title: Antiparasitic activity of biochanin A, an isolated isoflavone from fruits of Cassia fistula (Leguminosae).
abstract: The fractionation through bioguided antileishmanial activity of the dichloromethane extract of Cassia fistula fruits (Leguminosae) led to the isolation of the active isoflavone biochanin A, identified by spectroscopic methods. This compound showed 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) value of 18.96 microg/mL against promastigotes of Leishmania (L.) chagasi. The cytotoxicity of this substance against peritoneal macrophages resulted in an EC(50) value of 42.58 microg/mL. Additionally, biochanin A presented an anti-Trypanosoma-cruzi activity, resulting in an EC(50) value of 18.32 microg/mL and a 2.4-fold more effectiveness than benznidazole. These results contribute with novel antiprotozoal compounds for future drug design studies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, R. Prof. Artur Ridel, 275, CEP 09972-270 Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. psartorelli@unifesp.br
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sartorelli
authors.forename: Camila Salomone
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Juliana Quero
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Reimão
authors.forename: Marcelo José Pena
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: André Gustavo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tempone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D019833:Genistein / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019833:Genistein; C004541:biochanin A