The effects on the viability of promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and citotoxicity in J774.A1 macrophages of ethanolic extract, fractions and isolated compounds that were obtained from the leaves of Nectandra cuspidata were determined. The total phenolics content (TP) and antioxidant activity were assessed using different assays. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) had the best antiproliferative activity (amastigote IC50: 4.42 ± 0.60 μg/mL, promastigote IC50: 33.33 ± 0.78) and presented no cytotoxicity at the highest concentration tested (1000 μg/mL). The EAF also had the greatest antioxidant capacity, which was comparable to butylated hydroxytoluene and quercetin (DPPH IC50 6.54 ± 0.10 μg/mL, ABTS 4.75 ± 0.11 mmol ET/g; FRAP 2.37 ± 0.03 mmol ET/g; ORAC = 33.52 ± 1.99 mmol ET/g; TP 387.11 ± 0.25 mg GAE/g). Vitexin, epicatechin and isovitexin isolated from EAF contribute to both activities.
Keywords: Leishmaniasis; lauraceae; medicinal plant; oxidative stress.