| Summary: | Toxoplasmosis is a tropical and neglected disease caused by the parasitic protozoa <i>Toxplasma gondii</i>. Conventional treatment with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine plus folinic acid, has some drawbacks, such as inefficacy in the chronic phase, toxic side effects, and potential cases of resistance have been observed. In this study, the activity of essential oils (EOs) from three <i>Piper</i> species and their main constituents, including α-Pinene (<i>Piper lindbergii</i> and <i>P. cernuum</i>), β-Pinene (<i>P. cernuum</i>), and dillapiole (<i>P. aduncum</i>), were evaluated against tachyzoites of <i>T. gondii</i>. α-Pinene was more active [(IC<sub>50</sub> 0.3265 (0.2958 to 0.3604) μg/mL)] against tachyzoites than <i>P. lindbergii</i> EO [0.8387 (0.6492 to 1.084) μg/mL]. Both α-Pinene and <i>P. lindbergii</i> EO exhibited low cytotoxicity against NHDF cells, with CC<sub>50</sub> 41.37 (37.64 to 45.09) µg/mL and 83.80 (75.42 to 91.34) µg/mL, respectively, suggesting they could be of potential use against toxoplasmosis.
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