Phytochemical study and evaluation of antioxidant and leishmanicidal activity of the species pilocarpus alvaradoi (Rutaceae)

Abstract

The phytochemical study was carried out and the antioxidant and leishmanicidal activity of the Pilocarpus alvaradoi species was evaluated. Identification of the compounds was performed by the analysis of NMR-1H,13C and MS data. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH• and ABTS•+ methods; the leishmanicidal potential in vitro was measured against strains of Leishmania (V) panamensis by flow cytometry and cytotoxicity by the MTT method. Of this species, six compounds were isolated and identified: a coumarin, an alkaloid, three sterols and a fatty acid. The ethanolic bark extract showed low cytotoxicity with a CL50 of 70.5 μg/ml and a good leishmanicidal potential with an EC50 of 30.7 μg/ml compared to amphotericin B. The extracts of Pilocarpus alvaradoi constitute an important source of metabolites with biological activity; and the substances obtained are reported for the first time for this specie.