Abstract
The leaves of guaco (Mikania glomerata and M. laevigata ) are widely used for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis. An LC method for the
quantification of coumarin and o -coumaric acid in medicinal extracts was developed and validated for linearity, limit
of detection, accuracy, precision, as well as intra- and inter-day variations. Extracts
and isolated markers were tested in the mice allergic pneumonitis model and the histopathological
profile of the lung tissue was analysed. The values found for coumarin and o -coumaric acid in a fluid extract were 1.53 and 1.69 mg/mL, respectively, for M. glomerata , and 0.96 and 0.38 mg/mL for M. laevigata. The values found for the lyophilised aqueous extract were 0.22 and 0.11 mg/mL of
coumarin and o -coumaric acid in M. glomerata and 0.05 and 0.02 mg/mL in M. laevigata , respectively. The analysed samples from the species M. glomerata presented more coumarin and o -coumaric acid than the analogous M. laevigata species. Both coumarin and o -coumaric acid are part of the phytocomplex which is responsible for the therapeutic
activity of the guaco species. The lyophilisation process generated some alterations
in the extract, in comparison with the fresh aqueous extract, and these extracts did
not present anti-inflammatory activity. Comparing the histopathological images of
the groups tested, a haemorrhagic profile of lung tissue of animals treated with lyophilised
extract, o -coumaric acid and coumarin is observed, but not for the group treated with hydroalcoholic
extract. It is probable that some protective effect of the whole extract (lost during
the lyophilisation process) blocks the harmful effects of the isolated markers.
Key words
Coumarin - coumaric acid -
Mikania
- HPLC - allergic pneumonitis - guaco - Asteraceae - lyophilisation
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maique@univali.br
