Trypanocidal activity of Piper arboreum and Piper tuberculatum (Piperaceae)

In the scope of our ongoing research on bioactive agents from Brazilian flora, twenty-four extracts and fractions obtained from Piper arboreum Aub. and Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (Piperaceae) were screened for trypanocidal activity by using MTT colorimetric assay. The strongest activity was found in hexane fractions from the leaves of P. arboreum (IC50= 13.3 µg/ mL) and P. tuberculatum (IC50 = 17.2 µg/mL). Hexane fractions of the fruits of P. tuberculatum and P. arboreum showed potent toxic effects on epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, with values of IC50 (µg/mL) of 32.2 and 31.3, respectively. Additionally, the phytochemical study of the hexane fraction of P. arboreum leaves furnished two pyrrolidine amides, piperyline (1) and 4,5-dihydropiperyline (2), which could be responsible, at least in part for the observed antiprotozoal activity.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Regasini,Luis Octávio, Cotinguiba,Fernando, Passerini,Gabriela Duó, Bolzani,Vanderlan da Silva, Cicarelli,Regina Maria Barretto, Kato,Massuo Jorge, Furlan,Maysa
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia 2009
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-695X2009000200003
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