Caracterização fitoquímica e atividades biológicas de Centella asiática (L.) Urban

Abstract

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban is a member of Umbelliferae family that presents pantropical distribution, being frequent around forests and as invaders of grown plants. C. asiatica contains triterpenic glycosides such as asiaticoside and madecassoside, and its acids (asiatic and madecassic). These molecules have been responsibles for several activities of its extracts, used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders, asthma, leprosy, ulcers, eczems and on wound healing. Water (EA) and crude methanolic (EBM) extracts were prepared, and the last was fractionated. The citogenetic assay (mitosis) revealed that the chromossomic number was higher than 48. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoid, heterosides, cumarins, tanins and saponis. The asiaticoside (ASA) was quantified in the extracts by HPLC; EA, EBM and hexanic fraction (FH) showed 84.31%, 70.93% and 57.28% of ASA in its composition. The determination of phenolic constituents revealed 2.86g and 0.60g/ 100g of extract for EA and EBM, respectively. The level of flavonoids for EA and EBM were 0.361mg and 0.271mg/ 100g of extract, respectively. Both EA and EBM showed antioxidant activity against DPPH radical, with IC50 = 31.25 µg/mL and IC50 = 37.16 µg/mL, respectively. The EA inhibited the activity of iPLA2 and cPLA2 in cerebelar samples in a dose-dependent manner. The extracts did not show neither leishmanicidal nor antimicrobial potencial. None toxicity was detected in the Artemia salina model. The EA presented selective antitumor activity against MDA-MB 231 (human breast cancer) and B16F1 (mouse melanoma) cell lines, with IC50 = 648.0 and 698.0 µg/mL, respectively. Creams containing EA and EBM presented wound healing activity. These results confirm and extend the knowledge about popular usage of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, and confirms the plant as a natural source of molecules with pharmacological potential.