Cirino, Maria E., Teixeira, Thainá R., Silva, Alessandro M. H., Borges, Ana C. C., Fukui-Silva, Lucas, Wagner, Luis G., Fernandes, Christiane, McCann, Malachy, Santos, André L. S. and de Moraes, Josué (2025) Anthelmintic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione-based metallodrugs. Scientific Reports, 15 (1). ISSN 2045-2322
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Abstract
Parasitic worm infections impose a significant public health burden, affecting over 2 billion people, particularly in low-income regions. The limited efficacy of current treatments highlights the urgent need for new anthelmintic agents. This study investigates the potential antiparasitic activity of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its metal complexes, [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2.8H2O and [Ag(phendione)2](ClO4), against Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of intestinal schistosomiasis, and Angiostrongylus cantonensis, responsible for eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Additionally, the compounds were tested on Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism for drug discovery. All compounds exhibited strong antiparasitic activity, with Cu-phendione showing the greatest potency (EC50 = 2.3 µM for S. mansoni and 6.4 µM for A. cantonensis). Ag-phendione also demonstrated significant activity, achieving EC₅₀ values of 6.5 µM against S. mansoni and 12.7 µM against A. cantonensis. The lethal dose (LD50) values in C. elegans were over 40 times higher, indicating selective antiparasitic effects. Cytotoxicity assays using Vero cells revealed a low toxicity profile and a high selectivity index. Given the promising biological properties of phendione and its metal complexes, these findings contribute to the growing body of research seeking to address the urgent need for new anthelmintic therapies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Anthelmintic activity; 1,10-phenanthroline-5; 6-dione-based metallodrugs; |
| Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Chemistry |
| Item ID: | 21261 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41598-025-88484-5 |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Malachy McCann |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Mar 2026 14:39 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Scientific Reports |
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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