Exploiting the antiparasitic activity of naphthalimides derivatives

A set of 1,8-naphtalimides derivatives were synthesized and tested against three protozoans that cause important human diseases: Leishmaniainfantum, Trypanosomabrucei and Trypanosomacruzi. Additionally, toxicity was determined by growth inhibition of THP-1 derived macrophages. The results suggest that chemical modifications in the carbon chain linking the naphthalimide and the substituting groups have different effects in the parasites. This work should provide new insights new insights for the design and optimization of more potent and directed naphthalimide derivatives against these organisms.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreements No.602773 (Project KINDRED). L.G. was supported by the Fundaçãopara a Ciência e Tecnologia through grant SFRH/BD/81604/2011.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreements No.602773 (Project KINDRED). Thanks are due also to the NMR Portuguese network (PTNMR, BrukerAvance III 400Univ. Minho), and FCT and FEDER for financial support to CQ/UM.