Cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activity of Annona muricata pericarp

Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Annona muricata pericarp were tested in vitro against Leishmania braziliensis and L. panamensis promastigotes, and against cell line U 937. The ethyl acetate extract was more active than the other extracts and even of Glucantime(R) used as reference substance. Its fractionation led to the isolation of three acetogenins - annonacin, annonacin A and annomuricin A. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.