Journal of Natural Remedies

Emerson B. da Silva ¹, Camila S. Chagas ², Marina P. A. Oliveira ², Alexandre L. A. Fonseca ¹, Beatriz da C. A. Alves ¹, Izilda Bagatin ², Fabio F. Perazzo ², Paulo Rosa ³, David Feder ¹, Giuliana Petri ¹, Fernando Luiz A. Fonseca ¹

Affiliations
1 Laboratorio de Analises Clínicas da, Av Principe de Gales, 821, CEP 09060-650 Santo Andre, Sao Paulo, BR
2 Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas da Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Diadema, Sao Paulo, BR
3 Departamento de Farmacologia da Farmaceuticas da UNICAMP, Campinas, Sao Paulo, BR

Abstract

Cancer is one of the pathologies that most challenge medicine, not only because of the complexity of its development, but also because of the difficulty of treatment that is not always effective. Due to the significant toxicity and adverse effects profile presented by the main chemotherapeutic agents used to treat neoplasm, there is a constant interest in the search for new drugs that may be a more effective alternative. Therefore, the search for new compounds of plant origin becomes an interesting tool for the discovery of drugs with antitumor activity. Synadenium umbellatum is a plant native to tropical Africa known as “cola-nota”, “hazel”, “cancerous”, “miraculous”, among others. The plant is used by the Brazilian population as having anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antineoplastic properties, among others. However, the literature is lacking on reports of the toxicity of Synadenium umbellatum macerate. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in different plant species, mainly in grape species (Vitis) and their seeds. Vitis vinifera is a species of grape easily found in several regions, also containing a high concentrations of phenolic compounds, including resveratrol in its fruits, leaves and seeds. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the myelotoxicity of macerate, extract and resveratrol and their antitumor activity in Balb/c mice with Ehrlich tumor. The hematological evaluation was obtained by flow cytometry and the tumors were measured using a pachymeter and the tumor masses by means of weighing. No statistically significant difference was observed between results from the control group and the treatment groups. It was concluded that macerate, crude extract and resveratrol did not demonstrate a myelotoxic effect and did not cause a decrease in tumor mass.

Keywords

Antineoplastics, Drug Toxicity, Phytotherapy.

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Flávia Bonfim Lima ¹, Beatriz da Costa Aguiar Alves ¹, David Feder ¹, Marina Cristina Peres ¹, Glaucia Luciano da Veiga ¹, Edimar Cristiano Pereira ², Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca ¹

Affiliations
1 Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Centro Universitário Saúde ABC/ Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Av, Lauro Gomes, 2000, 09060-870, Santo André, SP, BR
2 Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Prof. Artur Riedel, 275, 09972-270, Diadema, SP, BR

Abstract

The low cost added to easy access and expectation of low or no side effects make these products increasingly attractive. When a product of natural origin contains synthetic substances that are not declared in its formulation, the synthetic substance is characterized as adulteration. In order to identify and quantify adulterants in natural products, analytical methods have been developed and used as fundamental tools in the control of these products. Thus, two products of natural origin indicated for treatment of rheumatic and inflammatory diseases were analyzed to verify the presence of the co-adulterant furosemide. Co-adulterant presence in the products was tested using an Agilent® brand 1100 HPLC system with a quaternary pump, an automatic injector and a DAD detector, with a mobile phase composed of methanol/formic acid 0.2% 60/40 (v/v). HPLC-DAD indicates the presence of the undeclared furosemide compound in the original formulation of both analyzed samples. In sample A, 24 mg of furosemide per gram was found, while in sample B, 47mg per gram of product was obtained. The consumption of adulterated products may lead to risks such as drug interaction and intoxication, since active ingredients of synthetic origin are added without taking in consideration adjustments and quality of the raw material.

Keywords

Chromatography, Co-Adulterant, Furosemide, HPLC, Natural Products.

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