Natural naphthoquinones and their derivatives as potential drug molecules against trypanosome parasites

Abstract Over the past decades, a number of 1,4‐naphthoquinones have been isolated from natural resources and several of naphthoquinone derivatives with diverse structural motif have been synthesized; they possess a multitude of biochemical properties and modulate numerous pharmacological roles that offer new targets for addressing the challenges pertaining to novel drug developments. Among natural naphthoquinones, lapachol, α‐lapachone, β‐lapachone, lawsone, juglone, and plumbagin have been evaluated for its potential as antitrypanosomal activities. The chemotherapeutic drugs available for combating human trypanosomiasis, that is, American trypanosomiasis and African trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei , respectively, and animal tripanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma evansi have a problem of drug resistance and several toxic effect. Therefore, search of alternative effective drug molecules, without toxic effects, have enthused the researchers for searching new drug entity with potential clinical efficacy. In the search for new antitrypanosomal compound, this review focuses on different natural quinones and their synthetic derivatives associated with antitrypanosomal studies. In this context, this review will be useful for the development of new antitrypanosomal drugs mainly based on different structural modification of natural and synthetic naphthoquinones.