Lipid peroxidation as a component in trypanocidal drug action

A representative range of trypanocides was examined for ability to induce lipid peroxidation in Trypanosoma rhodesiense in vitro. Because of drug interference, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) chromogen production and diene conjugation U.V. absorbance assay methods were less satisfactory that GLC analysis of polyenoic fatty acid loss. Docosohexanoic acid (22:6) content was specifically reduced to a highly significant degree by treatment with Ethidium or the lipid-soluble 4-demethoxydaunorubicin.