Natural and Synthetic Naphthoquinones as Potential Anti-Infective Agents

Title:Natural and Synthetic Naphthoquinones as Potential Anti-Infective Agents

Volume: 21 Issue: 22

Author(s): Eyra Ortiz-Pérez, Gildardo Rivera, Cristian O. Salas, Juan J. Zarate-Ramos, Oleksandra S. Trofymchuk, Lucio Hernandez-Soberanis, Juanita D. Perales-Flores and Karina Vázquez*

Affiliation:

• Facultad de Medicina y Veterinaria, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Gral. Escobedo,Mexico

Keywords: Naphthoquinones, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxocara canis.

Abstract:

Background: Naphthoquinones are a class of aromatic compounds relevant for their chemical characteristics, structural properties, and biological activity. These compounds are found in nature with a wide range of effects, highlighting their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. Additionally, naphthoquinones are used as a scaffold to obtain new derivatives with pharmacological potential, mainly compounds against parasitic diseases.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to carry out a comprehensive review of naphthoquinones and their derivatives obtained from both natural and synthetic sources, also, to analyze their biological activity against Leishmania spp. (Leishmaniasis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria), Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasmosis), and Toxocara canis (Toxocariasis). All of these agents are responsible for relevant diseases worldwide.

Results: Natural naphthoquinones, such as plumbagin, diospyrin, burmanin, lapachol, lawsone and psychorubrin, show an antiprotozoal activity similar or enhanced antiprotozoal activity to reference drugs. Some naphthoquinones obtained by synthesis or semi-synthesis showed better biological activity or less toxic effects than natural compounds.

Conclusion: In this review, natural and synthetic naphthoquinones showed antiparasitic activity, in most cases, with improved results than current drugs currently used in clinical trials. A modification of their structure with different functional groups can enhance their biological effects, improve solubility, and reduce undesirable side effects. Therefore, naphthoquinones are important molecules in the development of new chemotherapeutic agents against parasitic diseases.

Cite this article as:

Ortiz-Pérez Eyra , Rivera Gildardo , Salas O. Cristian , Zarate-Ramos J. Juan, Trofymchuk S. Oleksandra, Hernandez-Soberanis Lucio , Perales-Flores D. Juanita and Vázquez Karina *, Natural and Synthetic Naphthoquinones as Potential Anti-Infective Agents, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2021; 21 (22) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026621666210915121348