Broad spectrum and safety of oral treatment with a promising nitrosylated chalcone in murine leishmaniasis

Abstract

The oral efficacy and safety of a leishmanicidal nitrochalcone (CH8) were studied in BALB/c mouse infections with Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infantum. Although 10-fold-higher doses of CH8 were needed to produce the same antiparasitic effect as that seen with the reference drug miltefosine, the latter was nephrotoxic, whereas CH8 restored disease toxicity markers to normal. This study shows the therapeutic potential of an orally active and hepato-/nephroprotective chalcone against cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases.