Abstract
Coumarin, o-coumaric, and kaurenoic acid are bioactive compounds usually found in the leaves
of Mikania laevigata. Genetic and environmental variations in the secondary metabolites of plants may
have implications for their biological effects. Three different accessions of M. laevigata cultivated in four sites between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn in Brazil
were evaluated aiming to present potential raw materials and discuss relationships
among these three bioactive compounds. The results revealed effects of plant accessions
and environmental factors and suggested two contrasting chemical phenotypes of M. laevigata. The first phenotype presented the highest levels of kaurenoic acid (2283 ± 316 mg/100 g)
besides lower levels of coumarin (716 ± 61 mg/100 g), which was also stimulated by
the environment and mild climate at the site nearest to the Tropic of Capricorn. The
other phenotype presented the lowest levels of kaurenoic acid (137 ± 17 mg/100 g)
besides higher levels of coumarin (1362 ± 108 mg/100 g), which was also stimulated
by the environment and tropical climate at the site nearest to the Equatorial beach.
Key words
Mikania laevigata
- Asteraceae - metabolism variability - weather variability - geographic variability
