Molecular Docking-Based Virtual Screening of FDA-Approved Drugs Using Trypanothione Reductase Identified New Trypanocidal Agents

American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease, caused by <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (<i>T. cruzi</i>), affects approximately 6-7 million people worldwide. However, its pharmacological treatment causes several uncomfortable side effects, causing patients' treatment abandonment. Therefore, there is a need for new and better treatments. In this work, the molecular docking of nine hundred twenty-four FDA-approved drugs on three different sites of trypanothione reductase of <i>T. cruzi</i> (<i>Tc</i>TR) was carried out to find potential trypanocidal agents. Finally, biological evaluations in vitro and in vivo were conducted with the selected FDA-approved drugs. Digoxin, alendronate, flucytosine, and dihydroergotamine showed better trypanocidal activity than the reference drugs benznidazole and nifurtimox in the in vitro evaluation against the trypomastigotes form. Further, these FDA-approved drugs were able to reduce 20-50% parasitemia in a short time in an in vivo model, although with less efficiency than benznidazole. Therefore, the results suggest a combined therapy of repurposed and canonical drugs against <i>T. cruzi</i> infection.

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Publication Details

Journal
Molecules
Published
2024-08-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163796
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Trypanosoma species research and implications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.55

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article

Molecular Docking-Based Virtual Screening of FDA-Approved Drugs Using Trypanothione Reductase Identified New Trypanocidal Agents

Emma Saavedra, Domingo Méndez-Álvarez, Alonzo González‐González, Gildardo Rivera et al.
4 citations
Molecules
Trypanosoma species research and implications
1.55
article

Molecular Docking-Based Virtual Screening of FDA-Approved Drugs Using Trypanothione Reductase Identified New Trypanocidal Agents

Emma Saavedra, Domingo Méndez-Álvarez, Alonzo González‐González, Gildardo Rivera, Verónica Alcántara‐Farfán, Joaquin Cordero‐Martínez, Karina Vázquez, Rogelio Gómez-Escobedo, Citlali Vázquez, Benjamín Nogueda‐Torres
article en
4 citations

Abstract

American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease, caused by <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> (<i>T. cruzi</i>), affects approximately 6-7 million people worldwide. However, its pharmacological treatment causes several uncomfortable side effects, causing patients' treatment abandonment. Therefore, there is a need for new and better treatments. In this work, the molecular docking of nine hundred twenty-four FDA-approved drugs on three different sites of trypanothione reductase of <i>T. cruzi</i> (<i>Tc</i>TR) was carried out to find potential trypanocidal agents. Finally, biological evaluations in vitro and in vivo were conducted with the selected FDA-approved drugs. Digoxin, alendronate, flucytosine, and dihydroergotamine showed better trypanocidal activity than the reference drugs benznidazole and nifurtimox in the in vitro evaluation against the trypomastigotes form. Further, these FDA-approved drugs were able to reduce 20-50% parasitemia in a short time in an in vivo model, although with less efficiency than benznidazole. Therefore, the results suggest a combined therapy of repurposed and canonical drugs against <i>T. cruzi</i> infection.

MoleculesVol. 29(16)
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (MX), Instituto Nacional de Cardiología (MX), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (MX)
Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Trypanosoma species research and implications
1.55
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