Psychotria viridis: Chemical constituents from leaves and biological properties

ABSTRACT

The phytochemical study of hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts from leaves of Psychotria viridis resulted in the identification of: the pentacyclic triterpenes, ursolic and oleanolic acid; the steroids, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; the glycosylated steroids 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-β-sitosterol and 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-stigmasterol; a polyunsaturated triterpene, squalene; the esters of glycerol, 1-palmitoylglycerol and triacylglycerol; a mixture of long chain hydrocarbons; the aldehyde nonacosanal; the long chain fat acids hentriacontanoic, hexadecanoic and heptadenoic acid; the ester methyl heptadecanoate; the 4-methyl-epi-quinate and two indole alkaloids, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and N-methyltryptamine. The chemical structures were determined by means of spectroscopic (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) and spectrometric (CG-MS and LCMS-ESI-ITTOF) methods. The study of biologic properties of P. viridis consisted in the evaluation of the acetylcholinesterase inhibition and cytotoxic activities. The hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, the substances 24-methylene-cycloartanol, DMT and a mixture of 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-β-sitosterol and 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-stigmasterol showed cholinesterase inhibiting activity. This activity induced by chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts was higher than 90%. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts inhibit the growth and/or induce the death of the tumor cells strains B16F10 and 4T1, without damaging the integrity of the normal cells BHK and CHO. DMT also demonstrated a marked activity against tumor cell strains B16F10 and 4T1.

Key words: Psychotria viridis; Rubiaceae; N,N-dimethyltryptamine; B16F10; 4T1 tumor cells

INTRODUCTION

Brazil has a large plant genetic diversity, with more than 55,000 species cataloged (Nodari and Guerra 1999, Veiga 2008). In the Amazon region, the use of medicinal plants has its bases in indigenous practice (Labate 2011). Many of these plants are also used in religious rituals. This practice originated from the great cultural influence of the ancient peoples of the Amazon, which was mixed with African traditions and European culture brought by the colonizers (Almeida 2011). Ritualistic plants become sacred when their use in ritual gives them a sacred value, to be legitimized through rites of a given belief model, philosophy or kind of thinking (Camargo 2006). These plants eliminate fatigue and insomnia, relieve the feeling of hunger, stimulate or cancel sexuality, induce depression or euphoria, provoke visions and fantastic predictions. In general, they are ingested orally in nature or prepared or enters the body by means of the oral route by inhalation of its fumes, or smelled; or topically applied to healthy or scarified skin. As a result, the use of such plants or its derivatives has been popularized worldwide, both for religious purposes, or not (Camargo 2007). The effect of these substances is confused with religious mysticism of the Indians and the wisdom of healers, shamans and "pajé", which usually play a dual role of religious guide and medicine doctor in your tribe. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish between the pharmacological actions of these preparations and their placebo effects on phenomenological healings that occur in rituals (Callaway et al. 1994, Callaway and Grob 1998). Most ritual plants used in healing ceremonies in shamanism, umbanda and other rituals, acts in the CNS in order to facilitate communication with spirit guides (Corrêa et al. 1998, Camargo 2006, 2007). Several studies have been conducted to discover new compounds that reach pharmacological targets in the CNS. The harmin represents an example of β-carboline alkaloid isolated from Banisteriopsis caapi (Malpighiaceae), which is a component of ayahuasca (yagé, hoasca, daime or caapi), a ritualistic beverage used in Brazil, Bolivia, Equador and Peru (Callaway and Grob 1998). This alkaloid acts on CNS inhibiting the monoamino-oxidase (MAO) (Breakefield et al. 1976, Pires et al. 2010). Inhibitors of MAO induce an enhancement of the amine concentration in brain, mainly dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin, generating a state of excitement, euphoria, increased psychomotor activity (antidepressant), and others (Farzin and Mansouri 2006). It is also observed hallucinogenic effect attributed to structural similarity with endogenous amines, such as tryptamine and serotonin (Fortunato 2009). Other examples of ritualistic plants that alter the SNC physiology include Lophophora williamsii (Lem. ex Salm-Dyck J.M. Coult.) (Peiote) used in México and Central America, the Mimosa hostiles Benth (Jurema), in Northeast of Brazil, the Tabernanthe iboga Baill (Iboga) in Africa and Peganum harmala L. (Pégano) in the Middle East (Teixeira et al. 2008).

