In vitro and in vivo antiparasitic activity of Physalis angulata L. concentrated ethanolic extract against Trypanosoma cruzi.

Background: The current treatment of Chagas disease, endemic in Latin America and emerging in several countries, is limited by the frequent side effects and variable efficacy of benznidazole. Natural products are an important source for the search for new drugs.

Aim/hypothesis: Considering the great potential of natural products as antiparasitic agents, we investigated the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of a concentrated ethanolic extract of Physalis angulata (EEPA).

A new source of (R)-limonene and rotundifolone from leaves of Lippia pedunculosa (verbenaceae) and their trypanocidal properties.

Investigation by GC-FID and GC-MS of the essential oil (LPOE) from the leaves of Lippia pedunculosa revealed, as the major compounds, the monoterpenes rotundifolone (71.7%) and (R)-limonene (21.8%).