Evaluation of anti-sleeping-sickness drugs and topoisomerase inhibitors in combination on Trypanosoma brucei

The trypanocidal activities of combinations of anti-human African trypanosomiasis drugs (eornithine, melarsoprol, pentamidine and suramin), DNA topoisomerase I inhibitors [topotecan and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38; the active compound of irinotecan)] and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors (aclarubicin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin and mitoxantrone) against bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei cultured in vitro were investigated. Results suggest that the combination of eornithine and mitoxantrone could be a potential alternative treatment for HAT.