Phytochemical Profile of Pasture Weeds from the Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

The great diversity of plant species in pastures of the Brazilian Cerrado with distinct ecophysiological characteristics indicates the possibility of finding, in the cellular content of this flora, chemical compounds with potential for use in agriculture and human and animal health. Three steps are necessary to prove this hypothesis: phytochemical prospecting, characterization of secondary metabolites, and studies on the biological activities of these metabolites present in these plants.The chemical profile of secondary metabolites present in five species of the Brazilian Cerrado (Davilla elliptica, Remijia ferruginea, Luehea paniculata, Anacardium occidentale, and Acosmium dasycarpum) was traced in this research. These plant species were collected in pasture areas of Felício dos Santos, Minas Gerais. The samples were dried and submitted to two types of extract (ethanolic and hexanic). By using specific chemical reactions, the presence of coumarins, triterpenes/steroids, and anthracenosides was observed in the hexanic extracts, while the presence of alkaloids, triterpenes/steroids, flavonoids, tannins, reducing compounds, and anthocyanins was observed in the ethanolic extracts. The species presented diverse classes of compounds. However, triterpenes/steroids, tannins, reducing compounds and anthocyanins were found in all species, being the use of the solvent ethanol the most efficient in extracting the compounds. The species D. elliptica presented the highest number of classes of compounds. The widespread application in folk medicine justifies further studies on the biological activity of different metabolites in agriculture and health areas.

Unveiling the Biomedical Applications of Novel Coumarins Isolated From Capsicum Annuum L. Seeds by a Multivariate Extraction Technique

“…Then, the latter extracts were inspected in advance for the foundation of four phytochemical classes since their presence in the same coumarin‐containing extract can diminish the ability to isolate the target phytochemical class, coumarin. This is because the chemical principle for coumarin isolation necessitates the presence of the coumarin phytochemical class and the absence of flavonoid, alkaloid, tannin, and fixed oil classes [61] …”

Phytochemical prospection of manioc leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

“…In the tests were also detected triterpenes, compounds with potent antibacterial, antiviral, fungicidal, analgesic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity, which undergo several decarboxylations giving rise to steroids. These, in turn, also have numerous pharmacological activities highlighting the decrease in blood cholesterol levels and the decrease in the development of cardiovascular problems (RODRIGUES, 2010;COELHO 2021;RODRIGUES 2018; Coumarins are heterosides that exhibit numerous properties. Among them is the anticoagulant action of dicumarol, a substance derived from 4-hydroxy-coumarin, which was discovered during the investigation of a hemorrhagic disease in cattle fed fermented yellow clover (Melilotus officinalis Lam).…”

Phytotoxic Activity of dihydrochalcones Obtained by Bioreduction of Chalcones Promoted by the Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus lavus

“…33 As plantas invasoras de pastagens têm causado elevados prejuízos à pecuária na Amazônia. [1][2][3] Entre as principais plantas invasoras de pastagens nessa região, merecem destaque M. pudica e S. obtusifolia, as quais são extremamente agressivas ao pasto. Assim, diversos trabalhos envolvendo alelopatia e efeitos fitotóxicos de substâncias produzidas por plantas 18,[34][35][36] e microrganismos (fungos endofíticos) 37-41 frente a essas duas espécies invasoras têm sido publicados.…”

“…2 Nesse contexto, a manutenção de pastos sadios, assume aspectos relevantes, pois, a presença de plantas invasoras de pastagens tem causado elevado prejuízo, tanto de ordem econômica quanto agronômica, em razão de competirem com as espécies forrageiras e, em alguns casos, serem tóxicas para o gado. 3 Para manejar e controlar essas plantas daninhas e manter a qualidade do pasto, tem-se utilizado preferencialmente os agroquímicos, que muitas vezes favorecem o surgimento de espécies invasoras resistentes e, ainda estão associados a fatores negativos ao meio ambiente e à saúde humana e animal. 4,5 Motivados pela busca de alternativas que possam reduzir ou substituir os agroquímicos sintéticos, inúmeras pesquisas vem sendo desenvolvidas sobre alelopatia e fitotoxicidade de metabólitos secundários, para produção de bioerbicidas.…”