ABSTRACT Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Anacardiaceae, is a medicinal plant widely found in Brazil, especially in the northern region. In our previous study, the ethanolic extract from leaves of M. urundeuva showed antiviral activity against simian rotavirus SA-11. Here, the crude extract was subjected to fractionations in order to subsequently work with more concentrated and pure bioactive compounds, which were analyzed by TLC and HPLC methods to support a better understanding of their virucidal effect. The antiviral activity was evaluated using a rotavirus infection model in MA-104 cells treated with the maximum non-cytotoxic concentration of the crude extract and its fractions. Data were expressed as the percentage inhibition of viral replication calculated by the inhibition of cytopathic effect in the treated cells compared to untreated controls after 48 h of incubation. First, we conducted a fractionation, generating five fractions (F1–F5) which were submitted to antiviral assay. Then, the fraction that showed the highest virucidal effect (F3, PI = 75%) was subjected to a larger partition, yielding eighteen subfractions, which were submitted to new antiviral assays. Terpenes, flavonoids and tannins were the major secondary metabolites detected by TLC analysis in F3. SF1, a flavonoid-enriched fraction, showed the strongest in vitro activity against rotavirus (PI = 92%), preventing cytopathic effect. Chromatographic profiles were obtained by HPLC for the crude extract and SF1, the most potent subfraction. Overall, our data point to the potential anti-rotavirus activity of flavonoid-enriched fraction (SF1) of M. urundeuva leaves, corroborating the traditional use of this species to treat diarrhea and broadening our perspectives on in vivo assays in mice with SF1 isolated or associated with other fractions.

O mercado brasileiro de fitoterápicos encontra-se em crescente expansão, porém a falta de padronização e a má qualidade da matéria-prima vegetal constituem um problema crucial na produção de fitoterápicos de qualidade. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas drogas vegetais constituídas de folhas (amostras A, B, C) e tinturas (amostras D, E, F) de guaco, adquiridas no Mercado Central e em farmácias de manipulação de Belo Horizonte, respectivamente. Realizaram-se testes físicoquímicos de caracterização organoléptica, determinação de matéria estranha, teores de água e cinzas totais para as amostras de drogas vegetais e caracterização organoléptica, medidas de pH e de densidade para as amostras de tinturas. Foram obtidos os perfis cromatográficos por CCD e CLAE-FR e fez-se a quantificação da cumarina (marcador químico), por CLAE-FR. As amostras analisadas apresentaram um ou mais dos parâmetros avaliados fora dos valores preconizados pela farmacopéia brasileira, evidenciando-se a necessidade da realização do controle de qualidade de matérias-primas vegetais, para se obter medicamentos fitoterápicos de qualidade, eficientes e seguros.

The Brazilian market of herbal medicine is in increasing expansion; however, the lack of standardization and the bad quality of the plant raw materials constitute a crucial problem for the production of quality herbal medicines. In this work, herbal drugs consisting of leaves (samples A, B, C) and tinctures (samples D, E, F) of guaco purchased in the Central Market and from pharmacies in Belo Horizonte, respectively, were evaluated. Physical-chemical tests such as organoleptic characterization, determination of foreign matter, total ash and water content were performed on the samples of herbal drugs. The organoleptic characterization, measures of pH and density of the tincture samples were also determined. TLC and RP-HPLC profiles of the herbal drugs and tinctures were obtained and the quantification of coumarin (used as a marker compound) by RP HPLC was determined. The analyzed samples showed one or more of the evaluated parameters outside of the values recognized by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. This demonstrates the need for the quality control of the plant raw materials, in order to guarantee quality and safety in herbal medicine.

Adulterações da matéria-prima vegetal ocorrem comumente no mercado de fitoterápicos, sob a forma de substituições e/ou falsificações. Muitas vezes, espécies distintas são comercializadas em substituição à farmacopéica devido à dificuldade de obtenção desta, ou mesmo pelo emprego intencional de espécies de menor valor econômico que apresentem características morfológicas semelhantes. Portanto, faz-se necessária a realização de estudos que busquem identificar a constituição química das espécies de amplo uso medicinal, que são alvos de adulterações. Mikania glomerata e Mikania laevigata, conhecidas popularmente como "guaco", são comercializadas indistintamente. Buscando-se avaliar a composição química das duas espécies, realizou-se uma prospecção fitoquímica por CCD e foram obtidos os perfis cromatográficos por CLAE-FR. Fez-se a quantificação da cumarina empregando-se o mesmo método. Na prospecção fitoquímica por CCD, foi detectada, nas duas espécies, a presença de cumarina, triterpenos/esteróides e heterosídeos flavônicos. Os perfis cromatográficos, obtidos por CLAE-FR, mostraram-se semelhantes, observando-se a predominância de compostos polares. Na quantificação da cumarina, obtêve-se um teor de 0,30% para M. glomerata e 0,43% para M. laevigata, teores de acordo com o preconizado na monografia do guaco-cheiroso (mín. 0,1%). M glomerata e M. laevigata apresentaram composição química semelhante e teores de cumarina próximos, sugerindo que estas podem ser utilizadas de forma indistinta.

Adulterations of plant raw materials often occur in the marketing of herbal medicine, usually in the form of substitutions and/ or fakes. Many times, different plant species are commercialized in the place of the one recognized by the pharmacopoeia. This may occur due to the difficulties of obtaining the authentic plant material, or by an intentional use of a plant species that has less economic value but shows similar morphologic features. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out studies that can identify the chemical composition of those species of wide medicinal use, which are the targets of adulterations. Mikania glomerata and Mikania laevigata, popularly known as "guaco", are indistinctly commercialized in Brazil. A phytochemical screening by TLC was carried out to evaluate the chemical composition of both species. The RP-HPLC profiles were obtained and the quantification of coumarin was determined by the same method. A phytochemical screening has shown that coumarin, triterpenes/ steroids and flavonic heterosides are the constituents detected in both species. The RP-HPLC profiles were similar between the two species and revealed the predominance of polar compounds. In the quantification of coumarin, a content of 0.30% (w/w) was obtained for M. glomerata and 0.43% (w/w) for M. laevigata. These values are in accord with the contents (min. 0.1%, w/w) described by the monograph of "guaco-cheiroso" in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. Therefore, the results indicated similar chemical profiles for M. glomerata and M. laevigata, as well as comparable coumarin contents, thus suggesting that the species might be used indistinctly.