Determination of chemical structure and anti- activity of extracts from the roots of (Vell.) A.M.G. Azevedo & H.C. Lima.

is the agent of Chagas disease, an infection that affects around 8 million people worldwide. The search for new anti- drugs are relevant, mainly because the treatment of this disease is limited to two drugs. The objective of this study was to investigate the trypanocidal and cytotoxic activity and elucidate the chemical profile of extracts from the roots of the . Roots from were submitted to successive extractions with hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol, resulting in LCH, LCD, and LCM extracts, respectively. Characterization of extracts was done using H-RMN, C-RMN, CC and TLC. Treatment of forms (epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and amastigotes) with crescent concentrations of LCH, LCD, and LCM was done for 72, 48, and 48 h, respectively. After this, the percentage of inhibition and IC/LC were calculated. Benznidazole was used as a positive control. Murine macrophages were treated with different concentrations of both extracts for 48 h, and after, the cellular viability was determined by the MTT method and CC was calculated. The chalcones derricin and lonchocarpine were identified in the hexane extract, and for the first time in the genus , the presence of a dihydrolonchocarpine derivative was observed. Other chalcones such as isocordoin and erioschalcone B were detected in the dichloromethane extract. The dichloromethane extract showed higher activity against all tested forms of than the other two extracts, with IC values of 10.98, 2.42, and 0.83 µg/mL, respectively; these values are very close to those of benznidazole. Although the dichloromethane extract presented a cytotoxic effect against mammalian cells, it showed selectivity against amastigotes. The methanolic extract showed the lowest anti- activity but was non-toxic to peritoneal murine macrophages. Thus, the genus had demonstrated in the past action against epimastigotes forms of but is the first time that the activity against infective forms is showed, which leading to further studies with tests.