Flavonoids, Cytotoxic, and Antimalarial Activities of Dipteryx lacunifera

Dipteryx lacunifera Ducke, Fabaceae, popularly known as “fava-de-morcego” and “garampara,” comprises pleasant tasting kernels and is commonly consumed by inhabitants northeast of Brazil. In the present study, among six flavonoids, two are reported for the first time as natural products, 6,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavone (2) and 4-O-metilsulfuretin (4); two reported for the first time in the species isoliquiritigenin (1) and homobutein (6); and two already known flavonoids, 7,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavone (3) and (−)-butin (5), were isolated from fruits and kernels of D. lacunifera. The compounds were isolated by chromatographic techniques and elucidated by spectrometric data (1D and 2D NMR and mass). Compounds 1–3 and 5 showed interesting cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 21.13 to 2.47 μg/ml. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 showed antimalarial activity against P. falciparum with 81.25 and 88.98% of parasitemia reduction, respectively.