In Vitro Anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Antimicrobial Activity of Amides Derived from Cinnamic Acid

• Main Authors: Graziela Rangel Silveira, Karoline Azerêdo Campelo, Gleice Rangel Silveira Lima, Lais Pessanha Carvalho, Solange Silva Samarão, Olney Vieira-da-Motta, Leda Mathias, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro Matos, Ivo José Curcino Vieira, Edesio José Tenório de Melo, Edmilson José Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-03-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: synthetic amides; antiparasitic; antibiotic; acrylamides
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/4/774

Most cinnamic acids, their esters, amides, aldehydes, and alcohols present several therapeutic actions through anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and inhibitory activity against a great variety of microorganisms. In this work, eight amines derived from cinnamic acid were synthesized and tested against host cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii and the bacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and three strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 3 and 4 showed the best result against intracellular T. gondii, presenting antiparasitic activity at low concentrations (0.38 and 0.77 mM). The antibacterial activity of these compounds was also evaluated by the agar microdilution method, and amides 2 and 5 had a minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 µg mL−1 against two strains of S. aureus (ATCC 25923 and bovine strain LSA 88). These also showed synergistic action along with a variety of antibiotics, demonstrating that amines derived from cinnamic acid have potential as pharmacological agents.