Among the species of plants with potential medicinal property are several members of the family Rubiaceae, due to the large number of substances with potential biological activity, including compounds belonging to different chemical classes, such as alkaloids and anthraquinones (Chan-Blanco et al. 2006, Delprete and Jardim 2012). This family is constituted by the subfamilies Ixoroideae, Rubioideae, Cinchonoideae Raf. And Antirheoideae Raf., covering aproximatley 650 genera and 13,000 species (Lima 2011). In South America, there are 30 % of all species of the Rubiaceae family, which exceeds in number of species, all regions of the Earth, being then in South Asia and Africa. In Brazil, Rubiaceae family is represented by about 2,000 species distributed among 110 genera (Delprete and Jardim 2012). In the most important Brazilian ecosystems such as the Amazon and Cerrado regions and Atlantic Forest, species of this family are the form of trees, shrubs, subshrubs or perennial or annual herbs, and lianas and epiphytes. The species of Rubiaceae have great diversity of secondary metabolites such as indole alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, saponins, steroids and flavonoids (Lima 2011). This justifies its use in traditional medicine and in the manufacture of herbal medicinal products. An example is the cat's claw "unha de gato", Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC, whose extract obtained from its roots is indicated for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis (Moraes 2013). The subfamily Rubioideae is considered as the second source of highest concentration of alkaloids (Delprete and Jardim 2012) belonging to different classes, such as isoquinoline (44 identified constituents) quinoline (70 compounds) and indole (391 constituents) (Cordell et al. 2001).

The species of subfamily Rubioideae are divided into 15 tribes, the largest being the Psychotrieae, comprised of approximately 50 genera widely distributed throughout the tropical zone (Libot et al. 1987). The Psychotria genus was first described by Linneaus in 1759, and actually is considered as one of the largest plant genera with flowers. Nowadays, in this genus are included about 1000 species (Steyermark 1974, Nepokroeff et al. 1999). According to morphological characteristics and geographical distribution, it is divided into three subgeneras: Psychotria (pantropical), Heteropsychotria (including neotropical species of Psychotria) and Tetramerae which includes species of Africa and Madagascar (Faria 2009). Different species of the genus Psychotria are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract and as an aid to relieve symptoms that occur pre- and post-partum, and also to treat diseases of the bronchi and gastrointestinal disorders (Lima 2011). Topically, in the form of poultices or baths species of this genus are used to treat skin disorders, "tumors", ulcer, ocular disorders, to relieve fever, headaches and earache (Faria 2009). Bioactive materials are obtained from various species of Psychotria such as extracts of P. microlabastra (Khan et al. 2001) and P. capensis that showed antibiotic activity, of P. serpens that presented antiviral properties, of P. hawaiiensis (Locher et al. 1995) and P. insularum, to which antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties were attributed (Dunstan et al. 1997).

Psychotria viridis (Rubiaceae) is a species used in the preparation of ayahuasca drink, in association with Banisteriopsis caapi Morton (Callaway and Grob 1998). The Shamans and Healers of the Amazonia first used the drink. They practiced traditional medicine based on plant extracts (Luna 1986). The use of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), one constituent of this drink, due to its psychotropic effect is banned in Brazil (ANVISA, Portaria, 344/98). However, in August 2006, was enacted in Brazil the law n⁰ 11.343, which allows its use in "religious rituals" as long as authorized by the State. This law is in accordance with the Vienna Convention, promoted by the United Nations in 1971 with the aim of establishing the rules on the use of "psychotropic substances" (Groisman 2013). The release of scientific research and ritualistic use of ayahuasca is regulated in Brazil, through Resolution n^o 1/2010 of the National Council for Drug Policy (Garrido and Sabino 2009).

P. viridis is commonly known as "chacrona" or "chacruna" and is morphologically similar to other species of the genus (Blackledge and Taylor 2003) and was firstly described in 1779 by Ruiz and Pavón (Aranha et al. 1991). It is represented by shrubs and grows naturally in flat and humid forest areas from the northern region of Central America to Central South America. It is most commonly found in the Amazon region of Peru and northern Bolivia (Blackledge and Taylor 2003).

