Avaliação do efeito anti-Leishmania de complexos ternários de rutênio(II)- p -cimeno contendo benzoiltrifluoroacetona e piridinas modificadas

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, transmitted to humans and other mammals through the bite of infected female phlebotomine sand flies. Recognized by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease, leishmaniasis remains a major public health concern and presents in different clinical forms, including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis, the latter being potentially fatal if left untreated. Despite the currently available therapies, limitations such as toxicity, parasite resistance, and variable efficacy highlight the need for the development of new therapeutic alternatives. In this context, medicinal bioinorganic chemistry plays a key role in the discovery of novel drug candidates, with ruthenium complexes emerging as promising compounds due to their potential antileishmanial activity. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the antileishmanial potential of two novel ruthenium(II) complexes by assessing their cytotoxic effects against promastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, as well as their effects on the parasite–host cell interaction using Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis.