Antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of pure compounds from Aristolochia elegans rhizomes

We analyzed the antimycobacterial activity of the hexane extract of rhizomes from Aristolochia elegans. Some compounds of this extract were purified and tested against a group of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. We also evaluated their antiprotozoal activities. The hexane extract was active against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at a MIC = 100 μgmL(-1); the pure compounds eupomatenoid-1, fargesin, and (8R,8′R,9R)-cubebin were active against M. tuberculosis H37Rv (MIC = 50μgmL ^-1), while fargesin presented activity against three monoresistant strains of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and a MDR clinical isolate of M. tuberculosis (MIC < 50 μgmL ^-1). Both the extract and eupomatenoid-1 were very active against E. histolytica and G. lamblia (IC ₅₀ < 0.624 μgmL ^-1); in contrast, fargesin and (8R,8′R,9R)-cubebin were moderately active (IC ₅₀ < 275 μgmL ^-1). In this context, two compounds responsible for the antimycobacterial presented by A. elegans are fargesin and cubebin, although others may exert this activity also. In addition to the antimycobacterial activity, the hexane extract has important activity against E. histolytica and G. lamblia, and eupomatenoid-1 is one of the compounds responsible for the antiparasite activity.