In vitro activity of Rutaceae species against the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi

The activity of crude plant extracts of nine species of Rutaceae against th e trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated at 4 mg/ml. Thirty -two crude extracts were tested and eight of them showed significant activi ty (> 80%). The most active extract was obtained from the stems of Pilocarp us spicatus (97.3%). Fractionation of the active crude extracts provided 25 fractions which were tested against the trypomastigote form of T. cruzi at 2 mg/ml. Of these six showed significant activity (> 80%). The most active fractions (100%) were obtained from the leaves of Almeidea coerulea (butan ol fraction) and Conchocarpus inopinatus (dichloromethane fraction). (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd, All rights reserved.