10.1111/cbdd.12566
This study investigates the potential of [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives as selective inhibitors of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis arginase, an enzyme crucial for the parasite's polyamine and trypanothione biosynthesis, making it a promising drug target for leishmaniasis treatment. The researchers synthesized and tested twenty-nine [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives, focusing on the impact of different substituents at the 2-, 5-, and 7-positions. The compound 2-(5-methyl-2(trifluoromethyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl)hydrazinecarbothioamide (30), featuring a CF3 group at the 2-position and a hydrazinecarbothioamide at the 7-position, emerged as the most potent arginase inhibitor, exhibiting non-competitive inhibition with Ki and IC50 values of 17 ± 1 μM and 16.5 ± 0.5 μM, respectively. This compound selectively inhibited the parasite's arginase without affecting mammalian arginase, suggesting its potential as a lead compound for developing new anti-leishmaniasis drugs.