Descreve-se, no presente trabalho, o desenvolvimento de um sensor voltamétrico altamente sensível para a oncocalixona A, utilizando-se eletrodo de carbono vítreo modificado com uma bicamada de ftalocianina tetrassulfonada de ferro(II) (FeTSPc) e tetra-(N-metil-4-piridil)-porfirina de ferro(III) (FeT 4 MPyP). O eletrodo modificado apresentou alta atividade catalítica e estabilidade em relação à redução da oncocalixona, proporcionando deslocamento anódico de ca. de 30 mV e amplificação da corrente de pico, em relação a iguais parâmetros obtidos em eletrodo de carbono vítreo não modificado. Um ampla faixa linear de resposta entre 0.005-1.2 µmol L -1 , com sensibilidade de 8.11 µA L µmol -1 e limites de detecção (LOD) e quantificação (LOQ) de 1.5 e 5 nmol L -1 foram obtidos, com o uso desse sensor.The development of a highly sensitive voltammetric sensor for oncocalyxone A using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a bilayer iron(II) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (FeTSPc) and iron(III) tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)-porphyrin (FeT 4 MPyP) is described. The modified electrode showed high catalytic activity and stability for the oncocalyxone A reduction, provoking the anodic shift of the reduction peak potentials of ca. 30 mV and presenting much higher peak currents than those obtained on the bare GC electrode. A wide linear response range between 0.005-1.2 µmol L -1 , with a sensitivity of 8.11 µA L µmol -1 and limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 1.5 and 5 nmol L -1 were obtained with this sensor.Keywords: voltammetric sensor, oncocalyxone, quinone, chemically modified electrodes, catalysis
IntroductionPlants are repositories for bioactive organic molecules. Several classes of natural compounds are pharmacologically active ingredients and serve as drugs and/or leads for drug developments. Among them, quinones, ubiquitous secondary metabolites, play essential roles, mainly in the biochemistry of energy production, serving as vital links in the electron transport. 1 They form an important class of toxic metabolites and paradoxically, can be either, potentially carcinogenic or effective anticancer agents. The cytotoxic activity of quinones can often be correlated to their chemical behavior. The striking feature of quinone chemistry is the ease reduction and therefore their ability to act as oxidizing or dehydrogenating agents, the driving force being the formation of a fully aromatic system. [2][3][4][5] Auxemma oncocalyx Taub. is a native Brazilian tree, characteristic of the xerophytic vegetation present in the northeastern region. It is commonly called "pau branco." The chemical investigation of A. oncocalyx heartwood extracts resulted in the isolation and characterization of several unusual terpenoid quinones and hydroquinones of C 16 framework. 6-9 These secondary metabolites seem to be typical of the genus and, interestingly, were isolated in a homolog series differing in their degree of oxidation, oxygenation (ether or alcohol), rearrangement and intramolecular cyclization of the terpenoid side ...