ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM COPAIFERA PUBIFLORA OLEORESIN AND EVALUATION OF THEIR CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL

Abstract

Purpose: The plant kingdom contributes significantly to the supply of metabolites that can be applied in the treatment of diseases that affect humans. Among plants with medicinal properties, Copaifera trees are noteworthy due to their pharmacological applications, which are historically proved by folk medicine, including their antitumor activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to isolate and identify the substances from Copaifera pubiflora oleoresin and to evaluate them against several normal and tumor cell lines, in order to assess their cytotoxic potential. Methods: The secondary metabolites were isolated through chromatographic techniques, such as Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC), Column Chromatography, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). They were identified through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy of hydrogen and carbon (¹H and ¹³C NMR). The cytotoxic potential was assessed using two colorimetric methods (XTT and SRB). Results: Seven metabolites were isolated and four of which were identified until now. The cytotoxic activity of the oleoresin, hardwickiic acid and a metabolite encoded as OCPub 6 was evaluated in vitro against MCF-10A, GM07492-A, HeLa, A549, ACP-01 and MCF-7 cell lines. Conclusion: The chromatographic techniques were efficient methods for the isolation process. Regarding the biological assessments, the oleoresin were more cytotoxic than the isolated metabolites.