Novel natural compounds obtained from native plants inhibit the in vitro growth of Trypanosoma cruzi.

SPINA R; DONADEL J; LOZANO E; TONN C; SOSA MA; RETA C

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2013

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Trypanosoma cruzi is a monoflagellate parasite that causes the Chagas` disease. Specific and effective chemotherapy against T.cruzi remains unsatisfactory as currently availabe drugs have toxic side effects on patients, and limited activity. At present, Chagas? disease is treated with nitroheterocyclic derivatives such as benznidazole (BZN) and nifurtimox although their use require long treatment courses, and they are not effective in the late-stage disease, and present many side effects. Then, it is important to test synthetic drugs and natural compounds presenting anti-trypanocidal activity, in connection with specific biological features of the parasite that could be used as specific targets for their pharmacological control. In this study, we tested several novel natural compounds, obtained from native plants, on the in-vitro growth of T. Cruzi (strain Dm28c). Among the tested compounds six derivatives of grindelic acid strongly inhibit the growth of T.cruzi from concentrations of 5 μg/ml and seem to be more active than BZN. However, most of parasites remain viable (eosin exclusion test), indicating a cytostatic effect under these experimental conditions. It remains to determine whether these compounds are cytotoxic on mammalian cells, and to identify molecular targets on parasites. We conclude that screening of novel natural compounds remains valid for the search of molecules against Chagas disease.