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Trypanocidal effects of catecholamines and indolealkylamines
O A Owolabi1, C Wilson, D H Molyneux
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, U.K.
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Certain amine compounds effectively kill Trypanosoma brucei parasites. These compounds, including dopamine and serotonin analogues, show trypanocidal effects both in vitro and in vivo, offering potential new treatments for trypanosomiasis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Parasitology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Catecholamines and indolealkylamines undergo oxidation at neutral/alkaline pH.
- This oxidation generates reactive species like hydrogen peroxide, quinones, and free radicals.
- Trypanosoma brucei exhibits a known susceptibility to these oxidative products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trypanocidal effects of various catecholamines and indolealkylamines.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these compounds against Trypanosoma brucei in vitro and in vivo.
Main Methods:
- In vitro testing using a fibroblast feeder layer cell culture system.
- In vivo testing via intraperitoneal injection in infected mice.
- Assessing parasite killing by dopamine, 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA), 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT), and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT).
Main Results:
- Dopamine, 5-OHDA, 6-OHDA, 5-HT, 5,6-DHT, and 5,7-DHT demonstrated trypanocidal activity in vitro.
- Effective concentrations ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-7) M, with killing occurring in 4–48 hours.
- 5-OHDA, 6-OHDA, 5,6-DHT, and 5,7-DHT were also effective in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative products of certain amines possess significant trypanocidal properties.
- These compounds show promise as potential therapeutic agents against Trypanosoma brucei infections.
- Further research into these amine analogues could lead to novel anti-trypanosomal drugs.