Cytotoxic and anti-kinetoplastid potential of the essential oil of Alpinia speciosa K. Schum

Alpinia speciosa K. Schum, known as colônia (colony), is native to tropical Asia and found in parts of tropical America. Its leaves are used to wrap food, rhizomes for food preparation and seeds for health maintenance, and have been widely used by the population as a diuretic, antihypertensive, antiulcerogenic and sedative. The present study aimed to verify the leishmanicidal and trypanocidal potential, as well as the cytotoxicity, of the A. speciosa essential oil, in vitro. A. speciosa presented 1,8-cineole (28.46%), camphor (17.10%) and sabinene (9.95%) as major constituents. The cytotoxic activity of the essential oil presented a low value, while the antipromastigote and antiepimastigote activity presented values considered clinically relevant, since it had an action below 500 μg/mL. In relation to this study, it can be concluded that this is a pioneer in the potential of the A. speciosa essential oil and in the use against the parasites Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas and Leishmania brasiliensis Vianna, having its importance also rooted in this fact. Still in accordance with the results, A. speciosa was effective because it presented values of clinical relevance and low toxicity. It was also observed that the chemical constitution of the above identified compounds with remarkable antiparasitic activities.