Herein it is described a phytochemical study of P. viridis aiming the isolation of bioactive secondary metabolites, followed by the structural identification by means of spectroscopic methods, and evaluate the biological properties of extracts and constituents present in its leaves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PLANT MATERIAL

Leaves of P. viridis were collected in the morning, at the extensive culture of the nucleus of "União do Vegetal" located at Lagoa da Prata municipality, Minas Gerais. P. viridis cultivated in this region is originally from the State of Rondonia, Brazil, which is located at the center of Amazon region. The collected plant material was dried in a forced ventilation oven at 40 °C for two days.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

Silica gel 60 (Merck) [7g:15mL water] 0.25 mm thickness was used for thin layer chromatography (TLC) and 0.50 mm for preparative assays (PTLC), after dried at 100 ºC/ 30 minutes. The plates were revealed by means of UV light irradiation on CHROMATO-UVE, Ultra-Violet Products, Inc., and after treatment with chromogenic reactants. Chromatographic columns (CC) were performed on silica gel 60 (70-230 Mesh), with ratio sample/stationary phase of 1:40 w/w. The elution solvents were analytical grade pure or in mixtures of enhanced polarity. Medium Pressure Column Chromatography (MPLC) was performed on Isolera-One, Biotage^TM, equipped with UV detector (UV1 254 nm, UV2 280 nm) and SNAP^TM 100g column, with 50 mL/min mobile phase. The melting point of isolated compounds was determined using a Microquímica MQAPF-302 apparatus. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were obtained for solid samples dissolved in KBr [1 % (w/w)], using Spectrum One Perkin Elmer spectrometer. The 1D/2D NMR spectra were performed on Bruker AVANCE DPX-200 or DRX-400 spectrometers. Deuterated solvents are indicated for each analyze. Chemical shift assignments were recorded in ppm (δ) using tetramethylsilane (TMS) as internal reference (d_H = d_C = 0). The coupling constants (J) were registered in Hertz (Hz). Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (CG-MS) was carried out on AGILENT 7890A GC FOR 5975 series MSD, equipped with HP 5MS (30 m ×0,25 mm × 0,25 μm) column. Helium (1.4 mL/min) was used as carrier gas. A Shimadzu LC-20AD apparatus coupled to mass spectrometer Shimadzu IT-TOF, hybrid with analyzers type ion trap and TOF in sequence (LCMS-ESI-IT-TOF) was also applied in some analysis of constituents from leaves of P. viridis.

EXTRACTION AND ISOLATION OF COMPOUNDS

The air-dried leaf (362.4 g) of P. viridis was sequentially extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol through maceration at room temperature. Each extractor solvent was recovered using IKA(r) Rotary Evaporator RV 10, and the residual solvent was evaporated to dryness under vacuum, producing the EHF, ECF, EAcF and EMeF extracts.

The hexane extract (EHF, 4.3 g) was separated in two aliquots: A (2.2 g) and B (2.1 g), due to the maximum capacity of sample used in the chromatographic column (CC). The samples A and B were chromatographed separately using the equipment Isolera-One and eluted with hexane, chloroform and methanol pure or in mixtures of increasing polarity. The fractions collected from A and B were subjected to TLC and grouped in five groups in accordance with the profile similarity. All groups were subjected to silica gel CC and eluted with a hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol pure or in mixtures of increasing polarity. The group 5 was also submitted to PTLC. The groups 1-5 affording the compounds (1; a mixture of long chain hydrocarbons) (26.8 mg; eluted with hexane), (2; 24-methylene-cycloartenol) (16.2 mg; eluted hexane/ethyl acetate 97:3), (3; squalene) (4.2 mg; eluted hexane/ethyl acetate 93:7), (4 and 5; a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, respectively) (20.6 mg; eluted with hexane/ethyl acetate 88:12), and (6; triacylglycerol) (16.7 mg; eluted with hexane/ethyl acetate 86:14), respectively.

