Phytochemical analysis of the decoction from leaves of cultivated specimens of Myracrodruon urundeuva (“aroeira-do-sertão”)

Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. Alem. [Anacardiaceae] is the scientific designation of “aroeira-do-sertão”, a tree well dispersed at the “Caatinga”, the northeastern Brazil characteristic flora. This medicinal plant is widespread through the rural population and the inner trunk bark decoction is used to treat cutaneous affections, urinary and respiratory diseases and gynecological problems [1]. Recently, “aroeira-do-sertão” has been included in the list of native species under extinction threat. In order to find a sustainable source of the plant, seedlings have been cultivated. The purpose of this work was to investigate the chemical composition of the domesticated leaves and compare it to the original trunk bark (previously studied) [2] to evaluate if a substitution could be possible. The leaf ethanolic extract was submitted to metabolite profiling by UHPLC-TOF-MS/UV-ELSD for a preliminary estimation of its chemical composition. Extract fractionation was performed by high speed counter current chromatography (HSCCC-UV). All HSCCC fractions were monitored by UHPLC-TOFMS providing a 2D LC x LC plot of the HSCCC separation. Using this approach 22 compounds were isolated: 1 cyclic polyol, 1 N-methy-proline derivative, 6 phenolic derivatives, 4 hydrolysable tannins, 7 flavonoid glycosides, 1 flavonoid and 2 roseosides (Fig. 1). The chemical structures were elucidated using 2D NMR and HRMS analyses.

Fig. 1: Structures of some compounds isolated from the leaves of cultivated M. urundeuva

Keywords: Myracrodruon urundeuva, high speed counter current chromatography.

References:

[1] Matos, FJA. Farmácias vivas: sistemas de utilização de plantas medicinais projetado para pequenas comunidades. Fortaleza: UFC, 2002.

[2] Viana GSB, Bandeira MAM, Matos FJA. Analgesic and antiinflammatory effects of chalcones isolated from Myracrodruon urundeuva allemão. Phytomed 2003; 10: 189 – 195