Primaquine can mediate hydroxyl radical generation by Trypanosoma cruzi extracts
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Updated: Sep 8, 2026

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
Published on: January 27, 2019
Abstract:
Primaquine increases the NAD(P)H dependent oxygen consumption and hydroxyl radical generation by extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Spin-trapping studies show that hydroxyl radical yield is completely inhibited by catalase and slightly increased by SOD, indicating that radical generation is dependent on the pair primaquine-NAD(P)H and their interaction product, H2O2. Primaquine effects upon Trypanosoma cruzi extracts are compared with those obtained with nifurtimox, a compound effective in the treatment of Chagas' disease. The observed similarity suggests that hydroxyl radical may be involved in the antiprotozoan activity of primaquine.
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