Synthesis, characterization, and antimalarial activity of the glucuronides of the hydroxylated metabolites of arteether

J Med Chem. 1995 May 26;38(11):1911-21. doi: 10.1021/jm00011a011.

Abstract

The hydroxylated metabolites (log P 2.6-2.7) of beta-arteether (1) in rat liver microsomes that retain their endoperoxide moiety showed comparable in vitro antimalarial activity to that of the parent drug arteether (log P = 3.89). The search for analogs of artemisinin (7) more suitable for intravenous use led to the synthesis of the glucuronide conjugates of the phase I hydroxylated metabolites of arteether which were found to have good water solubility, yet retained moderate lipophilicity (log P = 0.6-1.8). While a strong correlation was observed between the log P value of the glucuronides, the phase I metabolites, and the parent compound, it was found that 9 beta-hydroxyarteetherglucuronide (26) was the most active and the most polar (log P = 0.61) of the glucuronides. While the in vitro antimalarial activity of 26 (IC50 = 89.3 ng/mL) was found to be much less than that for the parent compound, the activity of 26 was within a range that would have potential therapeutic use.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / chemical synthesis*
  • Antimalarials / metabolism
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Artemisinins*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Glucuronates / chemical synthesis*
  • Glucuronates / metabolism
  • Glucuronates / pharmacology*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Hydroxylation
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Models, Chemical
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Sesquiterpenes / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Glucuronates
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • artenimol
  • artemotil