Calea pinnatifida (R. Br.) Less. is commonly known in Brazil as "cipó-cruz", "quebra-tudo" or "aruca". This species is employed in folk medicine as giardicidal, amoebicidal and to treat digestive disorders. The present paper describes the isolation and structure determination of a new furanoheliangolide sesquiterpene lactone named 11,13-dihydroxy-calaxin, in addition to seven known compounds: ethyl caffeate, vanillin, 12-hydroxy-encecalin, phytol, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid from the ethanol extract of C. pinnatifida leaves. Additionally, 11,13-dihydroxy-calaxin, vanillin, 12-hydroxy-encecalin, phytol, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and the mixture of 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids were assayed against the amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi, and the sesquiterpene lactone 11,13-dihydroxy-calaxin exhibited a promising trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activity, displaying IC50 values of 5.27 and 8.30 µM, respectively.
Keywords:
Calea pinnatifida; furanoheliangolide; phenolic compounds; leishmanicidal; trypanocidal
