Buthionine sulfoximine increases the toxicity of nifurtimox and benznidazole to Trypanosoma cruzi.

l-Buthionine (S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) increased the toxicity of nifurtimox and benznidazole toward the epimastigote, trypomastigote, and amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. BSO at 500 muM decreased total glutathione-derived thiols by 70 to 80% in 48 h. In epimastigotes, 500 muM BSO decreased the concentration of nifurtimox needed to inhibit constant growth of the parasites by 50%, from 14.