Carlos A. de Simone, Maria Helena Araujo, Samara Ben B. B. Bahia, Cláudia Pessoa, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto, Bruno C. Cavalcanti, Wallace J. Reis, Solange L. de Castro, Eufrânio N. da Silva Júnior, Claudia C. Gatto, Francielly T. Souto, and Guilherme A. M. Jardim
Quinonoid compounds based on 5-iodo-1,4-disubstituted-, 1,4- and 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized using simple methodologies and evaluated against T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, and cancer cell lines PC3, HCT-116, HL-60, MDA-MB-435 and SF-295. The cytotoxic potential of the lapachones was also assayed against peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Two compounds 6 and 12 were identified as potential hits against T. cruzi. β-Lapachone-based 1,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole (12) displayed an IC50/24 h = 125.1 μM, similar to benznidazole, the standard drug. Compound 12 was also more active than the precursor β-lapachone against the cancer cell lines. These compounds acting as multitarget quinoidal systems could provide promising new leads for the development of trypanocidal and/or anticancer drugs.