Naftoquinonas: Potencial biológico y perspectivas como antifúngicos
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i1.50492Palabras clave:
Hongos patógenos, Antifúngicos, Naftoquinonas, Mecanismos de acción.Resumen
Las infecciones fúngicas constituyen un problema creciente de salud pública a nivel mundial, principalmente debido al número limitado de clases de antifúngicos disponibles, a la aparición de cepas multirresistentes y a la elevada toxicidad asociada a los tratamientos actuales. En este contexto, las naftoquinonas han despertado un notable interés como compuestos bioactivos con amplio potencial farmacológico. Esta revisión presenta una visión integral sobre la actividad antifúngica de naftoquinonas semisintéticas frente a hongos patógenos de importancia clínica, como Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp. y Sporothrix spp. Se discuten la diversidad química de estas moléculas, sus modificaciones semisintéticas y las relaciones estructura–actividad, destacando la influencia de la posición de los sustituyentes y de las propiedades fisicoquímicas en la eficacia antifúngica. Asimismo, se analizan los principales mecanismos de acción propuestos, como el ciclo redox, la generación de especies reactivas de oxígeno, la interacción con la membrana fúngica, la alteración del equilibrio osmótico y la unión covalente a blancos celulares. También se abordan los aspectos relacionados con la toxicidad y la selectividad, a partir de estudios in vitro e in vivo. En conjunto, las naftoquinonas semisintéticas se presentan como estructuras químicas valiosas para el desarrollo de nuevos agentes antifúngicos, con potencial para enfrentar la resistencia fúngica y minimizar los efectos adversos de las terapias convencionales.
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