The sesquiterpene lactones (SL), guaianolide (11,13-dehydrocompressanolide) and parthenolide (4α,5β-epoxy-germacra-1-(10),11-(13)-dien-12,6α-olide), found in Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip, showed in vitro significant activity against Leishmania amazonensis. In this way, a new method for the simultaneous determination of SL was developed and validated. For separation, it was employed high performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array detector (HPLC Alliance e2695-2998PDA, λ 210 nm) with linear gradient of phase (A) acidified water 0.1% H3PO4 (pH 2.8) and phase (B) acetonitrile, in different proportions, at a flow rate of 1.2 mL min-1 with XBridge C8 column (4.6 × 100 mm, 3.5 µm, 35 ºC). The method showed resolution (> 1.5); selectivity, linearity (coefficient of correlation > 0.99), precision (relative standard deviation of 2.2%) and accuracy (recovery > 98%); presenting 52.55 µg mg-1 of guaianolide and 566.05 µg mg-1 of parthenolide in the dichloromethane fraction of the hydroalcoholic extract of Tanacetum parthenium. The method presents potential use in quality control and development of new phytochemicals, a promising alternative in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
leishmaniasis; neglected disease; sesquiterpene lactones; guaianolide; parthenolide
