Synthesis and biological evaluation of quinones derived from natural product komaroviquinone as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents

Current chemotherapy drugs for Chagas’ disease are insufficient due to their limited efficacy; however, anti-trypanosomal agents have recently shown promise. As such, synthetic intermediates of komaroviquinone were evaluated for anti-trypanosomal activity. Based on the results, a series of novel quinone derivatives were screened for anti-trypanosomal activity and mammalian cytotoxicity. Several quinone derivatives displayed higher antiprotozoal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes than the reference drug benznidazole, without concomitant toxicity toward the host cell.

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