Background:
The genus Psychotria and Palicourea are reported as a source of alkaloids and
iridoids, which exhibit biological activities. This study aimed to evaluate antiproliferative and anticholinesterase
activities and quantification of the alkaloids of seven species among the genus found in
Mato Grosso do Sul region in Brazil.
Methods:
Concentrations of alkaloids were measured spectrophotometrically. The extracts were submitted
to antiproliferative activity against ten cell lines. The anticholinesterase activity of the extracts
was developed using brain structures of male Wistar rats: cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus
and striatum by the Ellman method.
Results:
Alkaloids from Psychotria and Palicourea species were quantified which showed values of
47.6 to 21.9 µg/g. Regarding the antiproliferative potential, Palicourea crocea demonstrated selectivity
against the 786-0 cell line (GI50: 22.87 µg/mL). Psychotria leiocarpa inhibited cell growth against
OVCAR-3 (GI50: 3.28 µg/mL), K-562 (GI50: 5.26 µg/mL), HaCaT (GI50: 27.20 µg/mL), PC-3 (GI50:
34.92 µg/mL), MCF-7 (GI50: 35.80 µg/mL) and P. capillacea showed activity against OVCAR-3 (GI50:
2.33 µg/ml) and U251 (GI50: 16.66 µg/ml). The effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibition was more effective
in the hippocampus, demonstrating inhibition for Paliourea crocea, Psychotria deflexa,
P. brachybotrya and P. leiocarpa of 70%, 57%, 50% and 40%, respectively, followed by
P. poeppigiana and P. capillacea, inhibiting 21%, compared to the control.
Conclusion:
Herein, the present work showed for the first time, anticholinesterasic and antiproliferative
activities of extracts of Palicourea and Psychotria seem to be mainly associated with the levels of
alkaloids in the leaves of these species.
Research on pharmacology and phytochemistry originating from medicinal plants has resulted in various publications highlighting the Cerrado in central-western Brazil, which has a remarkable diversity of plant species. The reserve area selected was the Cerrado stricto sensu settlement “17 April”, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. However, no ethnopharmacological review focusing on the plants present in the reserve area exists, even though the consumption of medicinal plants is a widespread practice. The aims of this study were to 1) survey and document the medicinal plants present in the reserve area; 2) provide an overview of recent ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and pharmacological studies of these species; and 3) provide insight for future studies. A literature search was conducted, and relevant information was collected from authentic resources using databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus, as well as peer reviewed articles, books and theses. Eighty-nine species belonging to 39 different families were found; the most abundant were Fabaceae (n = 13), Myrtaceae (n = 7), Rubiaceae (n = 7) and Bignoniaceae (n = 5). In terms of it empirical use, the most utilized parts were leaves (41%), bark (22%) and roots (15%). The most widespread traditional use, according to the literature review of the following plants involves the treatment of gastro-intestinal system diseases (41 spp). Chemical studies reported a high presence of terpene, phenol, and alkaloid classes. Only three are listed in the RENISUS: Casearia sylvestris, Copaifera langsdorffii and Stryphnodendron adstringens. This study demonstrated a large number of medicinal plants in an area of the Cerrado in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Noting the importance of biodiversity for the development of new pharmacological approaches, many studies prove the empirical use of medicinal plants.
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