Mode of action of intercalating drug, cis-Pt(II)(DDH)Cl2, cis-Pt(II)(DDH) (metafluorobenzoic)2, and cis-Pt(II)(DDH)(mucubromic)2, on Trypanosoma cruzi.

The trypanocidal activity of three new compounds derived of the antineoplastic drug cis-diamminodichloroplatinum(II) (DDP) has been studied over epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. The electron microscopy indicated that, in the treated animals, the nuclear chromatin is distributed in the nucleus in a lax form and that the number of lipidic vacuoles increases largely. This action is more significant when cis-Pt(II)1,2-diaminocyclohexane is used. In addition this compound causes a destabilization of the DNA double helix with a decrease of melting temperature. The three compounds inhibit the incorporation of leucine, uridine and thymidine, although the thymidine uptake is the most significantly affected.