IN VITRO TRYPANOCIDAL EVALUATION OF PINANE DERIVATIVES FROM ESSENTIAL OILS OF RIPE FRUITS FROM Schinus terebinthifolius RADDI (ANACARDIACEAE)

Essential oils of ripe fruits from Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae), obtained using a pilot extractor and a Clevenger apparatus were chemically characterized. Due the high amount of (-)-alpha-pinene in both oils, this monoterpene was tested against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, showing a moderate potential (IC50 63.56 mu g/mL) when compared to benznidazole (IC50 43.14 mu g/mL). Otherwise, (-)-alpha-pinene oxide did not showed anti-trypanosomal activity (IC50 > 400 mu g/mL) while (-)-pinane showed an IC50 of 56.50 mu g/mL. The obtained results indicated that the epoxydation of a-pinene results to the loss of the anti-parasitic activity while its hydrogenation product, contributed slightly to the increased activity.