Secondary metabolites and toxic potential of the crude hydroethanolic extract of mangaba leaves - Hancornia speciosa Gomes

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants dates from approximately 10 thousand years before Christ. The therapeutic potential of these plants justifies the performance of chemical analyzes to identify bioactive compounds responsible for the improvement of diseases. In this work, the phytochemistry of mangaba leaves (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) was investigated and its toxic potential was evaluated. The leaves of the plant were collected at Unit I of UFMT/CUA, in Pontal do Araguaia (MT) and the crude extract was obtained by maceration in 70% ethanolic solution. Phytochemical analysis of the crude dry extract obtained was performed using classical colorimetric chemical reactions. The investigation of the toxic potential was carried out against Artemia salina Leach larvae, at concentrations of 15 μg.mL^-1, 50 μg.mL^-1, 100 μg.mL^-1, 500 μg.mL^-1, 600 μg.mL^-1 and 700 μg.mL^-1. The phytochemical screening of secondary metabolites indicated a strong presence of catechins, steroids, phenols, flavanones, flavononols, saponins, tannins and catechetical tannins. It was also observed the absence of a series of other secondary metabolites. The analysis of the extract against A. salina larvae, at different concentrations, revealed toxicity (LC₅₀ = 4035.1 μg.mL^-1), raising good indications of a safe use of this extract for therapeutic purposes. The results indicate the presence of interesting secondary metabolites of the class of antioxidants that can present different biological activities, in which the research group is already investigating some, in the sense of searching for new drugs obtained from plants or fruits, especially from the region of Middle Araguaia.