Post-graduation in Tropical Medicine, Laboratory of Microbiology, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Natural Products, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Natural Products, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Jan 30;265:113248. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113248. Epub 2020 Aug 14.
Verbesina macrophylla (Cass.) S.F.Blake is a medicinal plant from South America, popularly known as "asa de peixe", "asa de peixe branco", "cambará branco" or "cambará guaçu", being used by traditional communities for its healing powers in the form of teas, infusions, liqueurs and extracts, for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections of the urinary and respiratory tracts, such as kidney problems, bronchitis, inflammation and fever. However, none of the ethnopharmacological properties has been scientifically evaluated.
Based on the ethnopharmacological use of the species, this study investigated the chemical composition, and for the first time acute toxicity, hemolytic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the essential oil from leaves of V. macrophylla.
The essential oil was obtained from the leaves by hydrodistillation (HD), being characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth microdilution technique in bacteria and fungi that cause infections of the respiratory and urinary tract, and toxicological safety regarding hemolytic activity on human red blood cells (hRBCs), and acute toxicity in mice. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the model carrageenan-induced peritonitis with quantification of the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the intraperitoneal fluid, and ear edema induced by croton oil. The antipyretic activity evaluated in mice with pyrexia induced by yeast.
The extraction of essential oil by hydrodistillation (HD) showed a yield of 0.33 ± 0.04%, with its composition constituted mainly by sesquiterpenes of hydrocarbons (94.00%). The essential oil demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activity, with a low rate of hemolysis in human red blood cells (hRBCs) and no clinical signs of toxicity were observed in animals after acute treatment, which suggested that the LD is greater than 5000 mg/kg; p.o. The essential oil demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity reducing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (38.83%, 72.42% and 73.52%) and IL-1β (37.70%, 75.92% and 87.71%), and ear edema by 49.53%, 85.04% and 94.39% at concentrations of 4, 40 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The antipyretic activity presented by the essential oil is statistically similar to dipyrone.
The set of results obtained, validates the main activities attributed to the traditional use of Verbesina macrophylla (Cass.) S.F.Blake. These data add industrial value to the species, considering that the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities present results similar to the drugs already used also presenting safety. The results suggest that essential oil from V. macrophylla may be used by industry for the development of drugs with natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect.
Verbesina macrophylla（Cass.）S.F.Blake 是一种来自南美洲的药用植物，俗称为“asa de peixe”、“asa de peixe branco”、“cambará branco”或“cambará guaçu”，传统社区将其用作茶、浸剂、利口酒和提取物，以治疗细菌和真菌感染的呼吸道和泌尿道疾病，如肾脏问题、支气管炎、炎症和发热。然而，其所有的民族药理学特性都尚未经过科学评估。
基于该物种的民族药理学用途，本研究调查了叶片挥发油的化学成分，以及首次评估了 Verbesina macrophylla 挥发油的急性毒性、溶血、抗菌、抗炎和退热活性。
采用水蒸气蒸馏（HD）从叶片中提取挥发油，并用气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）和气相色谱-火焰离子化检测（GC-FID）进行表征。采用肉汤微量稀释法评估抗菌活性，针对引起呼吸道和泌尿道感染的细菌和真菌进行测试，同时评估挥发油对人红细胞（hRBC）的溶血毒性和在小鼠中的急性毒性。采用角叉菜胶诱导的腹膜炎模型评估抗炎活性，并定量检测腹腔液中 TNF-α 和 IL-1β 的水平，同时还评估了 Croton oil 诱导的耳肿胀。采用酵母诱导发热的小鼠模型评估退热活性。
水蒸气蒸馏（HD）提取挥发油的产率为 0.33±0.04%，其组成主要由单萜类碳氢化合物（94.00%）组成。挥发油表现出抗菌和抗真菌活性，对人红细胞（hRBC）的溶血率较低，且急性毒性试验中在动物中未观察到临床毒性迹象，提示 LD 大于 5000mg/kg；p.o。挥发油表现出抗炎活性，可降低促炎细胞因子 TNF-α（38.83%、72.42%和 73.52%）和 IL-1β（37.70%、75.92%和 87.71%）的水平，浓度为 4、40 和 400mg/kg 时，耳肿胀分别降低 49.53%、85.04%和 94.39%。挥发油的退热活性与二吡咯酮相似。
获得的一系列结果验证了 Verbesina macrophylla（Cass.）S.F.Blake 的传统用途所赋予的主要活性。这些数据为该物种增加了工业价值，因为其抗菌、抗炎和退热活性的结果与已用于治疗的药物相似，同时也具有安全性。结果表明，Verbesina macrophylla 的挥发油可被工业界用于开发具有天然抗菌、抗炎和退热作用的药物。
