Terpenic Compounds in Chilean Species of the Genus Blechnum (Pteridophyta: Blechnaceae) with Neuroprotective Potential

Abstract

The genus Blechnum L. includes a large variety of species native to central and southern continental Chile: B. arcuatum, B. asperum, B. blechnoides, B. chilense, B. corralense, B hastatum, B. magellanicum, B. microphyllum, B. mochaenum and B. penna-marina, containing compounds such as flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids, lignans, and phytoecdysteroids. In this examination, terpenic compounds of the phytoecdysone type with pharmacological potential on the central nervous system are detailed. These compounds are characterized by a C27, C28 or C29 structure that possesses a 14-alpha-hydroxy-7-en-6-one chromophore and an A/B-cis (5beta-H) ring fusion that can be extracted from the plant with organic solvents, such as hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and ethanol, is concentrated in a reduced pressure rotary evaporator and are identified by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) or a tandem ionization electrospray network detector UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Phytoecdysteroids applied in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s at concentrations between 100 and 500 µg/mL, can modulate the enzymatic inhibition of monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) and cholinesterases (AChE and BChE), with zero toxicity effects and satisfactory results in cell viability.

Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro and In Silico Biological Studies from Ferns of Genus Blechnum (Blechnaceae, Polypodiales)

“…Most of the secondary metabolites reported in B. chilense, B. hastatum, B. magellanicum and B. penna-marina species are grouped in phenolic compounds and organic acids that have also been reported in species such as B. orientale, B. novae-zelandiae, B. occidentale and B. binervatum [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. In the four study species, the compounds neophytadiene, phytol (3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol), isophytol (3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1-hexadecen-3-ol), ecdysone, 2-deoxyecdysone (2-deoxycrusteecdysone), ponasterone, shidasterone and β-sitosterol (stigmast-5-en-3-ol) have also been reported [ 35 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Flavonoid-like compounds present in species of the genus Blechnum are also shared by species of the genera Pteris and Pteridium of the family Pteridaceae [ 41 ].…”

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of the Genus Blechnum—A Narrative Review

“…Sterol metabolites have been highly isolated and identified in the family Blechnaceae [ 12 , 13 , 18 ]. They are isoprenoid derivatives with diverse composition existing as either free forms, conjugated, or steryl glycosides [ 59 ].…”

“…The phytosterol compounds were also isolated from the whole plant extracts of B. orientale [ 12 , 13 , 18 ]. These are plant-derived fatty compounds with limited structural diversity and are cholesterol-related [ 10 ].…”

“…Novel environmentally safe natural products from plants have been extensively exploited in search of alternative agents for synthetic pesticides aimed to effectively control insects [ 88 , 89 ]. Numerous medicinal plants were revealed to have significant insecticidal properties in the Blechnaceae family [ 18 , 90 ]. Monsalve et al [ 26 ] used the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-hexane (HX) fractions obtained from B. chilense to investigate it’s insecticidal potential.…”

“…Natural agents with medicinal values have been extensively investigated in plants [ 10 ], and various studies have explored the phytocompounds and bioactivities of different Blechnum species. Blechnum is a novel source of alcohols, aldehydes, carotenoids, phenolic acids, sesquiterpene [ 11 ], fatty acids [ 12 ], phytosterols [ 13 ], steroids [ 14 ], lignans [ 15 ], flavonols, flavones [ 2 , 16 ], anthocyanidins [ 17 ], and diterpenes [ 18 ]. Blechnum species have been examined for pharmacological properties such as antioxidant [ 12 ], antimicrobial [ 19 ], anticancer [ 20 ], insecticidal [ 21 ], wound healing [ 22 ], antitrematocidal [ 23 ], and anti-inflammation [ 5 ].…”