Phytochemistry and quantification of polyphenols in extracts of the Asteraceae weeds from Diamantina, Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract

Asteraceae weeds are rich in chemicals that have biological and pharmaceutical activities. The aims of this work were to describe the phytochemistry and quantify the polyphenols in ethanol extracts from leaves of 12 species of Asteraceae weeds collected in Diamantina, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The screening of Asteraceae extracts revealed the presence of tannins, steroids, triterpenes, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. The total phenolic content was high in extracts of Lychnophora ericoides (147.97 ± 2.66), Lepidaploa lilacina (141.11 ± 1.99), and Eremanthus elaeagnus (134.61 ± 7.81) and low in extracts of Lychnophora ramosissima (32.65 ± 0.70), and Lychnophora sp. (54.03 ± 0.73). Extracts of Asteraceae weeds from Diamantina could have potential for biological studies that are searching for new pesticides and drugs.

Effects of Astilbin fromDimorphandra mollis(Fabaceae) Flowers and Brazilian Plant Extracts onSitophilus zeamais(Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…In a previous study, the extract from Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae) leaves at 15 and 20% (m.v -1 ) caused 100% mortality of the maize weevil after 15 days of contact with treated food (Bustos-Figueroa et al 2009). It has been reported that monoterpene indole alkaloids and strictosamide (alkaloid glycoside), besides being important as chemotaxonomic markers for the taxonomy of the species of this genus (Simões-Pires et al 2006;Petacci et al 2012), are the main compounds of the extracts from the leaves of the genus Psychotria (Kerber et al 2008). These compounds also present biological activities against microorganisms that cause diseases in humans and act as a stimulant of the central nervous system (Figueiredo et al 2010).…”

Turmeric powder and its derivatives from Curcuma longa rhizomes: Insecticidal effects on cabbage looper and the role of synergists

“…Plants produce toxic substances as natural defenses against pests, such as insects and pathogens12. These substances can be extracted from plants and used in the production of commercial insecticides34.…”

The genus Eupatorium L. (Asteraceae): A review of their antimicrobial activity

“…Asteraceae (Compositae) includes about 1600 genera and 25000 species (Petacci et al, 2012) belonging to 17 tribes and three subfamilies. It is considered by some authors as the largest family of eudicotyledonous angiosperm plants (Nakajima and Semir, 2001;Hattori and Nakajima, 2008).…”