Trypanocidal activity of diarylheptanoids from Schrankia leptocarpa DC

Abstract Schrankia leptocarpa is a medicinal species use traditionally in Benin to treat malaria. A previous study showed interesting antimalarial activity against two strains of Plasmodium falciparum . Phytochemical investigation of S. leptocarpa DC. (Mimosaceae) led to the isolation of two diarylheptanoids ( 1 – 2 ), three phenolic acid ( 3 – 5 ), one p-coumaric acid derivate ( 6 ) and three flavonoids ( 7 – 9 ). The structures of the isolated compounds were established by combination of spectroscopic methods. All isolated compounds were tested in vitro for antiprotozoal activity against P. falciparum , Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense , Trypanosoma cruzi , and Leishmania donovani . Compounds 1 and 2 showed trypanocydal and antiplasmodial activities in the micromolar range. Compound 1 showed also strong submicromolar trypanocidal activity against T. b. rhodensiense with an IC 50 value of = 0.79 ± 0.3 μM.