In vitro assessment of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids from Vernonanthura polyanthes (Asteraceae).

Abstract

In the present study, the EtOH extract from the aerial parts of Vernonanthura polyanthes (Asteraceae) showed efficacy against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Using a bioactivity-guided approach, three phenylpropanoid derivatives - ferulic acid (1), isoeugenol (2) and homovanillyl alcohol (3) - and three flavonoids - luteolin (4), velutin (5) and 3-O-methylquercetin (6) - were isolated. With respect to anti-T. cruzi potential, all isolated compounds, except ferulic acid (1), showed activity against trypomastigotes. Homovanillyl alcohol (3) was the most active metabolite (EC₅₀ = 6.3 µg/mL), showing similar activity to benznidazole used as a positive control. In addition, none of the compounds tested showed toxicity against murine fibroblasts (CC₅₀ > 200 µg/mL). The results therefore suggest that homovanillyl alcohol (3), a structurally simple C₆C₂ natural product, may be used as a prototype in future drug discovery studies for the treatment of Chagas disease.