Purificação parcial e análise por CG/EM dos constituintes químicos presentes no extrato hexânico de Struthanthus flexicaulis

Abstract

Currently, we can easily find the most diverse informations about a particular medicinal plant, but these informations frequently lack a scientific basis, thus making its use a potential health risk. In general, the conclusions on safety and efficacy evaluations are based on popular use. Therefore, there is a need for qualified professionals to, in addition to access such information, analyze then critically to make then available in ways that are easily understood, not only for professionals but also by users of these plants. An example of one of these plants enshrined in folk medicine, but without any phytochemical study described in the literature, is Struthanthus flexicaulis, popularly known as erva-de passarinho. This plant has been used to treat numerous ailments such as fever, respiratory disorders and lung, skin rashes and sores, against leucorrhoea, bronchitis and various tumors. The analysis of the crude hexane extract of the leaves of S. flexicaulis resulted in the identification by GC/MS of 125 compounds with no previous reports in the literature for this species. The chemical compounds present in the fractions were grouped into seven chemical subdivisions, namely: alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, ketones, terpenes. “Others” were further subdivided to include epoxides, furanones and amides. Among the seven subdivisions created, what stood out most of the 15 fractions obtained from the three chromatographic columns were triterpenes. The identification of secondary metabolites in S. flexicaulis opens space for the continuation of this work in search of the biological activity of the identified substances and their applications, in view of its popular use and the fact that it is a medicinal species without previous detailed study.