Activity of N,N-dimethy-1-2-propen-1-amine derivatives in mice experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Propenamine derivatives 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-X-phenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-prope n-1-amine (where X = H or Br) were tested in experimentally infected mice with Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain). When a daily dose of 20 mg kg-1 of the bromo (X = Br) derivative for 9 consecutive days was used, no parasite by optical microscopy was found. Significant parasitemic decrease was also observed with a single dose (100 mg kg-1) of this compound. Moreover, both treatment schemes displayed a strong protective effect characterized by decreased of mortality. On the other hand, similar treatment schedules using the unsubstituted (X = H) derivative led to parasitemic and mortality curves similar to the control group. These results indicate that the bromo derivative has a remarkable activity against T. cruzi infection. Due to the potentiality of this derivative, further investigation of this class of compounds as chemotherapeutic agents for Chagas' disease is of prime importance.