Abstract:
Resistance of malaria parasites against antifolate, such as pyrimethamine and
cycloguanil, has occurred due to the mutation of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), one
of the well-known target enzymes for antimalarial drugs. Thus, there is an urgent need
for development of new effective antifolates against these resistant parasites.
Molecular modeling studies suggest that flexible antifolates, such as trimethoprim
derivatives, should be considered as new potential antifolate antimalarial compounds.
In this thesis, the 5-benzyl moiety of trimethoprim was modified by both classical and
combinatorial synthesis. The binding affinity, with wild type and mutant pfDHFRs,
and in vitro antimalarial activity, against wild type and resistant parasites, of these
compounds were evaluated. A number of the compounds bearing aromatic substituent
on the 5-benzyl functionality exhibited better binding affinity to both wild type and
mutant enzymes than that of the parent compound, trimethoprim. Most of these
results correlated well with their antimalarial activities against both wild type and
resistant parasites. Molecular modeling studies concerning bindings of such
compounds with pfDHFR were also conducted in order to understand the mode of
binding at the active site pocket