Reduction of lapachones and their reaction with l-cysteine and mercaptoethanol on glassy carbon electrodes

The electrochemical reduction of β-lapachone and its 3-sulphonic salt was studied by cyclic, square wave and differential pulse voltammetry in aqueous media using a glassy carbon electrode. These compounds have a wide range of biological activities, including antibacterial, cytotoxic, antifungal, trypanocidal and anticancer action. The reduction of β-lapachone in the presence of l-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol was studied and the results, together with others already published, suggest that the anticancer mechanism of β-lapachones can be explained via interaction with topoisomerase.