[Trypanocidal and cytotoxic activity of extracts of Colombian plants].
BACKGROUND
The treatment of Chagas disease is based on only two drugs with limited efficacy and significant side effects. The rich biodiversity of the Colombian flora makes bio-prospecting a potential alternative in the search for new antiparasitic drugs.


OBJECTIVE
Potential trypanocidal activity and cytotoxicity was assessed in extracts from 23 Colombian plants.


METHODS
Extracts of leaves, stems, or of the whole plants were obtained in solvents of a range of polarities. The activity against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and the cytotoxicity were evaluated by the MTT enzymatic micro-method. Extracts active against epimastigotes and with low cytotoxicity were also tested on trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes.


RESULTS
Among the extracts, biological activity was confirmed in 4 species. The extracts were active on epimastigotes and trypomastigotes; one was active also against amastigotes. The latter extract was isolated from the plant Hieronyma antioquensis and presented IC(50) of 3.1 mg/ml for epimastigotes, 11.5 mg/ml for trypomastigotes and 2.9 mg/ml for amastigotes. The selectivity indexes were 25, 7, and 27 respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The extract from H. antioquensis proved a promising candidate for Chagas disease treatment. Futhermore, the MTT enzymatic micromethod was a useful tool for screening biological activity on epimastigotes and other stages of the parasite for further extract trials.
Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
Lorena
L
Valencia
Diana Lorena
DL
Muñoz
Sara María
SM
Robledo
Fernando
F
Echeverri
Gabriel Jaime
GJ
Arango
Iván Darío
ID
Vélez
Omar
O
Triana
D003105:Colombia; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects*
D010936:Plant Extracts