Nuclease activity and ultrastructural effects of new sulfonamides with anti-leishmanial and trypanocidal activities

► Benzenesulfonamides as promising antikinetoplastid lead compounds. ► Sulfonamides with in vitro activities against Leishmania spp promastigotes. ► Sulfonamides with in vitro activities against Trypanosama cruzi epimastigotes. ► Identification of DNA as potential target by nuclease activity assays. ► TEM studies show nuclear and kinetoplastid DNA to be the main target.