The natural compounds piperovatine and piperlonguminine induce autophagic cell death on Trypanosoma cruzi

► Piperovatine and piperlonguminine are potent growth inhibitors of T. cruzi. ► The compounds inhibited the parasite proliferation and caused drastic ultrastructural alterations. ► The compounds induced ultrastructural changes by flow cytometry and electron microscopy. ► Fluorescence microscopy and ultrastructural assays suggest an autophagic cell death.