Trypanocidal Activity of Flavokawin B, a Component of Polygonum ferrugineum Wedd

• Published in: Planta medica Vol. 83; no. 3-04; p. 239
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, Danilo F, Maniscalco, David A, Silva, Flavia A J, Chiari, Bruna G, Castelli, María V, Isaac, Vera L B, Cicarelli, Regina M B, López, Silvia N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Cell Survival - drug effects; Chalcone - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flavonoids - chemistry; Flavonoids - isolation & purification; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Polygonum - chemistry; Trypanocidal Agents - chemistry; Trypanocidal Agents - isolation & purification; Trypanocidal Agents - pharmacology; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - drug effects; Trypanosoma brucei brucei - genetics; Trypanosoma cruzi - drug effects; Trypanosomiasis - drug therapy; Trypanosomiasis, African - drug therapy
• ISSN: 1439-0221
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-112031

The trypanocidal potential of the natural chalcone flavokawin B, which was isolated from the hexanic extract of Wedd., is reported here. Although flavokawin B is widespread, this is the first report about its trypanocidal properties on both (IC  = 9.5 µM, IC  = 34.7 µM benznidazol, Y strain) epimastigotes and (IC  = 4.8 µM, IC  = 6.4 µM pentamidine, 29-13 strain) procyclic forms, which was also corroborated on strain 427 (IC  = 6.2 µM). In order to learn more about its properties, unspecific cytotoxicity on Hep G2 cells was investigated as well as the -splicing inhibitory potential on cells. The results shown here point to flavokawin B as a candidate in the search for new agents. It is also cheaper and less toxic than the available drugs to treat trypanosomiasis with a special focus on sleeping sickness disease.