TRYPANOCIDAL EFFECTS OF GALLIC ACID AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS

Gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) is a naturally abundant pla nt phenolic compound and it is well known as a component of hydrolyzab le tannins. We report here that gallic acid and related compounds have trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (GUTat 3.1) i n both the long slender bloodstream forms and the procyclic forms, in vitro. LD50 values of gallic acid are 46.96 +/- 1.28 mu M for bloodstr eam forms and 30.02 +/- 3.49 for procyclic forms, respectively. A stud y of structurally related compounds suggested that the pyrogallol moie ty could be responsible for this activity.