Phytochemical composition of aerial parts and roots of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen and anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and antiglycation activities

• Published in: Protoplasma Vol. 261; no. 4; pp. 609 - 624
• Main Authors: Franco, Rodrigo Rodrigues, Franco, Rafaella Martins, Justino, Allisson Benatti, Borges, Ana Luiza Silva, Bittar, Vinícius Prado, Saito, Natieli, Saraiva, André Lopes, Júnior, Nilson Nicolau, Otoni, Wagner Campos, Espindola, Foued Salmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biological activity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Butanol; Cell Biology; Central nervous system; Chemical composition; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - chemistry; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Cytotoxicity; Dichloromethane; Ethyl acetate; Humans; Life Sciences; Mass spectroscopy; Original Article; Pfaffia; Phytochemicals; Phytochemicals - chemistry; Phytochemicals - pharmacology; Plant Components, Aerial - chemistry; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plant Sciences; Zoology; Oxidative status; Brazilian ginseng; Natural products; Alzheimer; β-ecdysone
• ISSN: 0033-183X; 1615-6102; 1615-6102
• DOI: 10.1007/s00709-023-01916-9

The
Pfaffia glomerata
, a plant popularly called Brazilian ginseng, is widely used in Brazil for the treatment of various pathologies, including those associated with the Central Nervous System. 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), a phytosteroid present in this plant, can promote adaptogenic effects in the organism, providing greater body resistance to stressors. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and the anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and antiglycation effects of extracts and fractions of aerial parts and roots of
P. glomerata
, also analyzing their possible cytotoxic effects. The fractions were obtained by partitioning methanol extracts from the aerial part and roots of
P. glomerata
with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. The samples were initially tested in anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and antiglycation assays, and the most promising samples were submitted for cytotoxicity and chromatographic analyses. Mass spectrometry and chromatography methods revealed that 20E was the main compound in the dichloromethane fractions, there being 35% more 20E in the aerial part (APD) than in the roots (RD). Added to the higher concentration of 20E, the APD fraction also presented more promising results than the RD fraction in anticholinesterase and antioxidant analyses, indicating that their effects may be related to the concentration of 20E. These same fractions showed no hemolytic effects but were cytotoxic in high concentrations. These new findings contribute to scientific information about
P. glomerata
and open more perspectives for the understanding of its therapeutic properties, allowing the association of biological activity with the presence of 20E.