Polyamine-based analogs and conjugates as antikinetoplastid agents.

Naturally occurring polyamines: putrescine, spermidine and spermine are crucial for Kinetoplastid growth and persistence. These aliphatic polycations are either biosynthesized or internalized into Kinetoplastid by active transport. Impairing the polyamine metabolism using polyamine derivatives is an interesting path in the search of new antikinetoplastid chemotherapy. In the past 30 years, research interest in this field has been constantly expanding and recent results demonstrated that the discovery of a polyamine-based antikinetoplastid drug is undoubtedly possible. In this paper, all the polyamine derivatives previously described to present an antikinetoplastid activity are reported. This review is organized around three main parts which are diamine, triamine and tetramine derivatives. Each part includes the description of the series of molecules and, their in vitro and in vivo activity when available. Structure-activity relationships of these derivatives are discussed and the most promising structures for a positive outcome are eventually highlighted.