The chloroform extract (ECF, 4.1 g) was subjected to silica gel CC using as eluent chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol pure or in mixtures of increasing polarity. The fractions were grouped by means of TLC, furnishing six groups. The group 1 was submitted to successive silica gel CC affording the compound 7 (nonacosanal) (10.6 mg; eluted with hexane/chloroform 75:25). The group 2 was dissolved in acetone, furnishing compound 8 (nonacosanol) (25.4 mg) as a precipitated. The group 3 was dissolved in acetone, furnishing compound 9 (hentriacontanoic acid) (9.0 mg) as a precipitated, and the filtrated after solvent evaporation was submitted to silica gel CC, affording compound 10 (hexadecanoic acid) (3.3 mg; eluted with hexane/ethyl acetate 90:10). The group 4 was submitted to silica gel CC, affording compound 11 (heptadenoic acid) (7.8 mg; eluted with hexane/ethyl acetate 80:20). The group 5 was subjected to successive silica gel CC, affording a mixture (4.5 mg; eluted with hexane/ethyl acetate 70:30) of compounds 12 and 13, respectively identified as ursolic acid and oleanolic acid. The group 6 was submitted to silica gel, affording compound 14 (1-palmitoylglycerol) (5.5 mg; eluted with hexane/ethyl acetate 50:50).

By means of TLC the ethyl acetate extract (EAcF) was characterized as complex mixture, and due to the small quantity obtained (<50 mg), it was not subjected to phytochemical processes.

The methanol extract (EMeF, 43.6 g) was separated in two aliquots, A (23.5 g) and B (20.1 g). Aliquot A was subjected to acid-base extraction according to methodology suggested by Matos (1988), and Wagner and Bladt (1996), providing four fractions. The fraction 1 was subjected to silica gel CC, affording a solid mixture (29.1 mg; eluted with chloroform/methanol 70:30, and purified by acetone) constituted by compounds 15 and 16, respectively identified as 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-β-sitosterol and 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-stigmasterol. The fractions 2 and 3 were separately subjected to silica gel CC, and purified by means of PTLC, affording the compound 17 (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) (52.9 mg; eluted with chloroform/methanol 97:3, under atmosphere of ammonium hydroxide). The fraction 4 was submitted to successive silica gel CC, affording a solid mixture (15.7 mg; eluted with chloroform/methanol 97:3 with atmosphere of ammonium hydroxide) constituted by compounds 17 and 18, respectively identified as N,N-dimethyltryptamine and N-methyltryptamine. The aliquote B was submitted to silica gel CC, eluted with a chloroform, methanol and ammonium hydroxide pure or in mixtures of increasing polarity. The fractions were grouped by means of TLC, furnishing two groups. Group 1 was dissolved in acetone, furnishing compound 19, (methyl 4-epi-quinate) (11.2 mg) as a solid material. The group 2 was submitted to silica gel CC followed by PTLC, affording the compounds 20, (methyl heptadecanoate) (41.4 mg; eluted with chloroform), 17, (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) (19.1 mg; eluted with chloroform/methanol 97:3 under atmosphere of ammonium hydroxide), and 18, (N-methyltryptamine) (8.5 mg; eluted with chloroform/methanol 97:3 under atmosphere of ammonium hydroxide).

BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay

The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition property of substances isolated from P. viridis was performed in 96 wells microtiter plate using Ellman's spectrophotometric method modified by Rhee et al. (2001). Thus, buffer A (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8, containing 0.1 M NaCl and 0.02 M MgCl₂·6H₂O), B (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8, containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin), and C (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8) were prepared to the in vitro AChE inhibitory activity assays. The volumes of 25 mL of acetylcholine iodide (15 mM in water), 125 mL of Ellman's reagent [5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)] (3 mM in buffer A), 50 mL of buffer B, and 25 mL of sample (10 mg/mL in MeOH diluted by 10 times with buffer C, providing a final concentration of 1.0 mg/mL) were added into each well of a 96-well microtiter plate. Instead of adding the sample solution, a volume of 25 mL of buffer C was used to prepare the blank sample. The positive control was prepared under same conditions. Each assay was carried out in triplicate. The hydrolyze of substrate generate compounds containing sulfhydryl groups that reacts with the Ellman's reagent whose concentration can be colorimetric evaluated at 405 nm (Trevisan and Macedo 2003). Thus, the absorbance was measured every 60 s by eight times using an Elisa Thermoplate microplate reader. After addition of 25 mL of AChE solution (0.226 U/mL in buffer B), the absorbance was again read every 60 s, for ten times. The increase in absorbance was corrected by reaction rate variation before and after addition of the enzyme. The inhibition percentage was calculated by comparing the rates of the sample with the blank.

