Synthesis and trypanocidal activity of salicylhydrazones and p-tosylhydrazones of S-(+)-carvone and arylketones on African trypanosomiasis

Hydrazones are nowadays considered to be good candidates for various pharmaceutical applications. Here, we have synthesized two series of hydrazones: salicylhydrazones (GS1-4) and p-tosylhydrazones (GT1-4) from S- (+)-carvone and three aryketones with good yields (57-91%). Molecules were characterized by elemental analyses; TLC, NMR ¹H, NMR ¹³C and MS. Submitted, in vitro, to their antiparasitic testing on Trypanosoma brucei brucei, and toxicity on Artemia salina Leach, all compounds except GT2 showed significant antitrypanosomal activity IC50 ranging from 1 to 34 micromolar (μM). Among them, 2-acetynaphthalene salicylhydrazone GS4 (IC50 = 1.97 ± 0.42 μM) and 7-methoxy-1-tetralone p-tosylhydrazone GT3 (IC50 =7.98 ± 1.65 μM) exhibited good trypanocidal activity and the other are moderates on parasite; when the compounds GS1, GT3 and GT4 presented toxic activity on larvae. In agreement to their selectivity index, which is greater than 1 (SI > 1), products turn out quite selective on the parasite: a series of salicylhydrazones revealed more selective (SI ≥ 11), especially GS4 (SI = 157) than the series of p-tosylhydrazones showed 1 ≤ SI ≤ 22. The synthesized compounds clearly displayed significant selective pharmaceutical activities on the parasite tested. Compounds developing could open promising route to news drug-candidates.