Synthesis and evaluation of 9,9-dimethylxanthene tricyclics against trypanothione reductase, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani

Derivatives of 9,9-dimethylxanthene were synthesised and evaluated against trypanothione reductase (TR) and in vitro against parasitic trypanosomes and leishmania. High in vitro antiparasitic activity was observed for some derivatives with one compound showing high activity against all three parasites (ED50 values of 0.02, 0.48 and 0.32 μM, for Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania donovani, respectively). The lack of correlation between inhibitory activity against TR and ED50 values suggests that TR is not the target.