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Showing papers by "Beatriz S. Parajón-Costa published in 2008"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data strongly suggest that trypanocidal action of the complexes could mainly rely on the inhibition of the parasite-specific enzyme NADH-fumarate reductase.
Abstract: In the search for new therapeutic tools against Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) palladium and platinum complexes of the bioactive ligand pyridine-2-thiol N-oxide were exhaustively characterized and evaluated in vitro. Both complexes showed high in vitro growth inhibition activity (IC(50) values in the nanomolar range) against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of the disease. They were 39-115 times more active than the antitrypanosomal drug Nifurtimox. The palladium complex showed an approximately threefold enhancement of the activity compared with the parent compound. In addition, owing to their low unspecific cytotoxicity on mammalian cells, the complexes showed a highly selective antiparasite activity. To get an insight into the mechanism of action of these compounds, DNA, redox metabolism (intraparasite free-radical production) and two parasite-specific enzymes absent in the host, namely, trypanothione reductase and NADH-fumarate reductase, were evaluated as potential parasite targets. Additionally, the effect of metal coordination on the free radical scavenger capacity previously reported for the free ligand was studied. All the data strongly suggest that trypanocidal action of the complexes could mainly rely on the inhibition of the parasite-specific enzyme NADH-fumarate reductase.

57 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The crystal structures of Na[Cr(dipic)2]· 2H2O (1) and [Cr(Dipic)(phen)Cl]· 1/2H 2O (2), dipic=dipicolinate, phen = 1,10-phenantroline, were determined.

47 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the conformational space and electronic, magnetic and vibrational properties of vanillic acid were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations and density functional calculations, and the electronic and IR spectra were recorded and completely assigned with the help of theoretical results.

44 citations