Abstract
Millions of people in the developing world are affected by diseases caused by the kinetoplastid parasites: the leishmaniases, African trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease. In many cases the drugs employed for treatment are toxic, marginally effective, given by injection, and/or compromised by the development of resistance. Since safe, effective, and affordable chemotherapeutic agents for leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are clearly needed, the identification of new antikinetoplastid drug candidates should be an urgent priority. Numerous plant-derived natural products from different structural classes have been investigated as antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal candidates, including various alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and quinonoids. This review outlines the antikinetoplastid activities of plant-derived natural products reported in the literature and also provides an overview of mechanistic studies that have been conducted with these compounds. Given the activities of these agents and their diverse range of effects on parasite biology, natural products are a potentially rich source of drug candidates and leads against leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis.
Keywords: Leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, natural products, plant extracts, phytotherapy, antiprotozoal agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Natural Products from Plants as Drug Candidates and Lead Compounds Against Leishmaniasis and Trypanosomiasis
Volume: 13 Issue: 21
Author(s): Manar M. Salem and Karl A. Werbovetz
Affiliation:
Keywords: Leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, natural products, plant extracts, phytotherapy, antiprotozoal agents
Abstract: Millions of people in the developing world are affected by diseases caused by the kinetoplastid parasites: the leishmaniases, African trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease. In many cases the drugs employed for treatment are toxic, marginally effective, given by injection, and/or compromised by the development of resistance. Since safe, effective, and affordable chemotherapeutic agents for leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are clearly needed, the identification of new antikinetoplastid drug candidates should be an urgent priority. Numerous plant-derived natural products from different structural classes have been investigated as antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal candidates, including various alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and quinonoids. This review outlines the antikinetoplastid activities of plant-derived natural products reported in the literature and also provides an overview of mechanistic studies that have been conducted with these compounds. Given the activities of these agents and their diverse range of effects on parasite biology, natural products are a potentially rich source of drug candidates and leads against leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis.
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Cite this article as:
Salem M. Manar and Werbovetz A. Karl, Natural Products from Plants as Drug Candidates and Lead Compounds Against Leishmaniasis and Trypanosomiasis, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2006; 13 (21) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986706778201611
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986706778201611 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
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