Of avermectins

Ivermectin is the catalytic reduction product of avermectin, a macroHde containing a spiroketal ring system. Two other related antibiotics having significantly different stmctural features and biological properties, moxidectin and milbemycin oxime, were more recentiy introduced into the market. Although these compounds have no antimicrobial activity, they are sometimes referred to as antibiotics because they are derived from fermentation products and have very selective toxicities. They have potent activity against worms or helminths and certain ectoparasites such as mites and ticks. 

Avemiectin is the most effective of the averniectia family of natural products against agriculturally important insects and mites (14). It has been commercialized for agricultural use under the nonproprietary name abamectin. This mixture of avermectins contains at least 80% of avermectin (C4gH 20 and not more than 20% of avermectin B Abamectin for use in foHar spray appHcations is formulated as an emulsiftable... 

Selective reduction of the 22,23-olefin of avermectin yields the 22,23-dihydro derivative assigned the nonproprietary name ivermectin (18). The stmcture shown depicts the 25-j -butyl derivative [70161 -11-4] but it should be noted that both commercial products contain up to 20% of the 25-isopropyl... 

The avermectins also possess a number of aUyflc positions that are susceptible to oxidative modification. In particular the 8a-methylene group, which is both aUyflc and alpha to an ether oxygen, is susceptible to radical oxidation. The primary product is the 8a-hydroperoxide, which has been isolated occasionally as an impurity of an avermectin B reaction (such as the catalytic hydrogenation of avermectin B with Wilkinson s rhodium chloride-triphenylphosphine catalyst to obtain ivermectin). An 8a-hydroxy derivative can also be detected occasionally as a metaboUte (42) or as an impurity arising presumably by air oxidation. An 8a-oxo-derivative can be obtained by oxidizing 5-0-protected avermectins with pyridinium dichromate (43). This also can arise by treating the 8a-hydroperoxide with base. 

The double bonds of avermectins react with y -chloroperbenzoic acid to give 3,4-, 8,9-, and 14,15-epoxides. The 8,9-epoxide is the primary product and can be isolated in good yield (45). The 8,9-epoxide was opened by aqueous acids to the 8,9-diol (46). The 3,4-diol can be obtained readily and regiospecificaHy by osmium tetroxide oxidation. Neither peracids nor OsO will attack the 22,23-double bond. 

Since ivermectin (= 22,23-dihydroavermectin B ) is obtained by catalytic reduction of avermectin B, the same procedure using tritium gas convenientiy affords tritiated ivermectin (22,23- [JT]-22,23-dihydroavermectin B ). The preparation of a tritiated derivative containing a 22,23-double bond starts with the readily available 5-ketone, which is reduced with [JT]-sodium borohydride stereospecificaHy to a 5- [JT]-derivative (40). Carbon-14 labeled avermectins can be obtained by a biosynthetic process using sodium (l- C)propionate as labeled precursor (48). 

Methylation of avermectins B and B2 leads to the corresponding derivatives of the A series (49). A procedure involving the oxidation of the 5-methoxy group with mercuric acetate and NaBH reduction of the 5-keto-intermediate allows the conversion of the A to the B components (50). The 23-hydroxy group of the "2" components, after selective protection of the other secondary hydroxy groups, is converted to a thionocarbonate, which can be elirninated to give the 22,23-double bond of the "1" components alternatively it can be reduced with tributyltin hydride to the 22,23-dihydro derivatives (= ivermectins) (51). 

Ikeda, H. and Omura, S. (1995) Control of avermectin biosynthesis in Streptomyces avermitilis for the selective production of a useful component. Journal of Antibiotics (Tokyo), 48, 549-562. 

Abalis IM, Eldefrawi AT, Eldefrawi ME (1986) Actions of avermectin Bla on the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor and chloride channels in rat brain. J Biochem Toxicol 1 69-82... 

In the synthesis of avermectin Bla, the disaccharide fluoride 48 is prepared and coupled with avermectin aglycon 49 in the presence of SnCl2-AgC104 in dry ether to give protected avermectin Bla50 in 62% yield (Scheme 2.16) [23]. 

This dual activity against both nematode and arthropod parasites of animals was an unexpected bonus from a screen for anthelmintic agents. The reason for this broad activity lies in their mode of action. They act by interfering with y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mediated neurotransmission. When treated with avermectin, the nematode Ascaris suum becomes paralyzed although it retains normal muscle tone (17). Picrotoxin, an antagonist of GABA, can reverse the effect of avermectin on neurotransmission vitro. 

Two examples of the remarkable potency of avermectin Bj are its LD9Q of 0.02 to 0.03 ppm against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, when applied to bean plants as a foliar spray and its control of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, when applied as a bait at a level as low as 25 to 50 mg per acre (19). 

Table II. Efficacy of Foliar Residues of Avermectin Against Adult mites and Larval Insects.

Table III. Activity of Avermectin Derivatives against Adult Gastrointestinal Helminths of Experimentally Infected Sheep on Oral Administration.

Ivermectin, a semisynthetic macrocyclic lactone, is a mixture of avermectin Bia and avermectin Bib. It... 

Halley B.A., W.J.A. VandenHeuvel, and P.G. Wislocki (1993). Environmental effects of the usage of avermectins in livestock. Veterinary Parasitology 48 109-125. 

Strong L. (1993). Overview The impact of avermectins on pastureland ecology. Veterinary Parasitology 48 3-17. 

In comparison, for the genera Otodectes and Chorioptes, with the exception of avermectins, no natural compound has been evaluated. 

Metabolism studies showed that the major metabolites of the components of ivermectin in cattle, sheep, and rats were 24-hydroxymethyl compounds, whereas major metabolites in swine were 3-0-desmethyl compounds. Identification of the 24-hydroxymethyl metabolites has not been yet achieved in swine, whereas identification of Hie 3-O-desmetlryl metabolites has not been made possible in cattle or sheep (54, 55). Recent metabolism studies (56) in cattle, swine, and rats have indicated, however, diat the metabolism of avermectins was qualitatively similar for all three species. There were quantitative differences both between species and between compounds for a given species, but all three species produced... 

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