TRYPANOCIDAL COMPONENTS OF PLUCHEA QUITOC L

Four compounds active against the epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cr uzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, were isolated from the he xane extract of Pluchea quitoc L. (Compositae). The flavone casticin ( 1), identified on the basis of its spectroscopic characteristics, alon g with PQU19B, 19G and 28A, the structures of which are in the process of identification, did not show significant activity against the infe ctive bloodstream trypomastigote forms of the parasite.