Activity of N-phenylbenzamide analogs against the neglected disease pathogen, Schistosoma mansoni.

For the Schistosoma mansoni flatworm pathogen, we report a structure-activity relationship of 25 derivatives of the N-phenylbenzamide compound, 1 (MMV687807), a Medicines for Malaria Venture compound for which bioactivity was originally identified in 2018. Synthesized compounds were cross-screened against the HEK 293 mammalian cells. Compounds 9 and 11 were identified as fast-acting schistosomicidal compounds whereby adult worm integrity was severely compromised within 1 h.

Assessing the biodegradability of common pharmaceutical products (PPs) on the Zambian market.

Biodegradation is the breakdown of complex organic compounds into simpler molecules like carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Biodegradation studies of pharmaceuticals are initially done to assess which pharmaceuticals are persistent in the environment. Whole pharmaceuticals or their metabolites are excreted from the human body via urine or fecal matter after administration.