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 µg/mL, while GPE presented an IC50 value of 49 µg/mL. Among the isolated compounds of B. dracunculifolia, ursolic acid, and hautriwaic acid lactone showed IC50 values of 3.7 µg/mL and 7.0 µg/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 µg/mL), while Hautriwaic acid lactone led to an IC50 value of 0.8 µg/mL (D6 clone).

Graphical abstractCompounds 3, 6 and 7 were isolated for the first time from B. dracunculifolia. Ursolic acid (1) and hautriwaic acid lactone (9) showed the highest antileishmanial activities.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide