Nitro compounds against trypanosomatidae parasites: Heroes or villains?

Abstract

Chagas disease and Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei rhodesiense or T. b. gambiense parasites, respectively; while Leishmania is caused by parasites from the Leishmania genus. In recent years, many efforts have been addressed to develop inhibitors against these parasites, especially nitro-containing derivatives, which can interfere with essential enzymes from the protozoa. In this review, all anti-trypanosomatidae nitrocompounds reported so far are shown herein, highlighting their activities and SAR analyses, providing all the benefits and problems associated with this ambiguous chemical group. Finally, this review paper will be useful for many research teams around the world, which are searching for novel trypanocidal and leishmanicidal agents.

Keywords: Leishmania; Medicinal chemistry; Nitrofuran; Nitroindazole; Nitroreductase; Trypanosoma.