Constituents from Maytenus ilicifolia leaves and bioguided fractionation for gastroprotective activity

Abstract

Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek é tradicionalmente usada no Brasil para o tratamento de úlcera gástrica. O presente trabalho relata a investigação fitoquímica de um extrato etanólico de folhas de M. ilicifolia (EEMIL) visando o isolamento de constituintes que foram usados como marcadores químicos para monitorar o fracionamento de um extrato aquoso liofilizado de folhas de M. ilicifolia (LAEMIL). De EEMIL, quatro flavonóides foram isolados, compreendendo o triglicosídeo flavônico mauritianina (1), trifolina (2), hyperina (4), e epi-catequina (5). O fracionamento de LAEMIL levou a 5 frações, fornecendo um derivado tetraglicosilado de canferol (3), além do galactitol (6). LAEMIL e suas frações foram avaliadas quanto aos efeitos sobre o volume e pH da secreção gástrica em ratos. Análise por CLAE (Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência) revelou que somente frações contendo o tri-e tetra-glicosídeos flavônicos 1 e 3 causaram aumento significativo de volume gástrico e pH, indicando que esses glicosídeos têm importante papel sob o efeito gastroprotetor de folhas de M. ilicifolia.Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek is traditionally used in Brazil for treatment of gastric ulcers. Here we report the phytochemical investigation of an ethanol extract of M. ilicifolia leaves (EEMIL) aiming at the isolation of constituents which were used as chemical markers to monitor an activity-guided fractionation of a lyophilized aqueous extract of M. ilicifolia leaves (LAEMIL). From EEMIL, four flavonoids were isolated, namely the tri-flavonoid glycosides mauritianin (1), trifolin, (2) hyperin (4), and epi-catechin (5). Fractionation of LAEMIL led to 5 fractions which afforded the tetra-glycoside kaempferol derivative (3), and galactitol (6). LAEMIL and its fractions were evaluated in rats for their effects on gastric secretion volume and pH. HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis revealed that only fractions containing the tri-and tetra-flavonoid glycosides 1 and 3 caused significant increase of gastric volume and pH, thus indicating that these glycosides play an important role on the gastroprotective effect of M.ilicifolia leaves. Keywords: Maytenus ilicifolia, flavonoid glycosides, gastroprotective activity, liquid chromatography IntroductionMaytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reissek belongs to the Celastraceae, a pantropical family. The species is popularly known as "espinheira-santa", being found in Southern Brazil, and its leaves are traditionally used to treat dispepsy and gastric ulcers.1 The antiulcerogenic activity of M. ilicifolia leaves is well documented. Its aqueous extract causes significant reduction in the number of gastric ulcers induced by both indomethacin and cold- Leite et al. 249 Vol. 21, No. 2, 2010 restraint stress in rats. This protection was similar to that observed with cimetidine, a well known histamine H 2 receptor antagonist.2-4 Investigation of the possible mechanism of action of LAEMIL showed that, as in the case of cimetidine, it antagonises histamine H 2 receptors, although othe...

Ethnopharmacology as Current Strategy in the Search of Novel Anti-Ulcerogenic Drugs: Case of a Brazilian Medicinal Plant (Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex. Reissek)

“…The plant is a small medicinal evergreen shrub that grows to a height of five meters bearing leaves and berries that resemble holly and is popularly known as "espinheira santa" (holy spine), "cancerosa", "cangorosa", "maiteno" and "espinheira divina" (divine spine) (Cordeiro et al, 2006). Maytenus ilicifolia is widely used as a traditional medicine in many countries of South America and its leaves are traditionally used as a remedy for gastrointestinal diseases, including dyspepsia and gastric ulcers (Leite et al, 2001(Leite et al, , 2010. They are found in the local commerce as capsules, powders, dried leaves, or as aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic preparations.…”

“…In a previous study, Baggio and collaborators reported the potent in vivo gastroprotective properties of a flavonoid-rich fraction separated from the leaves of Maytenus ilicifolia, Maytenus ilicifolia, containing epicatechin (3.1%) and catechin (2%) as major constituents, which was correlated with the in vitro inhibition of rabbit gastric H+,K+-ATPase activity (Baggio et al, 2007). Aiming to further the investigation on the bioactive constituents from Maytenus ilicifolia leaves, Leite et al, (2010) carried out a phytochemical investigation of an ethanol extract of Maytenus ilicifolia leaves for the isolation of compounds which were further used as chemical markers to monitorize an activity-guided fractionation of a lyophilized aqueous extract of Maytenus ilicifolia leaves. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography analyses of aqueous extract and its chromatographic fractions were carried out, aiming at establishing a correlation between gastroprotective effect and chemical composition.…”

Ação antibacteriana de Rosmarinus officinalis L. e Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. sobre bactérias orais

“…É popularmente conhecida como espinheira-santa (holy spine), cancerosa, cangorosa, maiteno e espinheira divina (divine spine) 15 . A espinheira-santa é amplamente empregada na medicina tradicional em muitos países da América do Sul, suas folhas são comumente utilizadas como remédio para doenças gastrointestinais, incluindo dispepsia e úlceras gástricas 16 . Remédios com essa planta são encontrados no comércio local, com apresentação em cápsulas, pós, folhas secas, ou como preparações aquosas ou aquoso-alcoólicas.…”

“…Remédios com essa planta são encontrados no comércio local, com apresentação em cápsulas, pós, folhas secas, ou como preparações aquosas ou aquoso-alcoólicas. Ao analisar a composição química, a comprovada presença de metabólitos fenólicos, tais como taninos condensados, flavonoides e triterpenos 16 , poderia justificar o uso de algumas espécies de Maytenus como medicamento anti-inflamatório e no combate a úlceras. Essas funções são corroboradas cientificamente e abrem espaço para a utilização dessa tintura para esses agravos.…”

“…Essas funções são corroboradas cientificamente e abrem espaço para a utilização dessa tintura para esses agravos. Quanto à atividade antiulcerogênica, destaca-se a ação de proteção semelhante à observada com a cimetidina, um reconhecido antagonista do receptor da histamina 16 . Portanto, devido às importantes atividades promovidas pelas plantas alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) e espinheira-santa (Maytenus ilicifolia Mart.…”