"Science Stays True Here" Biological and Chemical Research, Volume 2015, 50-63 | Science Signpost Publishing Evaluation of the Schistosomicidal Potential of Guttiferone - A Obtained from Garcinia brasiliensis´s Seed Giulliano Vilela Barros 2 , Aline Pereira Castro 1,2 , Ana Carolina Alves de Mattos 3 , Neusa Araújo Pereira 3 , Naira Ferreira Anchieta 2 , Matheus Siqueira Silva 1 , Marcelo Henrique dos Santos 1 , Jaqueline Pereira Januário 1 , Raquel Lopes Martins Souza 2 , Marcos José Marques 2 1. Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas, ZIP CODE 37130-000, Alfenas, MG, Brazil. 2. Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, ZIP CODE 37130-000, Alfenas, MG, Brazil. 3. Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, René Rachou Institute - Fiocruz, Augusto de Lima Ave. 1715, ZIP CODE 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Received: November 09, 2014 / Accepted: December 05, 2014 / Published: January 25, 2015 Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a serious public health issue in developing countries mainly from the African, Asian and South American continents. Praziquantel is the only medication used in the treatment of schistosomiasis. Such fact justifies the search of therapeutic alternatives for the disease, presenting shorter course of treatment, lower occurrence of side effects and lack of resistance of the parasite to the compound. In the present study, it was evaluated the schistosomicidal activity of ethanolic extract of the Garcinia brasiliensis´s seed (EES); hexane (FHS), ethyl acetate (FAES) and aqueous (FAS) fractions, obtained by partition; and a pure constituent isolated from this species: the benzophenone guttiferone-A (gut-A), on adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni, using in vitro tests. Mortality (ED90) and damage on the membrane surface and excretory system activity were noted at concentrations of 98.0; 97.0; 89.0 and 18.0 µg/mL for the ESS; FHS; FAES and gut-A, respectively. Whereas for gut-A, these data were confirmed by Hoechst 33258 and Resorufin fluorescent probes. The results obtained indicate the gut-A as a promising natural compound, as in vitro assays provide sustainability to carry out in vivo tests, in order to search new drugs for the treatment of this disease. Keywords: Benzophenones, Garcinia brasiliensis, Guttiferone-A, Organic compounds, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosomiasis. 1. Introduction Schistosomiasis, caused by the helminth Schistosoma mansoni, is the parasitic disease with the second greater socioeconomic impact worldwide, malaria being the first. It affects varied geographic areas; approximately 209 million people infected in 76 countries by one of the different species of Schistosoma, and over 700 million people living under the risk of infection, mainly in African, Asian and American countries (Steinmann et al., 2006). Due the lack of a Corresponding author: Dr. Marcos José Marques, Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas. Alfenas, MG, Brazil. E-mail: marques@unifal-mg.edu.br / marques.prppg@gmail.com.