MTT Cell viability assay

Lines of normal and tumor cells were used to evaluate the effects of P. viridis extracts upon cell proliferation. The normal cells lines chosen BHK-21 (Baby Hamster Kidney Fibroblast Cells) and CHO (Chinese hamster ovary cell) were gifts from the Pan-American FMD Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The tumor cells lines used were B16F10 (murine melanoma) was a gift from the "Instituto Ludwig de Pesquisa sobre o Câncer" (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and 4T1 (murine tumor mammary gland) (American Type Culture Collection, Manasssas, VA). Originally, B16F10 were isolated clones from spontaneous malignant melanoma (Fidler and Kripke 1977), while 4T1 is a thioguanine resistant variant that was obtained from 410.4 without mutagenic exposure (Aslakson and Miller 1992). Both of tumor cells types are able to form a tumor mass and metastazise to lung tissue, once injected in mice.

Firstly, cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (GIBCO, Carlsbad, CA, USA) supplemented with 10% of heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) (GIBCO), 1% penicillin/streptomycin (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) at 37^oC in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂. Once confluent, the monolayer was harvested by incubation with trypsin/EDTA; ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (0.025% and 0.02 w/v, respectively). The released cell suspension (>90% of viability) were adjusted to the appropriate cell density and then seeded in 96-polystyrene-well plates. In the next day, the cells were exposed for 72 hours to increase concentrations of P. viridis extracts or DMT (20-400 μg/mL). Control cells were exposed to RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10 % of FBS added to 0.2% (v/v) DMSO (extracts and DMT vehicle).

Cell viability was measured by means of the MTT (3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-diphenytetrazoliumromide) method. In this assay, the tetrazolium compound is reduced in the intracellular medium, to formazan by mitochondrial dehydrogenase. The conversion of blue tetrazolium into purple formazan by metabolically active cells indicates the extent of cell viability. Measure cells viability was done by quantification of formazan dye using a colorimetric method (Heo et al. 1990). MTT assay and colorimetric method were used to evaluate the effects of P. viridis extracts on cell proliferation. So, after extracts or DMT exposure period, 10 μL of 5 mg/mL MTT (Sigma Chemical Co, St. Louis, MO, USA) was added onto each well and incubated at 37 °C for 4 h. The cells were then lysed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the absorbance determined at 570 nm using an ELISA reader. The results were plotted based on percentage of cell death vs. concentration (μg/mL) of the sample, using the software GraphPad Prism 5.0. A non-linear regression model (sigmoidal dose-response option) was used to determine the inhibitory concentration IC50 (i.e., 50% reduction in cell viability) for methanol and ethyl acetate extracts upon normal and tumor cells.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

From leaves of P. viridis were identified nineteen constituents: a mixture of long chain hydrocarbons (1), 24-methylene-cycloartenol (2) (De Pascual et al. 1987), squalene (3) (Valladao et al. 2010), β-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5) (Goulart et al. 1993), triacylglycerol (6) (Gunstone 1991), nonacosanal (7), nonacosanol (8) (Řezanka and Sigler 2007), hentriacontanoic acid (9), hexadecanoic acid (10), heptadenoic acid (11) (Gunstone 1991), ursolic acid (12), oleanolic acid (13) (Valadares 2009), 1-palmitoylglycerol or monopalmitin (14) (Gunstone 1991), 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-β-sitosterol (15) (Silva et al. In press), 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-stigmasterol (16) (El-Askary 2005), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (17), N-methyltryptamine (18) [40], 4-methyl-4-epi-quinate (19) (Gunstone 1991) and methyl tetradecanoate (20) (Gunstone 1991). The chemical structures of some constituents isolated from leaves of P. viridis are presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Chemical structures of some constituents isolated from leaves of P. viridis.

