Trypanocidal Activity of Flavokawin B, a Component of Polygonum ferrugineum Wedd

Abstract

The trypanocidal potential of the natural chalcone flavokawin B, which was isolated from the hexanic extract of Wedd., is reported here. Although flavokawin B is widespread, this is the first report about its trypanocidal properties on both (IC = 9.5 µM, IC = 34.7 µM benznidazol, Y strain) epimastigotes and (IC = 4.8 µM, IC = 6.4 µM pentamidine, 29-13 strain) procyclic forms, which was also corroborated on strain 427 (IC = 6.2 µM). In order to learn more about its properties, unspecific cytotoxicity on Hep G2 cells was investigated as well as the -splicing inhibitory potential on cells. The results shown here point to flavokawin B as a candidate in the search for new agents. It is also cheaper and less toxic than the available drugs to treat trypanosomiasis with a special focus on sleeping sickness disease.

Chalcones: Synthetic Chemistry Follows Where Nature Leads

“…Some naturally occurring chalcones were shown to possess antiparasitic activities (Table 2). For example, flavokawain B (28), isolated from Polygonum ferrugineum [79]; (E)-1-(2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)phenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1one ( 53) from Lonchocarpus sp. [78]; licoagrochalcone A (70) from Erythrina abyssinica [81]; and licochalcone C (71) isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra [80] were found to possess significant antiparasitic/antiprotozoal properties.…”

“…While licochalcone C (71) was found active against malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, chalcone 53 showed activity against Leishmania and Trypanosoma species. Flavokawain B (28) demonstrated trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and T. bruceii, with IC 50 values of 9.5 µM and 4.8 µM, respectively [79], whereas licoagrochalcone A (70) was shown to have antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquin-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum; the IC 50 values were determined as 12.7 and 12.0 µM, respectively [81]. Two other chalcones from Erythrina abyssinica, homobutein (19) (IC 50 = 15.0 and 16.1 µM, respectively) and 5-prenylated derivative of butein ( 16) (IC 50 = 10.3 and 11.2 µM, respectively) were also active against both strains for Plasmodium falciparum.…”