Copaifera multijuga Hayne is the main species of the genus in the Amazon region, being exploited for copaiba oil production mainly because of its therapeutic properties. The plant parts (leaves, branches, and barks) are widely used in folk medicine. However, they are little explored in terms of chemical composition. In this study, the polar extracts of leaves, branches, and barks of the species were analysed by direct infusion in ESI-MS with the aid of reference standards and MS2 fragmentation experiments. Twenty-six substances (carboxylic acids, flavonoids, condensed tannins, a diterpene and fifteen isomers of galoylquinic acids) were detected. Metabolic profiles were similar between extracts of leaves and branches, especially with the detection of galloylquinic acids and carboxylic acids. In bark extract, condensed tannins epicatechin-(4β-8)-epiafzelechin (dimer) and epicatechin-(4β-8)-epiafzelechin-(4β-8)-epiafzelechin (trimer) were detected. The PCA showed differences and similarities in the chemical composition of the copaíba mari-mari extracts. Thus, galloylquinic acids and flavonoids kaempferol, 7-O-methyl-kaempferol, quercetin-3-O-L-pentoside, and quercetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside are described for the first time in C. multijuga. The phytotherapeutic properties of teas of the plant parts of the species may be associated with the suggested polyphenols.
Keywords:
Copaifera multijuga; Copaíba; Metabolomic; Amazonia; Mass Spectrometry
