Inhibition of fumarate reductase in Leishmania major and l. donovani by chalcones

198Citations
Citations of this article
138Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Our previous studies have shown that chalcones exhibit potent antileishmanial and antimalarial activities in vitro and in vivo. Preliminary studies showed that these compounds destroyed the ultrastructure of Leishmania parasite mitochondria and inhibited the respiration and the activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenases of Leishmania parasites. The present study was designed to further investigate the mechanism of action of chalcones, focusing on the parasite respiratory chain. The data show that licochalcone A inhibited the activity of fumarate reductase (FRD) in the permeabilized Leishmania major promastigote and in the parasite mitochondria, and it also inhibited solubilized FRD and a purified FRD from L. donovani. Two other chalcones, 2,4-dimethoxy-4′-allyloxychalcone (24m4ac) and 2,4-dimethoxy-4′-butoxychalcone (24mbc), also exhibited inhibitory effects on the activity of solubilized FRD in L. major promastigotes. Although licochalcone A inhibited the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), NADH dehydrogenase (NDH), and succinate- and NADH-cytochrome c reductases in the parasite mitochondria, the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of licochalcone A for these enzymes were at least 20 times higher than that for FRD. The IC50 of licochalcone A for SDH and NDH in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were at least 70 times higher than that for FRD. These findings indicate that FRD, one of the enzymes of the parasite respiratory chain, might be the specific target for the chalcones tested. Since FRD exists in the Leishmania parasite and does not exist in mammalian cells, it could be an excellent target for antiprotozoal drugs.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Chen, M., Zhai, L., Christensen, S. B., Theander, T. G., & Kharazmi, A. (2001). Inhibition of fumarate reductase in Leishmania major and l. donovani by chalcones. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 45(7), 2023–2029. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.45.7.2023-2029.2001

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free