Evaluation of the leishmanicide activity of extracts and pheophitins from leaves of Echinodorus uruguayensis

Abstract

The aquatic macrophytes, popularly known as aquatic plants are represented by approximately 2600 species distributed by more than 450 genera. However, studies involving the isolation, structural characterization and evaluation of the biological activity of the isolated substances are rare when compared to the quantity of species. The genus Echinodorus presents 27 species, but only two had the investigated phytochemical composition (E. grandiflorus and E. macrophyllus), with diterpenes of the clerodane and cembrane type with structural variation in the lateral chains or functional groups. The present work aims to contribute to the collection of substances isolated from this genus, by studying the species Echinodorus uruguayensis. A preliminary analysis of the hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (1H NMR) of ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of substances from the pheophytin group. The presence of such substances may be associated with important chemotaxonomic aspects of this genus. The extracts, subfractions and isolated substances will be submitted to tests to evaluate the in vitro activity against the promastigote form of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, a neglected disease that occurs mainly in tropical countries. (AU)