In spite of extensive studies, the structure-activity relationships in the action of polyphenols against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are poorly understood so far. As the mammalian cell cytotoxicity of polyphenols shows a negative dependence on the potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol redox couple (E27 ), due to the involvement of prooxidant events, and a positive dependence on the octanol/water distribution coefficient at pH 7.0 (log D), we examined the role of these parameters in their antiplasmodial in vitro activity. We found that the concentrations of hydroxybenzenes causing 50% inhibition of the growth of P. falciparum strain FcB1 (IC50) are described by the regression log IC50 (μm) = 0.36 + 1.81 E27 (V) - 0.10 log D [n = 11, r2 = 0.760, F(2.8) = 12.03]. The IC50 values of flavonoids (n = 5), comprising a separate less active series, did not depend on their E27 values, 0.33 V- 0.75 V. These findings were similar to the mammalian cell cytotoxicity data. However, the mammalian cell cytotoxicity of hydroxybenzenes showed more pronounced dependence on their E27 values [Δlog CL50 /ΔE27 = (6.9-5.1) V-1, where CL50 is the compound concentration for 50% cell survival] than on their antiplasmodial activity. Although it is unclear whether the prooxidant action is the main factor in the antiplasmodial action of polyphenols or not, our data showed that the ease of their oxidation (decrease in E27 ) may enhance their activity. On the other hand, the different sensitivity of the mammalian cell cytotoxicity and the antiplasmodial activity of the hydroxybenzenes to their E27 values implied that compounds with high oxidation potential may be used as relatively efficient antiplasmodial agents with low mammalian cell cytotoxicity.
Inhibition of Trichophyton rubrum by 420-nm Intense Pulsed Light: In Vitro Activity and the Role of Nitric Oxide in Fungal Death