Use of 17-ketosteroid compounds and derivatives, metabolites and precursors thereof in the treatment of malaria and the treatment of African and American trypanosomiasis.

The invention provides the use of 17-ketosteroid compounds, as well as derivatives, metabolites and precursors of such compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any of these compounds, collectively defined herein as the "compounds of the present invention", in the treatment of malaria, African Trypanosomiasis and American Trypanosomiasis, or to ameliorate or reduce one or more symptoms associated with a Plasmodium or Trypanosoma infection. The present invention is further directed to the use of such compounds in the treatment or prevention of one or more kind of parasites and/or one or more diseases caused by such parasites, against one or more kind of Mycoplasma and/or one or more diseases caused by such Mycoplasmas and/or against one or more of the following indication or infections a) hairy Leukoplakia, (b) oral candidosis, (c) mouth ulcerations-aphthous/herpetic/bacterial, (d) fungal Candida, (e) human papilloma virus, (f) molluscum contagiosum, (g) squamous oral carcinoma, (h) Kapos's sarcoma oral lesions, (I) peridontitis, (j) necrotizing gingivitis, (k) orafacial herpes zoster, and (i) rotaviruses, as well as all other indications and infections. The compounds of the present invention may also be used to ameliorate or reduce one of more symptoms associated with any infection or condition disclosed herein.