Insight into the bioreductive mode of action of antitrypanosomal 5-nitrofuryl containing thiosemicarbazones.

In order to get insight into the trypanocidal mechanism of action of a series of 5-nitrofuryl containing thiosemicarbazones some studies related to their bioreduction were performed. Electron spin resonance spectra of radicals generated in T. cruzi by compounds' bioreduction were analyzed. Three different patterns of ESR signals were observed for the different assayed compounds. These results were in agreement with the changes in the T. cruzi-oxygen uptake promoted by these compounds. On the other hand, free-radical scavenger properties, measured as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), did not seem to correlate with the trypanocidal activity.