Caracterização fitoquímica, isolamento, atividade antioxidante e citogenotóxica do extrato etanólico e frações de folhas de Heliotropium elongatum (Lehm) I.M. Johnst.

Abstract

Heliotropium elongatum is used to treat inflammation, cough, and flu. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and evaluate the total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant and cytogenotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract (EE), and fractions of H. elongatum leaves. In the phytochemical prospection, organic acids, reducing sugars, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, steroids/triterpenes, and depsides/depsidones were detected in the EE and/or fractions Hexanic/FH, Chloroformic/FC, Ethyl Acetate/FAE, and Hydromethanolic/FHM. The highest TPC and highest antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) was observed in FHM. In FH, 16 compounds were identified by GC-MS, and Ursolic acid was isolated by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. HPLC-DAD from EE, FAE, and FHM showed characteristic wavelengths for flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, and anthraquinones. ESI-IT/MSn analysis of EE, FC, FAE, and FHM revealed alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. In Allium cepa, there was no cytotoxic effect in EE 62.5 to 1,000 µg/mL, FHM 1,000 µg/mL, and FAE 62.5 µg/mL. Genotoxicity was evidenced only in EE 500 and 1,000 µg/mL, and FHM 62.5 to 1,000 µg/mL) with the presence of MN and BN. The results confirmed compounds of medicinal interest, with antioxidant activity, and causing cytogenotoxic changes, evidencing the need for caution when using them for medicinal purposes.