The effect of the diterpene 5-epi-icetexone on the cell cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi

Abstract

Numerous natural compounds have been used against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Here, we studied the effect of the diterpene 5-epi-icetexone on growth and morphology of parasites synchronized with hydroxyurea, at different periods of time after removal of the nucleotide. We observed that the diterpene does not affect the growth of the parasites when added within 10 h after removal of hydroxyurea, but the compound was effective on growth when added to the cultures after 12 h. Thymidine incorporation was somewhat inhibited when the diterpene was added at 12 h after removal of hydroxyurea, possibly on the transition S/G2. Using transmission electron microscopy we observed that the diterpene induced a delay in the progression of cell division. We conclude that the compound, at cytostatic dose, affects the cell cycle of T. cruzi, possibly in the transition S/G2 phase and cell division. Further studies will focus to identify the molecular targets for the action of 5-epi-icetexone.