The compound 1 was identified as a mixture of long chain hydrocarbons. The IR spectrum of 1 showed intense absorption bands in the region of 2958 to 2850 cm^-1, 1474 to 1464 cm^-1 and a double band at 730 cm^-1. The observed profile of this spectrum suggested the aliphatic nature of 1. The ¹H NMR spectra of 1 showed hydrogen signal at δ_H 0.88 (t; J = 6.0 Hz) characteristic of methyl groups of hydrocarbons. The IR spectrum of 2 showed intense absorption bands in the region of 3403 (OH), 1640 (C=C) and 1047 cm^-1 (CO). The ¹H NMR spectra of 2 showed hydrogen signal at δ_H 0.35 (d; J = 4.17 Hz) and δ_H 0.57 (d; J = 4.11 Hz) indicating a cyclopropane ring. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed the compound 2 as 24-methylene-cycloartenol (De Pascual et al. 1987). The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of compound 3 showed signals at δ_H 5.08-5.15 and δ_C 124.31-135.12 that are characteristics of olefin compounds. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed the compound 3 as squalene (Valladao et al. 2010). In the ¹H NMR spectrum of compounds 4, 5, 15 and 16 were observed the signal at δ_H 5.2-5.3 attributed to olefin hydrogen, and a multiplet at δ_H 3.4-3.5 correspondents to hydroxylated carbon. The profile of these spectra was similar to those observed for the steroidal skeletons. In the spectra of compound 15 and 16 were observed signals at δ_H 3.60-4.58 that are characteristics of glucose hydrogen. The chemical shift assignments of signals observed in the ¹³C NMR spectra, mainly the signals around δ_C 121.72 and δ_C 140.78, and δ_C 129.30 and δ_C 138.31 (15 and 16, respectively) were attributed to olefin carbons. The presence of signals at δ_C 102.01-102.4 in ¹³C NMR spectra confirmed compounds 15 and 16 as glucosylated steroids. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed compound 4 as β-sitosterol, 5 as stigmasterol (Goulart et al. 1993), 15 as 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-β-sitosterol (Silva et al. 2016), and 16 as 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-stigmasterol (El Askary 2005).

