TRYPANOCIDAL FLAVONOIDS FROM TRIXIS-VAUTHIERI

The crude extract of Trixis vauthieri (Asteraceae) was active against the trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan that caus es Chagas' disease, Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract affo rded the trypanocidal flavonoids 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (1) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone (2) besides the inactive f lavonoids 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (3) and 5,4'-dihydroxy- 3,6,7,8-tetramethoxy flavone (4). The trypanocidal activity of 1 and 2 and the presence of compounds 2 and 4 in Trixis vauthieri are reporte d here for the first time.