Phytochemical study and evaluation of biological activities of Smilax brasiliensis Sprengel (SMILACACEAE) leaves
Smilax, phenolic compounds, antioxidant, larvicide, antigenotoxic
The Smilacaceae family has 310 species, distributed in temperate, tropical and subtropical regions. Smilax brasiliensis, known as "salsaparrilha" and "japecanga", is a plant native to the Brazilian Cerrado, used in folk medicine as an antirheumatic, anti-syphilis, antihypertensive and diuretic. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antioxidant, allelopathic and larvicidal activities, besides the cytotoxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of the methanolic extract and the fractions of the leaves of S. brasiliensis. Leaves were collected, dried in greenhouse and triturated in a wiley mill. The extract was exhaustively extracted in petroleum ether and after methanol by Soxhlet. From the methanol extract were obtained the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and hydrometanol fractions. The main constituents present in the methanol extract and fractions, identified by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS), were glycosylated and non-glycosylated flavonoids, especially with quercetina and phenylpropanoids, as chlorogenic acid. Among the flavonoids, rutin and quercetin were identified in subfractions. All samples exhibited antioxidant activity. The samples had an inhibitory effect on growth, especially of onion seeds. The mitotic index was analyzed in the samples; however, it did not indicate a cytotoxic effect on the tested cells. The genotoxic effect was observed. The extract and fractions showed antigenotoxic effects at all concentrations tested, where they were able to revert to the chromosomal abnormalities caused by glyphosate. An in vitro germination protocol for onion seeds was established. The extract and fractions were innocuous in Artemia salina and Culex quinquefasciatus.