Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Effects of Crude Extract, Fractions and 4-Nerolidylcathecol from Aerial Parts of Pothomorphe umbellata L. (Piperaceae). (19th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lopes, Andrey P.; Bagatela, Bianca S.; Rosa, Paulo C. P.; Nanayakkara, Dhammika N. P.; Carlos Tavares Carvalho, José; Maistro, Edson L.; Bastos, Jairo K.; Perazzo, Fábio F.
• Other Names: Bereau Didier Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: BioMed research international. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2012-12-19
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/206581
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-6133

Abstract

Abstract : The crude ethanolic extract from aerial parts of Pothomorphe umbellata L. ( Piperaceae ) and fractions obtained by partitions sequentially among water-methanol, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate, as well as the major constituent, 4-nerolidylcatechol, were, respectively, evaluated and evidenced for antioxidant and cytotoxic effects through fluorometric microplate and microculture tetrazolium assays in HL-60 cells. The crude ethanolic extract demonstrated the preeminent antioxidant activity (IC 50 = 1.2 μ g/mL) against exogenous cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species, followed by the water-methanolic (IC 50 = 4.5 μ g/mL), methylene chloride (IC 50 = 5.9 μ g/mL), ethyl acetate (IC 50 = 8.0 μ g/mL), 4-nerolidylcatechol (IC 50 = 8.6 μ g/mL), and the sterol fractions (IC 50 > 12.5 μ g/mL). Vitamin C, the positive control used in this assay, presented IC50 value equivalent to 1.7 μ g/mL. 4-Nerolidylcatechol (IC 50 = 0.4 μ g/mL) and methylene chloride fraction (IC 50 = 2.3 μ g/mL) presented considerable cytotoxicity probably because of the presence of an o -quinone, an auto-oxidation by product of the catechol. Polar compounds, present in the ethanol extract, appear to increase the solubility and stability of the major active constituent, acting synergistically with 4-nerolidylcatechol, improving its pharmacokinetic parameters and increasing significantly its antioxidant activity which, in turn, suggests that the aqueous-ethanolic extract, used in folklore medicine, is safe and effective.