Planta Medica International Open 2017; 4(S 01): S1-S202
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608544
Poster Session
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Preliminary chemical studies in Chrysobalanus icaco leaves and seeds from Panamá

L Patiño
1   Centro de Investigación de Productos Naturales y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Estafeta Universitaria 0427, Panamá, Chiriqui, Panama
,
E Villagra
1   Centro de Investigación de Productos Naturales y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Estafeta Universitaria 0427, Panamá, Chiriqui, Panama
,
J Palermo
2   UMYMFOR – Departamento de Química Orgánica – Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales – Universidad de Buenos Aires – Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2 – (1428) – Buenos Aires – Argentina, Buenos Aires, Panama
,
V de Guevara
1   Centro de Investigación de Productos Naturales y Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, Estafeta Universitaria 0427, Panamá, Chiriqui, Panama
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
24 October 2017 (online)

 

Panama has one of the highest biodiversity profiles in the world. In this context, studies in the chemistry of medicinal plants have been carried in the last fifty years. Attention has been focused on native and traditional knowledge, but still exists a lack of information about the occidental region of Panama. Chiriquí, is a province in Panama and has a wide range of climate and geographical features that make its flora and fauna unique1.

This study investigates some regional plants with medicinal uses that have no previous phytochemical and biological data in the country, starting with Chrysobalanus icaco L. (coco plum), a member of the Chrysobalanaceae family, widely distribute in America and Africa, which showed antimicrobial and hypoglycemic activity reports world wide2.

The chemical composition and biological activity of the polar and lipophilic extracts of the fresh leaves and seeds of C. icaco have been determined, through phytochemical screening, chromatographic techniques and antimicrobial test, respectively. The isolation of flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenes, diterpenes, tannins and saponins from leaves and fruits of this plant have been previously reported in the literature, with pomolic acid, glycoside myrcetin and quercetin derivates been the principal metabolites. In our study, flavonoids, cardiotonic glycosides and phenolic compounds have been identified from the methanolic extract, meanwhile; terpenes and flavonoids were detected in the hexanic one, as major secondary metabolites. From the treatment of the methanolic extract of the seed, a high content of sugar was identified.

[1] Robles V, G. R; Oliveira B, K; Villalobos S, R. (2000). Evaluación de los productos forestales no madereros en América Central. Departamento de Montes, Depósito de documentos de la FAO. Turrialba, Costa Rica.

[2] Ferreira-Machado, S; Gagliardi, R; Nunes, A; Rodrigues, M; Dantas, F; De Mattos, J; Peregrino, C; Moura, E; Caldeira-de-Araujo, A. J. Med. Plant. Res. 2014, 8, 52 – 57.