Title:Steroid and Triterpenoid Compounds with Antiparasitic Properties
Volume: 23
Issue: 9
Author(s): Ivana Z. Kuzminac, Marina P. Savić, Jovana. J. Ajduković*Andrea R. Nikolić
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Keywords:
Natural products, Steroids, Triterpenoids, Malaria, Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi, Chagas disease, Toxoplasma gondii.
Abstract: Parasitic diseases affect millions of people and animals, predominantly in the tropics, including
visitors to tropical countries and other areas. Efficient and low-cost treatments for infections
caused by various parasites are not yet available. Antiparasitic drugs have some drawbacks, such as
toxicity and the development of resistance by parasites. This has motivated many researchers to focus
on the discovery of safe, effective and affordable antiparasitic drugs, both among drugs already
available for other diseases and new compounds synthesized or isolated from natural sources. Furthermore,
steroid and triterpenoid compounds attract the attention of pharmacologists, chemists and
biochemists owing to their broad application in the treatment of various diseases. Isolation of steroid
and triterpenoid compounds from natural sources with antiparasitic efficacy is an attractive
choice for scientists. On the other hand, these compounds can be transformed into more potent
forms by modifying the basic skeleton. This review presents a collection of isolated and synthesized
steroid and triterpenoid compounds from 2018 to 2021 that have been reported to be effective
against certain parasitic protozoa and helminths. A total of 258 compounds have been identified
with antimalarial, antitrypanosomal, antileishmanial, anti-Toxoplasma, and/or anthelmintic activity.
The described investigations of antiparasitic compounds may be helpful for further drug development.
