Raquel Barreto Duarte

Mrs. Raquel Barreto Duarte


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 December 2025 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RDRaquel Barreto Duarte
Raquel Barreto Duarte
VRVictor F. S. Ramos
Victor F. S. Ramos
JBJuliana Magalhães Chaves Barbosa
Juliana Magalhães Chaves Barbosa
GOGabriel Oliveira
Gabriel Oliveira
EDEmilay B. T. Diogo
Emilay B. T. Diogo
Rubem Menna-BarretoRubem Menna-Barreto
Rubem Menna-Barreto
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and its current treatment is limited to the use of two nitroderivatives, benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox; however, their toxicity often leads to discontinuation, justifying the search for new therapeutic options. The biological activity of quinones has long shown efficacy towards pathogenic microorganisms. In our previous investigations, two naphthoquinones combining ortho- and para-quinoidal moieties exhibited remarkable trypanocidal activity and presented low toxicity to host cells. Here, these two active compounds were further assessed. On trypomastigotes and epimastigotes, brominated (NQ1) and chlorinated (NQ2) nor-beta-lapachone-derived 1,2,3-triazoles were more active than Bz, presenting IC50/24 h values in the range of 0.8 to 3.1 µM. NQ1-treated epimastigotes showed a mitochondrial impairment and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under electron microscopy and flow cytometry. The in vitro evaluation of both combinations of compounds with Bz indicated an additive interaction. In vivo, oral treatment with NQ1 reduced parasitemia in an acute model, with no evidence of toxicity. The treatment also led to a reduction in myocarditis, decreasing the PR interval in electrocardiographic analysis and reversing the sinus bradycardia caused by infection. These data suggest that T. cruzi mitochondrion are part of the NQ1 mechanism of action. In vivo, this compound presented moderate trypanocidal and promising anti-inflammatory activity. Its combination with Bz could enhance current therapeutic protocols and should be better explored in the future.