The effect of substituted aminoalkylaminoanthraquinones on eukaryotic cells.

Nine aminoalkylaminoanthraquinones (I-IX) were evaluated for their cytotoxic potency against normal and malignant mammalian cells. The 1.8-di-(aminopropylamino) derivative (VIII) exhibited significant activity against several tumor cell systems and had some selectivity.

The effect of diaminoalkyl-anthraquinone derivatives on the growth of the promastigotes of Leishmania tropica minor, L. t. major, L. donovani and L. aethiopica.

By combining knowledge of polyamine biosynthesis and its inhibition by various analogues with that on the activity of synthetic anthraquinones, a series of six anthraquinone derivatives were synthesized. Their ability to inhibit the growth of leishmanial promastigotes in vitro was used as a preliminary screen to check their potential as new antileishmanial chemotherapeutics. They were tested against four strains, representing four different species; Leishmania tropica major, L.