Effects and mode of action of 1,4-naphthoquinones isolated from Calceolaria sessilis on tumoral cells and Trypanosoma parasites

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology Vol. 112; no. 2; pp. 119 - 128
• Main Authors: Morello, Antonio, Pavani, Mario, Garbarino, Juan A., Chamy, maría C., Frey, Cristián, Mancilla, Jerson, Guerrero, aníbal, Repetto, Yolanda, Ferreira, Jorge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.1995
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - isolation & purification; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Cell growth; Cell Respiration - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Electron transport; Free radicals; Male; Mice; Mitochondria; Naphthoquinones; Naphthoquinones - isolation & purification; Naphthoquinones - pharmacology; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Respiratory Burst - drug effects; Respiratory inhibition; Trypanocidal Agents - isolation & purification; Trypanocidal Agents - pharmacology; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - drug effects; Trypanosoma cruzi - growth & development; Trypanosoma cruzi - metabolism; Trypanosomes; Tumor cells; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Free radicals; Tumor cells; DMSO; Respiratory inhibition; CS-5; Trypanosomes; CS-3; SOD; TMPD; CS-1; CS-0; MTX; Mitochondria; Cell growth; CCCP; HEPES; Naphthoquinones; Electron transport; CA
• ISSN: 0742-8413; 1367-8280
• DOI: 10.1016/0742-8413(95)02003-9

The naphthoquinones 2-hydroxy-3-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (CS-1), (−)-2,3,3-trimethyl-2–3-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4, 9-quinone (CS-3), and 2-acetoxy-3-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (CS-5) isolated from Calceolaria sessilis were tested against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, the TA3 tumor cell line and the methotrexate-resistant subline TA3-MTX-R. Naphthoquinone CS-3 was the most active; the 50% culture growth inhibition (I 50) on T. cruzi (Tulahuén and LQ strain and DM28c clone) was at concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 5.2 μmolar. Also CS-3 inhibited TA3 and TA3-MTX-R culture growth with an I 50 of 2.1 and 3.8 μmolar, respectively. Naphthoquinone CS-3 inhibited the respiration of the tumor cells by interfering with the electron transport at some point between NADH and ubiquinone. The respiration of T. cruzi was not inhibited by naphthoquinone CS-3. Naphthoquinone CS-3 produced a temporary increase of oxygen consumption in T. cruzi and tumor cells, suggesting the generation and participation of free radicals.