Structure-activity relationship investigations of leishmanicidal N-benzylcytisine derivatives.

In vitro leishmanicidal activity of 16 N-benzylcytisine derivatives has been evaluated using Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes. In general, halogen (bromo-, chloro-) derivatives appeared to be more toxic against parasites than their parent compounds. Quantum-chemical calculations helped to recognize certain patterns in the structure of frontier orbitals related to bioactivity of compounds. Thus, the presence of halogen atom is shown to have a significant effect on both distribution and the energy of LUMOs thereby on potent activity that was also confirmed by Quantitative-Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) analysis. Experimentally and theoretically observed structure-cytotoxicity relationships are described.