Xanthates and trithiocarbonates strongly inhibit carbonic anhydrases and show antiglaucoma effects in vivo
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Updated: May 11, 2026

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2022
Fabrizio Carta1, Atilla Akdemir, Andrea Scozzafava
1Laboratorio di Chimica Bioinorganica, Polo Scientifico, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Rm. 188 Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy.
Abstract:
Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) were recently discovered as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors. A series of xanthates and a trithiocarbonate, structurally related to the DTCs, were prepared by reaction of alcohols/thiols with carbon disulfide in the presence of bases. These compounds were tested for the inhibition of four human (h) isoforms, hCA I, II, IX, and XII, involved in pathologies such as glaucoma (CA II and XII) or cancer (CA IX). Several low nanomolar xanthate/trithiocarbonate inhibitors targeting these CAs were detected. A docking study of some xanthates within the CA II active site showed that these compounds bind in a similar manner with the dithiocarbamates, coordinating monodentately to the Zn(II) ion from the enzyme active site. Several xanthates showed potent intraocular pressure lowering activity in two animal models of glaucoma via the topical administration. Xanthates and thioxanthates represent two novel, promising classes of CA inhibitors.
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