Lipinski’s Ro5 and Veber rules: an analysis of the natural-product-based molecules active against Trypanosoma cruzi

Natural products are a source of secondary metabolites that have been explored due to their medicinal properties. Over the last decades, different natural compounds were assayed against Trypanosoma cruzi aiming to find a hit that could be further developed to treat Chagas disease. In addition to natural products per se, derivatives of these compounds have been planned to overcome limitations commonly associated with natural prototypes. In this work, a literature search was conducted to profiling natural product derivatives active against T. cruzi reported in the last 20 years. After classifying four hundred fifty-four active compounds in different groups, a druglikeness analysis was performed and results showed that most of the compounds comply with Lipinski and Veber rules, implying that they are probably orally bioavailable. This is a desired characteristic that indicates the potential of the natural product derivatives as hits in the drug development for Chagas disease.