Phytochemical Constituents and Toxicity of Duguetia furfuracea Hydroalcoholic Extract in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Duguetia furfuracea is frequently used as a medicinal plant in Brazil. However, studies have evidenced its cytotoxic, bactericide, and antitumor activities. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the potential toxicity of hydroalcoholic leaves extracts of D. furfuracea (HEDF) in a Drosophila melanogaster model. Toxicity was assessed as changes in locomotor performance, mitochondrial activity, oxidative stress, MAPKs phosphorylation, and apoptosis induction after exposure to HEDF concentrations (1–50 mg/mL) for 7 days. The phytoconstituents of the plant were screened for the presence of alkaloids, tannins, xanthones, chalcones, flavonoids, aurones, and phenolic acids. Exposure of adult flies to HEDF caused mitochondrial dysfunction, overproduction of ROS, and alterations in the activity of detoxifying enzymes GST, SOD and CAT. Induction of ERK phosphorylation and PARP cleavage was also observed, indicating occurrence of HEDF-induced cell stress and apoptotic cell death. In parallel, alterations in cholinesterase activity and impairments in negative geotaxis behavior were observed. Our study draws attention to the indiscriminate use of this plant by population and suggests oxidative stress as a major mechanism underlying its toxicity.

Phytochemical Composition, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Duguetia furfuracea A. St.‐Hill

“…The chromatographic profile of HEDF demonstrated the presence of caffeic acid and rutin as major compounds (33.17 ± 0.03 mg/g and 20.05 ± 0.01 mg/g, resp.) while gallic acid (5.29 ± 0.01 mg/g) and catechin (5.31 ± 0.01 mg/g) were the least abundant [ 6 ].…”

“…Mt-OH and Ac-OEt fractions were submitted to the chromatographic analysis of reversal phase. The chemical composition of the HEDF was previously determined by our group [ 6 ] using the same procedure described in this section.…”

“…Extracts from subterranean parts of the plant displayed toxic effect to Artemia salina [ 4 ]. Our group demonstrated recently the prooxidant and insecticidal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract from leaves of D. furfuracea in Drosophila melanogaster [ 6 ]. Studies regarding antifungal and antioxidant properties of Duguetia furfuracea are scarce; thus the present work contributes to amplifying the knowledge about this species.…”

In vitro cytotoxicity of Duguetia sp extracts on Ehrlich tumor cells

“…The cytotoxic effects of Duguetia plants have been evaluated in different models (Coelho et al, 2011;Sousa et al, 2012;Silva et al, 2012;Silva et al, 2013;Rodrigues et al, 2015;Pinho et al, 2014). Silva et al (2012) have demonstrated via the lysogenic induction test (SOS-Inductest) and mouse bone marrow micronucleous assay that Duguetia furfuracea lyophilized leaf extract has cytotoxic activity.…”

“…Silva et al (2012) have demonstrated via the lysogenic induction test (SOS-Inductest) and mouse bone marrow micronucleous assay that Duguetia furfuracea lyophilized leaf extract has cytotoxic activity. The hydroalcoholic extract of D. furf uracea leaves has been s hown to cause t oxicity in Dros ophila melanogaster aft er 7 days of exposure, with a reduction of viability that was associated with increasing of oxidative stress and a reduction of antioxidant enzymes in flies (Pinho et al, 2014).…”