In vitro antileishmanial, antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of phenolics and triterpenoids from Baccharis dracunculifolia D. C. (Asteraceae)

Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae), the most important plant source of the Brazilian green propolis (GPE), displayed in vitro activity against Leishmania donovani. with an IC50 value of 45 mu g/mL. while GPE presented an IC50 value of 49 mu g/mL Among the isolated compounds of B. dracunculifolia, ursolic acid, and hautriwaic acid lactone showed IC50 values of 3.7 mu g/mL and 7.0 mu g/mL, respectively. Uvaol, acacetin, and ermanin displayed moderate antileishmanial activity. Regarding the antiplasmodial assay against Plasmodium falciparum, BdE and GPE gave similar IC50 values (about 20 mu g/mL), while Hautriwaic acid lactone led to an IC50 value of 0.8 mu g/mL (D6 clone). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.