Estudo químico e avaliação do potencial biológico de extratos e compostos isolados de folhas e caule de Myrciaria ferruginea O. Berg (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

This work describes for the first time chemical study and evaluation of the biological potential of extracts and isolated compounds from the leaves and stem Myrciaria ferruginea (Myrtaceae). After drying at room temperature and grinding, leaves and stems were subjected to maceration with acetone and 90% EtOH, respectively. After removal of the solvents under vacuum, crude extracts were suspended in MeOH-H2O solution and successively extracted with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The fractions resulting from this procedure were evaluated for their antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Enterococus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter aerogenes, as well as citotoxic (fibroblasts 3T3 cells and macrophages J774), horizontal migration in vitro, inhibition of production of ROS induced by LPS, larvicidal (Aedes aegypti larvae) and anticholinesterasics. Phytochemical study from actives fractions resulted in the isolation of three phytosteroids (β-Sitosterol, Stigmasterol and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylsitosterol), five triterpenes (Lupeol, 3β- Betulinaldehyde, Betulinol, Betulinic acid and 3α,2β,23-Trihydroxyolean-12-en-oic acid, very likely a new natural product) and an ellagic acid derivative (Hexamethylcoruleoellagic acid) which is being described for the first time in the Myrtaceae family. All isolated compounds had their structures identified on the basis of their NMR spectral data, including 2D experiments (HSQC and HMBC), and by comparison with literature data. Extracts also inhibited the growth of S. aureus and S. epidermidis, two infectious agents commonly found in intensive care units. With exception of MeOH-H2O fraction of the leaves that showed no cytotoxic effect at 15.625 μg/mL, the remaining fractions exhibited cytotoxic activity against 3T3 cells at all tested concentrations (15.625 to 500 μg/mL). The crude EtOH extract, hexane and MeOH-H2O fractions from stems at concentrations of 15.625 to 62.5 μg/mL showed no cytotoxic effect against 3T3 cells (cell viability > 80%) and EtOAc fraction was cytotoxic at lower concentration tested (15.625 μg/mL). When compared to the group exposed only to the cell culture medium, the cells treated with isolated compounds (mixture of Lupeol and 3β-Betulinaldehyde, Hexamethylcoruleoellagic acid and 3β-Betulinaldehyde), at concentrations from 15.625 to 32.25 μg/mL, they did not increased ROS-production in a model of inflammation induced by LPS. However, when compared the group of cells treated with the compounds and the stimulated with LPS a significant reduction in ROS-production was observed. These results suggest that these compounds interfere with the inflammatory process induced by LPS. In larvicidal assays samples from leaves and stems exhibited weak to moderate activity and analogously to isolated compounds (β-sitosterol and Stigmasterol, Lupeol and 3β-Betulinaldehyde, Hexamethylcoruleoellagic acid, and Betulinic acid) they have provided positive results as anticholinesterase.