Abstract
The hexane-soluble fractions from the rhizomes or from the leaves from five Dorstenia (Moraceae) species (D. bahiensis Kl., D. bryoniifolia Mart ex. Miq., D. carautae C.C.Berg, D. cayapiaa Vell. and D. heringerii Car. & Val) were analysed by HRGC-MS (high-resolution gas chromatography - mass spectrometry). Pentacyclic triterpenes, steroids and furocoumarins were identified. HRGC-MS is shown to be a valuable tool for the analysis of terpenoidal compounds from Dostenia species. These compounds may be related to the folk utilization of Dorstenia species as antiophidicals.
Highlights
The genus Dorstenia L. (Moraceae) includes several Brazilian species which are utilized in folk medicine due to their alleged medicinal properties, mainly in skin diseases and as antiophidics[1]
It should be pointed out that the antiophidical utilization of some other Brazilian medicinal plants may be associated to the presence of widespread terpenoids with venom-inactivating action[4,5]
HRGC-MS was applied both to the analysis of crude extracts and of fractions obtained from preparative liquid chromatography (PLC)
Summary
The genus Dorstenia L. (Moraceae) includes several Brazilian species which are utilized in folk medicine due to their alleged medicinal properties, mainly in skin diseases and as antiophidics[1]. (Moraceae) includes several Brazilian species which are utilized in folk medicine due to their alleged medicinal properties, mainly in skin diseases and as antiophidics[1]. The folk indication of triterpenoid-containing plants as “antiophidics” may be explained by pharmacological action related to the relief of snake bite symptoms, such as analgesic and antiinflamatory effects. These effects may be related to the presence of triterpenoids, as these effects were found even in some triterpene-containing plants with no folk indication as antiophidics[6]
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