Trypanocidal Effects of Gallic Acid and Related Compounds

Abstract

Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a naturally abundant plant phenolic compound and it is well known as a component of hydrolyzable tannins. We report here that gallic acid and related compounds have trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (GUTat 3.1) in both the long slender bloodstream forms and the procyclic forms, in vitro. LD50 values of gallic acid are 46.96 +/- 1.28 microM for bloodstream forms and 30.02 +/- 3.49 for procyclic forms, respectively. A study of structurally related compounds suggested that the pyrogallol moiety could be responsible for this activity.