This study aimed to perform pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies, and assess antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of Geissospermum vellosii Allemão and Geissospermum sericeum Miers. The pharmacognostic study was carried out as described in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, 2010. The ethanol extracts (GVEE and GSEE) were obtained by exhaustive maceration with ethanol (96 ° GL), followed by concentration in rotaevaporator. The ethanol extract was fractionated using two methods: extraction under reflux (fractions of different polarities) and acid-base partition (neutral and alkaloid fractions). The alkaloid fractions (GVAF and GSAF) were fractionated on a chromatographic column with Sephadex LH-20 gel, and the resulting subfractions were analyzed on TLC, and reveled through Dragendorff reagent and ultraviolet (365 nm). The F6GVAF and F6GSAF subfractions, with alkaloids detected and good yield, were subjected to semi-preparative HPLC-DAD, and spectrophotometric methods. For evaluating the antileishmanial activity, promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis at a concentration of 5 x 106 parasites/100μL were treated with the samples at different concentrations for 24, 48 and 72h. The analysis was done adding [3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) to the samples in an ELISA reader at 490 nm. Cytotoxicity was assessed through cell viability assay with MTT in differentiated THP- 1 cells and HepG2. As a selection criteria, the selectivity index (IS) was calculated as the ratio between the cytotoxic concentration 50% in cell lines, and the inhibitory concentration 50% found for protozoa, considering as promising values ≥ 10. The plant powder was classified as thick (G. vellosii), and very thick (G. sericeum), low density, with pH 4.94 (G. vellosii) and 6.47 (G. sericeum), negative to saponins, with ash and moisture within the parameters established by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia V. In the phytochemical study, we suggest the isolation of an indole alkaloid (F3F6FAGV) and a β-carbolinic (flavopereirine) from both species. The fractionation of GVEE and GSEE resulted in more cytotoxic subfractions, but the exposure time and refractionation reduced this effect. In the antipromatigota assay, all samples were active, and the fractionation increased the activity. The flavopereirine presented time-dependent activity greater than amphotericin B. However, the flavopereirine in association with indole alkaloid and/or amphotericin B reduced the selectivity of this metabolite. The extracts fractionation increases the selectivity index, and the selectivity of flavopereirin is high (SI = 4893.3). Therefore, the isolation of flavopereirine contributes to reduce cytotoxicity and increase selectivity, showing itself as a promising antileishmanial agent.
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