Perspectives on what ruthenium-based compounds could offer in the development of potential antiparasitic drugs

Among the infectious illnesses designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), four illnesses are major health concerns in the developing world: malaria and three parasitic diseases caused by genetically related parasites belonging to the trypanosomatid genus and kinetoplastida order: American trypanosomiasis, human African trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis. This review focuses on the most relevant efforts carried out to develop ruthenium compounds as potential agents for the treatment of these diseases. Those series of compounds for which especial efforts have been made to modify structures performing a sort of rational design and to identify their molecular targets and mode of action were emphasized. Aspects related with the potentialities and perspectives of ruthenium compounds for this particular inorganic medicinal chemistry field are also included.