Alcaloides de Melocactus zehntneri Cactaceae: extração sustentável e atividade farmacológica

Abstract

Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) is popularly known as “coroa-de-frade” and it’s one of many plant species with therapeutic value which is threatened by human activities on their habitat. Taking into account ethnopharmacoly and chemotaxonomy the chemical constituents in M. zehntneri belong to the Cactaceae family become attractive especially regarding the isoquinoline alkaloids, which display pharmacological interest as cytotoxic molecules. It was believed that adding scientific value to the species new public policies for conservation could be developed. This work aimed to evaluate the extraction of alkaloids M. zehntneri by maceration, ultrasound (UAE), ultrasound with ionic liquid (UAE-IL) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with the goals of achieve a sustainable process and the appreciation of the Caatinga biome. Furthermore, cytotoxicity experiments were performed with different concentrations of plant fractions against C33a and HeLa, cell lines responsible for cervical carcinomas. The maceration [time (24, 48 and 72 h)], UAE [power (20, 27, 33 and 40%); time (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes) and liquid-solid ratio (1:10, 1:20, 1:40, w/v)], UAE-IL [concentration (0 mol/mL; 0.05 mol/mL; 0.1 mol/mL, 0.2 mol/mL and 0.3 mol/mL)] and SFE extraction conditions [pressure (100, 200 and 300 bar) and temperature (35, 45 and 55 ºC)] were optimizated to ensure maximum extraction efficiency. The global yield, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and spectrophotometric analysis were used as tools to select the best extraction conditions for each technique. Thus, samples obtained from the aerial parts of plant and extracted by maceration (72h), SFE (300 bar and 55 ºC), UAE (27%, 45 min and 1:10, w/v) were selected and a HPLC-UV/DAD methodology developed to compare the chromatographic profiles of these samples. In this technique, the selection of peak in the chromatogram probably corresponding to alkaloids was performed based on the spectrum area and intensity of simultaneous absorption at 254 nm and 279 nm. In this technique, selecting the peak in the chromatogram corresponding to the probable alkaloid was performed based on the spectrum area and intensity of simultaneous absorption at 254 nm and 279 nm peaks. The chromatogram results propose qualitative differences and a higher efficiency in SFE when compared with other extraction techniques; on the other hand, in maceration, UAE and UAE-IL qualitative differences were not observed. In biological activity was observed cytotoxic action against the cell line C33a in CHCl3 and BuOH fractions obtained from the aerial parts and roots; whereas this activity in cell line HeLa was only observed in CHCl3 fractions obtained from the aerial parts and roots. The application of sustainable techniques and experimental results presented in the scientific work aggregated value for the Melocactus zehntneri.