The IR spectrum of 6 showed intense absorption bands in the region of 2928-2856 (CH), 1742 and 1720 (C=O), and 1170 cm^-1 (CO). The absorption bands at 1742, 1720, and 1170 cm^-1 indicate an ester group. The signals at δ_C 173.21 and δ_C 171.97 observed in ¹³C NMR spectra were attributed to carbonyl groups. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed compound 6 as triacylglycerol (Gunstone 1991). In the IR spectra of 7 and 8 were observed intense absorption bands in the region of 3346 (OH for compound 8), 2918-2915 (CH), 1720 (C=O for 7), and 720-730 cm^-1 (long chain). The absorption bands in the regions of 3346 cm^-1 indicated 8 as an alcohol, and at 1720 cm^-1 indicated 7 as an aldehyde. The ¹H NMR and ¹³C spectra of compound 7 showed signals at δ_H 9.7 (t; J = 1.6 Hz) and at δ_C 202.85 which are characteristics of aldehyde. The spectral data compared with the literature confirmed compound 7 as being nonacosanal (Řezanka and Sigler 2007). The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of compound 8 showed signals at δ_H 3.66 (t; J = 6.5 Hz) and δ_C 63.11 that are characteristics of alcohol. The spectral data confirmed the compound 8 as nonacosanol. For compounds 9, 10 and 11 were observed signals at δ_H 0.88 (t; J = 6.3 Hz) correspondent to methyl groups, and at δ_H 1.60-1.73 and δ_H 2.35 (t; J = 7.4 Hz) that are typical of carbon β and α from carboxylic acid, respectively. The presence of signals at δ_C 14.12-14.13 (methyl group) and at δ_C 176.50-177.90 (carboxyl group) contributed to identification of these compounds as carboxylic acids (Gunstone 1991). The spectral data confirmed compound 9, 10 and 11 as hentriacontanoic, hexadecanoic and heptadenoic acids respectively. In the ¹H NMR spectra of compound 12 and 13 were observed signals at δ_H 0.70-2.05 which are characteristics of triterpenes, and the signals at δ_H 5.25-5.28 (t; J = 3.8 Hz), that are attributed to hydrogen atoms of double bound commonly found in ursane and oleanane skeleton. The signals at δ_C16.93 and δ_C 21.17 confirmed the structure of ursane triterpene for 12, and at δ_C 33.07 and δ_C 23.63 the structure of oleanane triterpene for 13. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed compounds 12 as ursolic acid, and 13 as oleanolic acid (Valadares 2009). In the IR spectrum of 14 were observed intense absorption bands at 3472 (OH), 2928-2852 (CH), 1742 (C=O), and at 722 cm^-1 (long chain). In the ¹H NMR spectra of compound 14 the signals at δ_H 4,13-4,17 (dd; J = 11,6 and 6,1 Hz) and 4,19-4,23 (dd; J = 11,6 and 4,6 Hz) were attributed to hydrogen atoms of hydroxylated carbon (C1). In the ¹³C NMR spectra of constituent 14, were attributed the signals at δ_C 174.37 to carbonyl from ester, and at δ_C 65.19 and 63.36 to hydroxylated carbon atom. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed compound 14 as 1-palmitoylglycerol (Goulart et al. 1993). The absorption band at 3500-3400 cm^-1 observed in the IR spectra of 17 and 18 indicate the presence of NH from indole ring and these compounds as being alkaloids. The ¹H NMR and ¹³C spectra of compound 17 showed signals at δ_H 6.92-7.09, δ_H 7.29 (d; J = 8.0 Hz) and 7.49 (d; J = 8.0 Hz), and δ_C 112.25 and 138.15 which are characteristic of indole ring. The molecular formula of 17 was established as C₁₂H₁₆N₂ on the basis of the molecular ion at m/z 189.1359 [M+H] (calcd 189.1386) obtained in the LC/MS-TOF. The spectral data compared with the literature confirmed compound 17 as being the N,N-dimethyltryptamine (Gaujac et al. 2013). By means of LCMS-ESI-IT-TOF data, the compound 18 was identified as N-methyltryptamine. Based on the molecular ion at m/z 175.1214 [M+H], the molecular formula of 18 was determined as C₁₁H₁₄N₂ (calcd 175.1229). The IR spectrum of 19 showed absorption bands at 3446, 3408 and 3366, cm^-1 (OH), 2924, 2958 cm^-1, 1436 and 1370 cm^-1 (CH), 1144 cm^-1 and 1118-1078 cm^-1 (C-O). The absorption band at 1736 cm^-1 indicates an ester group. In the ¹H NMR spectrum of 19 were observed the signals at δ_H 1.66-1.71 (dd, 1H, H2eq, J = 13.7 and 5.1 Hz) and at δ_H 1.81-1,85 (dd, 1H, H6eq, J = 13.4 and 2.9 Hz) and a multiplet at δ_H 2.28-2.37, attributed to hydrogen H6ax and H2ax, a signal at δ_H 3.72-3.75 (dd, 1H, J = 5,7 and 3.0 Hz), associated to H4, a simplet at δ_H 3.77 correspondent to hydrogen atoms of methoxyl. The multiplet at δ_H 4.01-4.05 (1H) was correlated to H3 and at δ_H 4.12-4.16 (1H) and attributed to H5. Based on the ¹³C NMR spectra including DEPT-135 data were classified 3 CH, 2 CH₂, 1 CH₃ and 2 non-hydrogenated carbon atoms, one being C=O (δ_H 176.12). The ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shift assignments of 19 were in accordance to the data previously published for 4-metil-epi-quinate (Armesto et al. 2006). Through the LCMS-ESI-IT-TOF the molecular formula of 19 was confirmed based on the ion of m/z 229.0687 Da (calcld. 229.0688). The IR spectrum of 20 showed intense absorption bands at 2926-2854 (CH), 1744 (C=O), and 722 cm^-1 (carbon long chain). In the ¹H NMR spectra of compound 20 were observed signals at δ_H 3.67 characteristic of hydrogen atoms of methoxyl groups, at δ_H 2.30 (t; J = 7.5 Hz) attributed to hydrogen atoms linked to α carbon atom, and a multiplet at δ_H 1.54-1.65 attributed to hydrogen atoms linked to β carbon atom. In the ¹³C NMR spectra of 20 were observed signals at δ_C 174.43 attributed to carbonyl from ester, δ_C 51.46 attributed to carbon atom from methoxyl group, and δ_C 14.13 characteristic of methyl group. The ¹³C NMR data compared with the literature confirmed compound 20 as methyl tetradecanoate (Gunstone 1991). The compounds 1 to 20 isolated from leaves of P. viridis were respectively identified by means of melting point, spectral data from IR, NMR and MS and comparison with the published data.

