Characterization and biological properties of Pouteria torta extracts: a preliminary study

Abstract

Hexane, ethanol and aqueous extracts and fractions from leaves of Pouteria torta (Mart.) Radlk (Sapotaceae), a perennial tree, widespread in the Brazilian Cerrado, were tested for cytotoxicity with the Artemia salina toxicity model. Only the aqueous crude extract and the MeCN:CHCl3 fraction of the ethanol extract presented toxicity (0.28 mg/mL and 0.27mg/mL, respectively). Lupeol acetate was isolated from the hexane extract. It is the first report of lupeol acetate from the genus Pouteria

Genus Pouteria: chemistry and biological activity

“…Usually, triterpenes has been isolated as long chain or acetate esters. Besides, long chain hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids and esters also are found mainly in species occurring in dry regions, for example, Brazilian savannah (David, 1993;Lopez, 2005;Silva, 2007). In addition, Pouteria species have been evaluated as enzymes sources to be used as synthesis reagent as well as biological activity purposes (Lott & Jackes, 2001;Solis et al, 2004;Hernandez et al, 2006).…”

“…Radlk is one of the most studied species. From hexane and dichloromethane extract of flowers and fruits (David, 1993) were isolated α-and β-amyrin (1, 2), also isolated from the leaves (Lopez, 2005), besides lupeol (3), taraxasterol (4), pseudotaraxasterol (5), cycloartenol (6), lanosterol (7), lanosta-7,24-dien (8) and erythrodiol palmitate (9a). Fatty acids, triglycerides and normal and branched hydrocarbons also were isolated from these extracts (David, 1993).…”

“…Hexane extract from leaves gave lupeol acetate (3a) (Perfeito et al, 2005) and from ethanol extract was isolated a mixture of α-and β-friedelinol (13, 14) (Lopez, 2005).…”

“…Also were identified: 1-octanol, 2,5-dimethylcyclohexanol, 3,5-dimethylcyclohexanol, dodecanal, tridecanal, tetradecanal, hexadecanal, (Che et al, 1980;David, 1993;Lopez, 2005;Perfeito et al, 2005) Genus Pouteria: Chemistry and biological activity 2-decyl-oxirane, perhydrofarnesylacetone, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (α-linolenic acid) (Sotes et al, 2006). Cyanogenic compounds were detected on leaves, fruits and seeds of the Pouteria subrotata Cronquist and P. torta (Miller et al, 2006), and in leaves of P. amygdalicarpa and P. campechiana (Thomsen & Brimer, 1997).…”

“…Several Pouteria species have been used in folk medicine to treat fever, inflammation, skin eruptions, ulcers, diabetes (Ma et al, 2004;Montenegro et al, 2006) diarrhea (Perfeito et al, 2005), nausea, vomiting, back pain, and to promote lactation on milk feeding mothers (Manosroi et al, 2006). However, there is a lack of scientific evidence for most of these claimed biological activities.…”