Metabolomics as a Potential Chemotaxonomical Tool: Application in the Genus Vernonia Schreb

Abstract

The taxonomic classification of the genus Vernonia Schreb is complex and, as yet, unclear. We here report the use of untargeted metabolomics approaches, followed by multivariate analyses methods and a phytochemical characterization of ten Vernonia species. Metabolic fingerprints were obtained by accurate mass measurements and used to determine the phytochemical similarities and differences between species through multivariate analyses approaches. Principal component analysis based on the relative levels of 528 metabolites, indicated that the ten species could be clustered into four groups. Thereby, V. polyanthes was the only species with presence of flavones chrysoeriol-7-O-glycuronyl, acacetin-7-O-glycuronyl and sesquiterpenes lactones piptocarphin A and piptocarphin B, while glaucolide A was detected in both V. brasiliana and V. polyanthes, separating these species from the two other species of the Vernonanthura group. Species from the Lessingianthus group were unique in showing a positive response in the foam test, suggesting the presence of saponins, which could be confirmed by metabolite annotation. V. rufogrisea showed a great variety of sesquiterpene lactones, placing this species into a separate group. Species within the Chrysolaena group were unique in accumulating clovamide. Our results of LC-MS-based profiling combined with multivariate analyses suggest that metabolomics approaches, such as untargeted LC-MS, may be potentially used as a large-scale chemotaxonomical tool, in addition to classical morphological and cytotaxonomical approaches, in order to facilitate taxonomical classifications.

Vernonanthura polyanthes leaves aqueous extract enhances doxorubicin genotoxicity in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster and presents no antifungal activity against Candida spp.

“…Some compounds may be present in one species and absent in another. It has been observed, for example, that V. polyanthes was the only species with presence of flavones chrysoeriol-7-O-glycuronyl, acacetin-7-O-glycuronyl and sesquiterpenes lactones piptocarphin A and piptocarphin B among ten Vernonia species studied by Martucci et al (2014). Glaucolide A was detected only in V. brasiliana and V. polyanthes in this same study (Martucci et al, 2014).…”

“…Due to the complexity of the Vernonia Genus, including around 1000 species (Keeley and Jones, 1979), Robinson (1999) segregated most of its South America species in 22 new genera, including Vernonathura, and after Vernonia polyanthes was combined as Vernonanthura polyanthes (Vega and Dematteis, 2010), the focus of this work. Metabolomic investigation corroborates the taxonomical classification, suggesting that Vernonia polyanthes should be considered as belonging to the Vernonanthura genus (Martucci et al, 2014).…”

“…It has been observed, for example, that V. polyanthes was the only species with presence of flavones chrysoeriol-7-O-glycuronyl, acacetin-7-O-glycuronyl and sesquiterpenes lactones piptocarphin A and piptocarphin B among ten Vernonia species studied by Martucci et al (2014). Glaucolide A was detected only in V. brasiliana and V. polyanthes in this same study (Martucci et al, 2014). Furthermore, the extraction method using methanol described by Igual et al (2013), for example, favors extraction of compounds stored in glandular trichomes, such as sesquiterpene lactones.…”

“…Moreover, the plant presents antiulcer effect (Barbastefano et al, 2007), and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities (Temponi et al, 2012). Phytochemicals studies showed that V. polyanthes presents flavonoids (flavonols and flavones), sesquiterpene lactones, chlorogenic acids and phenolic acid (protocatechuic acid) (Igual et al, 2013;Martucci et al, 2014).…”

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“…This species has shown antiulcer 9 , antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory 7 , antihypertensive 10 , and antimicrobial 11,12 activities. In addition, compounds, as 3,7-dimethoxy-5,3',4'-trihydroxy flavone, piptocarphin A, 3',4'-dimethoxyluteolin, glaucolide A, 3,5-di-O-(E)-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-O-(E)-caffeoylquinic acid, luteolin, quercetin, protocatechuic acid, quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside, apigenin and isorhamnetin, have been identified in V. polyanthes and they have been related to their medicinal properties 8,12 .…”