The hexane (EHF), chloroform (ECF), ethyl acetate (EAcF), and methanol (EMeF) extracts and some substances isolated from leaves of P. viridis were subjected to the following biological assays: acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity and on the viability of normal and tumor cells line.

The hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts and the constituents cycloartenol (2), DMT (17) and a mixture of β-sitosterol (4) and stigmasterol (5) isolated from the leaves of P. viridis present significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties, wherein the chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts induced inhibition effect above 90% (Table I).

TABLE I
Percent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) induced by substances isolated from leaves of P. viridis.

Sample	Inhibitiona of AChE (% ± sd)	Coefficient of variation
Hexane extract	80.34 ± 1.33	0.017
Chloroform extract	91.76 ± 2.25	0.025
Ethyl acetate extract	91.21 ± 3.95	0.043
Methanol extract	85.28 ± 2.99	0.035
Cycloartenol	49.53 ± 3.37	0.068
DMT	19.84 ± 4.83	0.244
β-sitosterol and stigmasterol	67.15 ± 4.85	0.072
Galantamine (Standard)	90.31 ± 0.45	0.005
Eserine (Standard)	70.14 ± 0.85	0.012

• a = Median of triplicate assays.
• Sd = Standard deviation.
• DMT = Dimethyltryptamine.

In accordance with Trevisan and Macedo (2003) extracts whose enzyme inhibition is greater than or equal to 50% are considered as promising candidates for future drugs. Thus, the results open perspectives for the isolation of the most active compounds from P. viridis, which may be considered as templates to obtain drug candidate compounds to be tested against the Alzheimer disease.

By means of the IC50 of the extracts upon B16F10 and 4T1 tumor cells was possible to conclude that at lower concentrations EMeF induce an incidence of cytotoxic effect higher than EAcF, for both cell strains (Figure 2). EMeF was also considered more cytotoxic than DMT that is the principal constituent in the methanol extract from leaves of P. viridis. It is possible to infer that the cytotoxicity on tumor cells promoted by EMeF involves the action of other chemical constituents than the DMT.

Figure 2
Representative curves of surviving B16F10 (A) and 4T1 cells (B) versus log of concentration (µg/mL) of EAcF, EMeFand DMT, isolated from leaves of P. viridis. The IC50 value was evaluated by means of non-linear regression (n = 5).

Figure 3
Representative curves of surviving BHK-21 (A) and CHO cells (B) versus log of concentration (µg/mL) of EAcF and EMeF extracts from leaves of P. viridis. The IC50 value was not determined in the concentration range used (n = 5).

Both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed the property to reduce tumor cell viability (B16F10 and 4T1), although do not interfere in viability of normal cells (BHK-21 and CHO). The non-cytotoxicity on normal cell strains used as reference shows a selectivity action of extracts from leaves of P. viridis. This selective cytotoxic effect is an important property to be achieved in antitumor new drugs. The present study constitutes perspectives for the investigations about how these compounds act in viability reduction of B16F10 and 4T1 tumor cells.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for financial support and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for studentship (DBSS). The authors are also thankful to Núcleo de Lagoa Dourada of União do Vegetal for providing P. Viridis sample.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Apr-Jun 2017

History

• Received
  27 June 2016
• Accepted
  14 Oct 2016