AbstractThe stem bark ofGalipea longiflorais used by the Chimane Indians in Bolivia for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis produced byLeishmania braziliensis. Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of stem, root bark and leaves were found activein vitroagainstLeishmaniassp andTrypanosoma cruziat 100 μg/mL. The activity guided fractionation of the extracts by chromatography afforded 12 active compounds identified as 2‐substituted quinoline alkaloids. BALB/c mice were infected withLeishmania amazonensis(strain PH8 or H‐142) and treated 24 h after infection with the major alkaloids from the crude alkaloidal extract; 2‐phenylquinoline and 2‐n‐pentylquinoline. 2‐phenylquinoline was as potent as Glucantime (Rhǒne‐Poulenc) against the strain H‐142, but less active than the reference drug against the virulent strain PH8 ofL. amazonensis. 2‐n‐pentylquinoline did not exhibit any activity. Assays of single local treatments on the rear footpad infection, 2 weeks after the parasitic inoculation, indicated an effect for 2‐phenylquinoline by reducing the severity of lesion. However, this activity was found to be slightly lower than that ob