Trypanosoma cruzi: in vitro activity of Epoxy-alpha-Lap, a derivative of alpha-lapachone, on trypomastigote and amastigote forms

Exp Parasitol. 2009 Jun;122(2):91-6. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.03.002. Epub 2009 Mar 11.

Abstract

Chagas disease is an endemic parasitic infection caused by Trypanosomacruzi that affects 18-20 million people in Central and South America. Recently we described the Epoxy-alpha-Lap, an oxyran derivative of alpha-lapachone, which presents a low toxicity profile and a high inhibitory activity against T.cruzi epimastigotes forms, the non-infective form of this parasite. In this work we described the trypanocidal effects of Epoxy-alpha-Lap on extracellular (trypomastigote) and intracellular (amastigote) infective forms of two T. cruzi strains (Y and Colombian) known by their different infective profile. Our results showed that Epoxy-alpha-Lap is lethal to trypomastigote Y and Colombian strains (97% and 84%, respectively). Interestingly, Epoxy-alpha-Lap also showed a trypanocidal effect in human macrophage infected with T. cruzi Y (85.6%) and Colombian (71.9%) strains amastigote forms. Similar effects were observed on T. cruzi amastigote infected Vero cells (96.4% and 95.0%, respectively). Our results pointed Epoxy-alpha-Lap as a potential candidate for Chagas disease chemotherapy since it presents trypanocidal activity on all T. cruzi forms with low) toxicity profile.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epoxy Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Fibroblasts / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Life Cycle Stages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / parasitology
  • Naphthoquinones / chemistry
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / growth & development*
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • 2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydrospiro(benzo(g)chromene-10,2'-oxiran)-5(2H)-one
  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Trypanocidal Agents
  • alpha-lapachone