Antifungal activity lapachol

Because of such extensive application in folk medicine, it is easy to understand the interest that the lapachol, the related naphthoquinones a-lapachone, P-lapachone and other naphthoquinones derivatives, have aroused as potential drugs. In fact, a broad variety of biological activities have been described for this kind of compounds. Some examples are antitumor promoting activities [11-12], inactivators of human cytomegalovirus protease [13], antiprotozoal activity [14], trypanocidal activity [15], anticancer activity [16], and antibacterial and antifungal activities [17]. 

Lapachol (95, from the lapacho tree, genus Tabebuia, family of the catalpa trees, Bignoniaceae) and its analogues show very broad therapeutic capabilities , including activity against cancer which results in apoptosis and inhibition in metastasis, antimicrobial, antifungal, antimalarial and other activities . However, clinical application of lapachol is limited by its high toxicity. Lapachol forms complexes with many metal ions. 

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