Antiparasitic activity of two Brazilian plants: Eugenia mattosii and Marlierea eugeniopsoides

Parasitoses are very common throughout the world, generating serious consequences for public health. Leishmaniosis and giardiasis are examples of fairly recurrent, but neglected diseases. Several higher plants have demonstrated promising activity against the parasites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological activity of extracts, fractions and isolated compounds from the leaves and stems of two Brazilian plants: Eugenia mattosii and Marlierea eugeniopsoides (Myrtaceae) against Leishmania and Giardia. XTT and the fluorimetric method were used to for this evaluation, respectively. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against HeLa cells. The results demonstrated that chloroform fractions of E. matosii and pinostrobin presented the most pronounced antiparasitic activity, with the CLF-stems being the most effective against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis. Pinostrobin also presented activity against G. lamblia. Therefore, E. mattosii stems and pinostrobin may be considered possible targets for the continuity of studies against other parasites.