%0 Journal Article
%T The Search for Drugs Derived from Natural Products for Toxoplasma gondii Infection Treatment in the Last 20 Years - A Systematic Review.
%A Marques-Santos F
%A Faria RX
%A Amendoeira MRR
%J Curr Top Med Chem
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 28
%M 38952156
%F 3.57
%R 10.2174/0115680266299409240606062235
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide distributed zoonosis caused by Toxo-plasma gondii (T. gondii), an obligate intracellular protozoan. The infection in immunocompetent hosts usually progresses with mild or no symptoms. However, in immunocompromised individu-als, this disease can cause severe or fatal symptoms.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine are two drugs used as standard therapies for human toxoplasmosis. Although they do not cause chronic infection, they may cause hematological tox-icity, hypersensitivity, intolerance, teratogenic effects, gastrointestinal disorders, and bone mar-row suppression.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The limited effect, significant toxicity, and emerging resistance to current drugs available to treat T. gondii infections require investigating other effective, nontoxic, and well-tolerated al-ternatives. Medicinal plants are, traditionally, the most promising sources used to treat infectious diseases.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This review provides data on new therapeutic and prophylactic methods for T. gondii infection based on the use of extracts and/or compounds derived from natural products, which have been reported to be useful as alternative treatment options in the last 20 years.