Discovery of 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-one derivatives as possible antileishmanial agents

A series of uniquely functionalized 2,3,-dihydro-1H-pyyrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-one derivatives were synthesized in one to two steps by utilizing a post-Ugi modification strategy and were evaluated for antileishmanial efficacy against visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among the library compounds, compound 5m exhibited potential in vitro antileishmanial activity (CC50 = 65.11 mu M, SI = 7.79, anti-amastigote IC50 = 8.36 mu M). In vivo antileishmanial evaluation of 5m demonstrated 56.2% inhibition in liver and 61.1% inhibition in spleen parasite burden in infected Balb/c mice (12.5 mg kg(-1), i.p.). In vitro pharmacokinetic study ascertained the stability of 5m in both simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. All the active compounds passed the PAINS filter and showed no toxicity in in silico predictions.

Automated summary

A series of uniquely functionalized 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]quinolin-1-one derivatives were synthesized using a post-Ugi modification strategy. Compound 5m showed potential antileishmanial activity and demonstrated inhibition of parasite burden in liver and spleen in vivo. The in vitro pharmacokinetic study confirmed the stability of compound 5m and it showed no toxicity in in silico predictions.