title: The effect of diaminoalkyl-anthraquinone derivatives on the growth of the promastigotes of Leishmania tropica minor, L. t. major, L. donovani and L. aethiopica.
abstract: By combining knowledge of polyamine biosynthesis and its inhibition by various analogues with that on the activity of synthetic anthraquinones, a series of six anthraquinone derivatives were synthesized. Their ability to inhibit the growth of leishmanial promastigotes in vitro was used as a preliminary screen to check their potential as new antileishmanial chemotherapeutics. They were tested against four strains, representing four different species; Leishmania tropica major, L. tropica minor, L. aethiopica and L. donovani, associated with four separate disease syndromes. All six derivatives exhibited a fair degree of antileishmanial activity, some being more effective than others. They all inactivated cultures at 100 micrograms/ml and some did so at 10 micrograms/ml and even 1 microgram/ml; but taking different lengths of time to achieve this. Antileishmanial activity associated with anthraquinone derivatives might provide a new approach to the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D011073:Polyamines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D011073:Polyamines