Potencial nutracêutico de extratos obtidos de folhas de Achyrocline satureioides, Echinodorus macrophyllus e Lippia sidoides: parâmetros farmacológicos e toxicológicos

Abstract

Several medicinal plants have been studied in the last decades aiming at their use by the pharmaceutical industry to develop new medicines. Considering the current research scenario, the species Achyrocline satureioides, Echinodorus macrophyllus, and Lippia sidoides have great pharmacological potential because they are rich sources of bioactive compounds, and can be a viable alternative for the development of effective and safe medicines to aid in the treatment of obesity, and inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this work was to characterize the phenolic compounds by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and to investigate the action of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves of A. satureioides, E. macrophyllus, and L. sidoides on molecules and human cells using pharmacological and toxicological parameters. Therefore, the extracts were evaluated as possible phospholipase A 2 modulators (inflammation-related). In the context of hemostasis, they were assessed on inducing o r inhibiting processes of hemolysis, coagulation, thrombolysis, and fibrinogenolysis. Also, both extracts were evaluated as potential inhibitors or inducers of genotoxicity and as possible inhibitors of the α-amylase, α-glycosidase, lipase, and trypsin enzymes. The results showed the presence of substances of pharmacological interest, such as catechins, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, and alkaloids, in the ethanolic extract of all plant species. The ethanolic extract of L. sidoides presented the highest content of phenolic compounds (3.745,67 mg 100g -1 ) detected by HPLC. The extracts evaluated, in different proportions (venom:extract, w:w), significantly potentiated the phospholipase activity induced by Bothrops atrox venom, while the aqueous extract of A. satureioides and E. macrophyllus had an inhibitory action on this activity induced by the venoms of B. jararacussu and B. moojeni. All of the extracts of A. satureioides, E. macrophyllus, and L. sidoides completely inhibited the hemolytic activity induced by B. moojeni venom. They also potentiated the thrombolytic activity induced by the Lachesis muta muta venom and prolonged the coagulation time induced by the venoms of B. moojeni and L. muta muta. The ethanolic extract of A. satureioides, in the ratios of 1:2.5 and 1:5 (w:w), exerted 100% inhibition on the fibrinogenolytic activity induced by B. moojeni venom, while both extracts of E. macrophyllus exerted inhibition on the breakdown of fibrinogen. All of the extracts evaluated in the comet assay showed anti-genotoxic action against the venom of L. muta muta. The ethanolic extracts of the evaluated plant species inhibited the α-amylase and α-glycosidase digestive enzymes and the aqueous extracts inhibited α-glycosidases. Lipases were inhibited only by the aqueous extract of A. satureioides and L. sidoides. The results confirm the potential use of these plant species for pharmacological purposes, as their constituents can act as enzymatic modulators and interfere in processes related to the hemostatic balance, such as coagulation, thrombus dissolution, and fibrinogenolysis. The inhibition of digestive enzymes suggests the action of the extracts in decreasing the caloric availability coming from the ingestion of carbohydrates and lipids. However, complementary studies should be conducted to detect the active compounds related to each evaluated activity and their dose, bioavailability, efficacy, and safety to use. Thus, their use as a plant-derived drug or in the development of herbal medicines should be made after further studies.