<i>In vitro</i> assessment of anti- <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> activity of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids from <i>Vernonanthura polyanthes</i> (Asteraceae)

In the present study, the EtOH extract from the aerial parts of <i>Vernonanthura polyanthes</i> (Asteraceae) showed efficacy against trypomastigote forms of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>. Using a bioactivity-guided approach, three phenylpropanoid derivatives - ferulic acid (<b>1</b>), isoeugenol (<b>2</b>) and homovanillyl alcohol (<b>3</b>) - and three flavonoids - luteolin (<b>4</b>), velutin (<b>5</b>) and 3-<i>O</i>-methylquercetin (<b>6</b>) - were isolated. With respect to anti-<i>T. cruzi</i> potential, all isolated compounds, except ferulic acid (<b>1</b>), showed activity against trypomastigotes. Homovanillyl alcohol (<b>3</b>) was the most active metabolite (EC₅₀ = 6.3 µg/mL), showing similar activity to benznidazole used as a positive control. In addition, none of the compounds tested showed toxicity against murine fibroblasts (CC₅₀ > 200 µg/mL). The results therefore suggest that homovanillyl alcohol (<b>3</b>), a structurally simple C₆C₂ natural product, may be used as a prototype in future drug discovery studies for the treatment of Chagas disease.