Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice
Little progress has been made in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis over the past decades. L-carnitine has a major role in glycolysis-based energy supply of blood trypanosomes for it stimulates constant ATP production. To investigate whether administration of the isomer D-carnitine could exert...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
EDP Sciences
2003-06-01
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| Series: | Parasite |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2003102147 |
| _version_ | 1797421101630881792 |
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| author | Manganaro M. Mascellino M.T. Gradoni L. |
| author_facet | Manganaro M. Mascellino M.T. Gradoni L. |
| author_sort | Manganaro M. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Little progress has been made in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis over the past decades. L-carnitine has a major role in glycolysis-based energy supply of blood trypanosomes for it stimulates constant ATP production. To investigate whether administration of the isomer D-carnitine could exert a competitive inhibition on the metabolic pathway of the L-form, possibily resulting in parasite replication inhibition, several formulations of this compound were tested on Trypanosoma lewisi and T. brucei rhodesiense in rodent models. High oral dosages of D-carnitine inner salt and proprionyl-D-carnitine were not toxic to animals and induced about 50 % parasite growth inhibition in reversible, i.e. competitive, fashion. A putative mechanism could be an interference in pyruvate kinase activity and hence ATP production. Considering both, lack of toxicity and inhibitory activity, D-carnitine may have a role in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis, in association with available trypanocidal drugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:12:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-235ab54d2e43441b945db2e74e3e5f63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1252-607X 1776-1042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:12:04Z |
| publishDate | 2003-06-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasite |
| spelling | doaj.art-235ab54d2e43441b945db2e74e3e5f632023-12-03T08:59:40ZengEDP SciencesParasite1252-607X1776-10422003-06-0110214715110.1051/parasite/2003102147parasite2003102p147Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and miceManganaro M.Mascellino M.T.Gradoni L.Little progress has been made in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis over the past decades. L-carnitine has a major role in glycolysis-based energy supply of blood trypanosomes for it stimulates constant ATP production. To investigate whether administration of the isomer D-carnitine could exert a competitive inhibition on the metabolic pathway of the L-form, possibily resulting in parasite replication inhibition, several formulations of this compound were tested on Trypanosoma lewisi and T. brucei rhodesiense in rodent models. High oral dosages of D-carnitine inner salt and proprionyl-D-carnitine were not toxic to animals and induced about 50 % parasite growth inhibition in reversible, i.e. competitive, fashion. A putative mechanism could be an interference in pyruvate kinase activity and hence ATP production. Considering both, lack of toxicity and inhibitory activity, D-carnitine may have a role in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis, in association with available trypanocidal drugs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2003102147Trypanosoma lewisiTrypanosoma brucei rhodesienseD-carnitineratmouse |
| spellingShingle | Manganaro M. Mascellino M.T. Gradoni L. Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice Parasite Trypanosoma lewisi Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense D-carnitine rat mouse |
| title | Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice |
| title_full | Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice |
| title_fullStr | Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice |
| title_short | Activity of D-carnitine and its derivatives on Trypanosoma infections in rats and mice |
| title_sort | activity of d carnitine and its derivatives on trypanosoma infections in rats and mice |
| topic | Trypanosoma lewisi Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense D-carnitine rat mouse |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2003102147 |
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