TRITERPENES WITH ANTI-Trypanosoma cruzi ACTION FROM Vernonanthura polyanthes (Sprengel) Vega & Dematteis (ASTERACEAE)
Ethnopharmacological knowledge, besides a cultural heritage of a people, is crucial
for phytochemicals, botanists and pharmacists to be able to seek and develop new
treatments and active principles with appreciable activity. In possession of popular
wisdom about the use of assa-peixe for the treatment of pain, inflammation and
respiratory tract disorders, with reviews in the literature and multidisciplinary work
with partners in botany and also pharmacy, work on the evaluation of the biological
activity of special metabolites of Vernonanthura polyanthes (Sprengel) Vega &
Dematteis (Asteraceae). The apolar extract was obtained by macerating the aerial
parts previously dried and ground in n-hexane, which was then subjected to
chromatographic fractionation in an open column using silica gel (70-230 mesh) as a
stationary phase with n-hexane : ethyl acetate as mobile phase in increasing polarity
gradient. Sixteen fractions (EHB) were obtained, which were analyzed by 1H and 13C
NMR and subsequently submitted to in vitro assays for anti-T. cruzi. From these
fractions EHB8~9 active against the parasite and also EHB5~6 stood out due to the
great similarity of the spectral profile. The compounds Lupeol, α-Amyrin, β-Amyrin
and ψ-Taraxasterol were identified in a mixture in EHB8~9 and their respective
acetylated derivatives in EHB5~6, structures were confirmed by GC-MS analysis.