Potencial genotóxico e antiproliferativo dos extratos de Echinodorus grandiflorus e Sagittaria montevidensis (Alismataceae)

Abstract

In Brazil, the economic potential of the germplasm of medicinal species is a treasure to be preserved and utilized, increasingly becoming a form of alternative therapy available for the population to use. However, the indiscriminate and uncontrolled use can, cause more harm than benefits to health and it is important to understand these plants, from cellular levels and the action on living organisms. The medicinal species Echinodorus grandiflorus and Sagittaria montevidensis belong to the family Alismataceae, known respectively as leather hat and false leather hat in Brazil. For E. grandiflorus the attributed medicinal potentials are depurative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiophidic and anti-rheumatic action, were leaves are the main part of the plant used, either as a tea or infusion. S. montevidensis has no known medicinal properties and having a wide range of leaf morphologies, leading to population confused with leather hat . The present study evaluated the genotoxic and antiproliferative extracts of the dried leaves of E. grandiflorus and S. montevidensis using the cell cycle of Allium cepa, and performing analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) for the quantification of the extracts of the compounds. The test system is well suited for the analysis of genotoxicity, being validated by the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS, WHO) and can alert on the possible damages that can be caused to organisms exposed to the substances in the plants. For the test, plant material was collected in the field in Rio Grande do Sul, in the municipalities of: Santa Maria, São Sepé, Silveira Martins and Pinhal Grande and in the commercial form of E. grandiflorus, separated into two experimental groups. The extracts were prepared, by infusing dry leaves for 15 min., at two concentrations, 6g.L-1 e 24g.L-1, and two controls, water (negative control) and glyphosate 15% (positive control). The chromatographic analysis (HPLC-DAD), revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids for both species, higher concentrations of caffeic acid and flavonoid glycoside in E. grandiflorus and phenol glycoside in S. montevidensis. This study showed that extracts of E. grandiflorus and S. montevidensis show genotoxic potential and when used in high concentrations, antiproliferative potential.