Abstract
Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) D.C., Myrtaceae, known as “pedra-ume-caá”, is popularly used in the treatment of inflammation, infections, fever, flu, diabetes, and diarrhea. This study aimed to carry out a comparative study of the chemical composition of volatile oil from E. punicifolia leaves collected in Goiás and Minas Gerais, as well as to evaluate the larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti L3 larvae, the antimicrobial activity against bacteria, pathogenic fungi, and environmental, and cytotoxic activity to Balb 3T3 cells (murine fibroblasts). Volatile oils were obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry (CG/MS). A total of 60 compounds were identified, the main components found in the leaves of Goiás being Germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene and β-longipenene and in the leaves collected in Minas Gerais they were (Z)-caryophyllene, γ-cadinene, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and α-cadinol. The larvicidal effect was moderate against Ae. aegypti, with LC50 of 85.53 µg / mL for samples from Goiás and LC50 of 91.52 µg / mL for samples from Minas Gerais. Both oils showed moderate bactericidal activity against K. rhiziphyla (ATCC 9341), M. luteus (ATCC 10240), and S. aureus (ATCC 29737). The oils from Goiás (IC50 706.7 µg / mL) and Minas Gerais (IC50 160.7 µg / mL) had a lower cytotoxic concentration than the toxic action for larvae and bacteria, evidencing a safety profile and an interesting therapeutic potential, mainly concerning to volatile oil from Goiás. Therefore, the volatile oils from E. punicifolia leaves collected in Goiás and Minas Gerais that presented moderate larvicidal activity for Ae. aegypti also presented a bactericide activity and less cytotoxicity against murine fibroblasts. This is the first study of the larvicidal, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of volatile oils from E. punicifolia leaves.
Highlights
Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC, Myrtaceae, known as Pedra-ume-Caá, Myrtle, Red myrtle, Pitanga-do-campo, is found widely distributed in the Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal (Sobral, et al, 2015)
The aim of this study was to carry out a comparative study of the chemical composition of volatile oil from E. punicifolia leaves collected in Minas Gerais and Goiás, as well as to evaluate the larvicidal activity against L3 larvae of Aedes aegypti, antimicrobial activity against fungi, and bacteria, and cytotoxic activity to Balb 3T3 cells
The volatile oil from Minas Gerais showed larvicidal activity at a lower concentration (IC50 85 μg/mL) than the toxic action for fibroblasts (IC50 160.7 μg/mL). It was found as the major compounds of the volatile oil from E. punicifolia leaves collected in the Goiás the bicyclogermacrene, germacrene D, β-longipinene and δ-amorphene and collected from Minas Gerais, (Z)-caryophillene, αcadinol, γ-cadinene, and caryophyllene oxide
Summary
Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC, Myrtaceae, known as Pedra-ume-Caá, Myrtle, Red myrtle, Pitanga-do-campo, is found widely distributed in the Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal (Sobral, et al, 2015). It is a shrub with a yellow cylindrical stem with light spots, the leaves are elliptical or opposite lanceolate and petiolate, the flowers are arranged in white panicles. In the Myrtaceae family, there are several species with larvicidal potential for Aedes aegypti. Those with CL50 ≤ 50 μg/mL are considered active, such as essential oil of Psidium guajava L. Others are classified as having moderate activity, LC50 between 50 and 100 μg/mL, such as Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC., Eucalyptus nitens Maiden (Govindarajan & Benelli, 2016), Psidium guajava L. (Mendes, et al, 2017), Callistemon linearis (Schrad. & JCWendl.) Colvill ex Sweet (Sarma, et al, 2019)
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