In vitro inhibitory effects of palmatine from Enantia chlorantha on Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum.

In an attempt to establish the components responsible for the use of Enantia chlorantha against cutaneous leishmaniasis in local traditional medicine, a well-known palmatine has been isolated in substantial amounts from a methanolic bark extract of this plant species. Palmatine therein obtained exhibited a significant inhibitory activity on growth of both Trypanosoma cruzi (IC(50) 0.068 microM) and Leishmania infantum (IC(50) 0.79 microM).