ANTILEISHMANIAL ACTION OF ORGANOMETALLIC COMPLEXES OF PT(II) AND RH(I)

The three organometallic complexes [(Cis-Pt-II(DDH) (2,5-Dihidroxibenz ensulfonic)(2), Rh-I(CO)(2)Cl(2-Aminobenzothiazole) and Rh-I(CO)(2)Cl( 5-Cl-2-Methilbenzothiazole)] used in this study had been previously fo und to have a high in vitro activity against promastigote and amastigo te like forms of Leishmania donovani. Here, the cytotoxic effect of th ese new organometallic complexes on the J-774 macrophages were studied . Only the Rh-I(CO)(2)Cl(2-Aminobenzothiazole) complex induced substan tial toxicity in the cells. Also, we assayed the effect of this comple x on the parasite's biosynthesis of macromolecules. The Rh-I(CO)(2)Cl( 5-Cl-2-Methylbenzothiazole) complex inhibited DNA, RNA, and protein sy nthesis. On the other hand, the two other compounds tested did not inh ibit the incorporation of radioactive precursors. Finally important ul trastructural alterations in the parasites treated with the two non-cy totoxic complexes were observed.