screened for antiparasitic activity against two strains of Plasmodium falciparum i.e. the NF54 CQ-sensitive and K1 CQ-resistant strain as well as against the G3 isolate of Trichomonas vaginalis. The monomeric salicylaldimine quinolines exhibited good activity against the NF54 strain and the dimeric salicylaldimine quinolines exhibited no cross resistance across the two strains. The binuclear 5-chloro Rh(I) complex displayed the best activity against the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite, possibly a consequence of its enhanced lipophilicity. The compounds were also screened for cytotoxicity in vitro against WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells. The monomeric salicylaldimine quinolines exhibited high selectivity towards malaria parasites compared to cancer cells, while the dimeric compounds were less selective.

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