Résumé
A systematic investigation on the trypanocidal effect of several natural products isolated from Brazilian plant species has been carried out. In this paper we report on the results obtained from the screening of 26 diterpenes from natural sources or of synthetic/microbial transformations origin (mainly derivatives of kaurenoic acid) against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas'disease. In the in vitro assays, kaurenoic acid, kaurenol, acutifloric acid and stemodin showed a complete elimination of parasites from the blood. Therefore, such diterpenoids can be considered as starting materials for molecular modification in the search for lead compounds for clearance of infected blood to be used in transfusions. Blood previously treated with active compounds was submitted to an infectivity test. Samples proceeded from treatment with kaurenol and kaurenoic acid showed to be completly clean from T. cruzi as no infection was observed in mice inoculated with contaminated blood treated by these compounds.