In Vitro Susceptibility of Leishmania infantum to Artemisinin Derivatives and Selected Trioxolanes

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Aug;59(8):5032-5. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00298-15. Epub 2015 May 26.

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is among the world's most neglected diseases. Currently available drugs for treatment present drawbacks, urging the need for more effective, safer, and cheaper drugs. A small library of artemisinin-derived trioxanes and synthetic trioxolanes was tested against promastigote and intramacrophage amastigote forms of Leishmania infantum. The trioxolanes LC50 and LC95 presented the best activity and safety profiles, showing potential for further studies in the context of leishmanial therapy. Our results indicate that the compounds tested exhibit peroxide-dependent activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiparasitic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Artemisinins / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Leishmania infantum / drug effects*
  • Leishmaniasis / drug therapy*
  • Macrophages / parasitology
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Spiro Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antiparasitic Agents
  • Artemisinins
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring
  • Spiro Compounds