In Silico Toxicity Assessment of Chalcone Derivatives—Derricin, Lonchocarpin, and Isocordoin—from Lonchocarpus cultratus
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Keywords:
Chalcones, Derricin, Lonchocarpin, Isocordoin, Protox 3.0.Abstract
Chalcones, widely occurring plant secondary metabolites, constitute a structural subgroup of the
flavonoid family. They have attracted considerable interest due to their diverse biological activities,
including antibacterial, anticancer, antimalarial, antileishmanial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic
effects. The protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) are the primary
causes of African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease, affecting approximately eight million people
worldwide. Current therapeutic options for these diseases are limited and often associated with significant
toxicity, underscoring the need for safer and more effective alternatives.
Lonchocarpus cultratus is a tree native to tropical regions, and previous research suggests that extracts
derived from its roots can be used in the treatment of T. cruzi infections (Bortoluzzi et al., 2021). Among
the chalcones identified in these root extracts, derricin, lonchocarpin, and isocordoin have demonstrated
notably strong anti-T. cruzi activity. In this study, the toxicity profiles of these three chalcone compounds—
considered promising candidates for T. cruzi treatment—were evaluated using in silico methods with
ProTox 3.0.
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