Phytochemical Study and Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Properties of Methanolic Extract from Baccharis obtusifolia.

Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides,Karla I. Galarza-Urgilés,Javier Villacis,Gina C. Ortega-Torres,Sara L. Vivanco-Jaramillo,Natalia Bailon-Moscoso

doi:10.1155/2018/8908435

Juan Carlos Romero-Benavides, Karla I. Galarza-Urgilés

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8908435

Copy DOI

Abstract

Some species of the Baccharis genus have been shown to possess important biomedical properties, including cytotoxic activity. In this study, we examined the cytotoxic effect of methanol extract from Baccharis obtusifolia (Asteraceae) in cancer cell lines of prostate (PC-3), colon (RKO), astrocytoma (D-384), and breast (MCF-7). The methanolic extract displayed the largest substantial cytotoxic effect in lines of colon cancer (RKO) and cerebral astrocytoma (D-384). Chromatographic purification of the B. obtusifolia methanolic extract led to the isolation and identification of 5,4′-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (1) and 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone (2) compounds of the flavonoid type.

Highlights

Baccharis is the largest genus in the family Asteraceae, with over 500 species distributed throughout North and South America [1]
We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of this extract on human cancer cell lines
From the methanolic extract without chlorophylls, two representative fractions were obtained: F 70-79 eluted in Hex:EtOAc 80:20, from which we isolated 80 mg of a white crystalline solid identified as sakuranetin (5,4󸀠dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone) (1), and the fraction F 4345 eluted in Hex:EtOAc 90:10, from which we isolated 11.2 mg of a yellow crystalline solid identified as 5-hydroxy7,4󸀠-dimethoxyflavone (2) (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Baccharis is the largest genus in the family Asteraceae, with over 500 species distributed throughout North and South America [1]. The largest American genus Baccharis (Asteraceae) includes about 400 species. Of these species, 20% are locally used for medical purposes or, to a lesser extent, as food or as raw material for different local industries [2]. The most prominent biomedical applications of the Baccharis obtusifolia H.B.K., commonly known as “Chilca redonda,” include the treatment of rheumatism, liver disease, wounds, and ulcers [1]. We performed a chemical composition analysis of the active phytometabolites obtained from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Baccharis obtusifolia. We evaluated the cytotoxic activity of this extract on human cancer cell lines

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion