ABSTRACT
Plants are a source of compounds that are used for the treatment of human and veterinary diseases. Brazil is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity. The present study evaluated extracts using thin-layer chromatography to identify antioxidant activity and determine the presence of groups of compounds, in a large-scale basis. A total of 1,260 aqueous and organic extracts were obtained from plants that were collected in the Amazon and Atlantic rain forests. Thin-layer chromatography was performed to evaluate the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardioactive glicosides, terpenes, and phenolics and determine antioxidant and radical scavenging activity using the following reagents: Dragendorff's reagent, KOH, Kedde's reagent, sulphuric acid, NP reagent, ß-carotene, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Of the 1,260 extracts, 837 (66.43%) presented a ß-carotene/bleaching response, and 1,205 (95.63%) presented a radical scavenging response. Alkaloids were found in 203 extracts (16.11%). Anthraquinones were found in 14 extracts (1.11%), cardenolides were found in eight extracts (0.63%). The present findings shows the importance of the Brazilian Amazon plants as sources of antioxidant and radical scavenging active compounds.(AU)
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/analysis , Amazonian Ecosystem , Annonaceae/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Brazil , Chromatography/methods , Anthraquinones , AlkaloidsABSTRACT
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent cancer of the oral cavity and the fifth most prevalent of all malignancies in males. Many researchers have attempted to develop new treatments that will improve the prognosis of SCC patients. Over 20 percent of the world's biodiversity is located within the Brazilian forests, but little is known about the chemical and/or pharmacological potential of these plants. Certain extracts obtained from Amazon and Atlantic Forest plants have previously been shown to have cytotoxic activity against various cancers. The aim of this study was to screen these extracts for cytotoxic activity against oral SCC cells. The extracts were analyzed for activity against the KB-ADL#12 cell line at various concentrations up to a maximum dose of 100 µg/mL. Comparisons with a control group were performed using one-way ANOVA. Significant cytotoxicity was induced by the extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Picrolemma sprucei (Simaroubaceae), from the leaves and stems of Laetia suaveolens (Salicaceae), from the aerial parts of Abarema auriculata (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) and from the stem of A. auriculata.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy , Mouth Neoplasms/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Analysis of Variance , Magnoliopsida/chemistry , Brazil , Cell Count , Cell Culture Techniques , Cell Line, Tumor , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor/methods , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Stems/chemistry , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A família das Annonaceae pertence à classe Magnoliopsida, subclasse Magnoliidae e ordem Magnoliales. Estima-se que existam entre 2.000 e 2.300 espécies1,2, sendo a maior de sua Ordem1. As espécies de Annonaceae são encontradas nos trópicos e são especialmente características de florestas sempre verdes de planícies em grande parte dos trópicos do velho mundo2. No Brasil, encontram-se amplamente distribuídas.