Scandenin and 4'-O-methylderrone were isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots and dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Deguelia costata (Benth.) A.M.G. Azevedo & R.A. Camargo, respectively. These compounds and their extracts had their antiprotozoal, antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities tested. All samples were active for amastigotes of the T. cruzi, with EC50 values varying from 34.5 to 9.8 µg mL-1. The 4'-O-methylderrone and scandenin showed better leishmanicidal action against the promastigote of L. amazonensis, with EC50 of 43.3 and 45.9 µg mL-1, respectively, when compared to their extracts. All extracts and scandenin showed activities against Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp, and Candida sp. The compounds did not show cytotoxicity on rat macrophages. As confirmed by spectroscopic analyses, the extracts are rich in phenolics, mainly isoflavonoids. The study of D. costata is a promising strategy for discovering isoflavones and 4-hydroxy-3-phenylcoumarins with antiprotozoal, antibacterial, and antifungal activities.
Keywords: Chagas disease; Deguelia costata; Leishmaniasis; isoflavonoids.