Effects and mode of action of 1,4-naphthoquinones isolated from Calceolaria sessilis on tumoral cells and Trypanosoma parasites

The naphthoquinones 2-hydroxy-3-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (CS-1), (-)-2,3,3-trimethyl-2-3-dihydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-quinone (CS-3), and 2-acetoxy-3-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (CS-5) isolated from Calceolaria sessilis were tested against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, the TA3 tumor cell line and the methotrexate-resistant subline TA3-MTX-R, Naphthoquinone CS-3 was the most active; the 50% culture growth inhibition (I-50) on T. cruzi (Tulahuen and LQ strain and DM28c clone) was at concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 5.2 mu molar, Also CS-3 inhibited TA3 and TA3-MTX-R culture growth with an I-50 of 2.1 and 3.8 mu molar, respectively. Naphthoquinone CS-3 inhibited the respiration of the tumor cells by interfering with the electron transport at some point between NADH and ubiquinone. The respiration of T. cruzi was not inhibited by naphthoquinone CS-3, Naphthoquinone CS-3 produced a temporary increase of oxygen consumption in T. cruzi and tumor cells, suggesting the generation and participation of free radicals.