Ethnopharmacological approaches to Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. - Exploring cardiorenal effects from the Brazilian Cerrado
Graphical abstract
Introduction
Brazil is considered one of the most diverse countries when it comes to biodiversity. Classified as the fifth largest country in the world, it is composed of nine different ecosystems with an average of 46 thousand plants species (Carvalho et al., 2017). Such biodiversity has contributed to a better acceptance and greater demand for natural products to preventing and treating diseases. However, the number of studies on the efficacy of these compounds is still low when compared to other countries (WHO, 2014).
Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. (Talinaceae), popularly known as “major gomes” and “erva gorda”, is a weedy species widely used in traditional medicine and as a food source. Considered a non-conventional food plant, T. paniculatum is a shrub species extensively distributed throughout the Brazilian territory, mainly in the Biome Cerrado. This plant is small in size (30–60 cm height), dark green colored and its leaves are quite succulent, smooth and soft textured (Dos Reis et al., 2015).
T. paniculatum leaves are extensively used by remaining healers from the region of Grande Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in the treatment of different cardiovascular disorders (Coelho et al., 2018). Moreover, the species is used in folk medicine as aphrodisiac (Widiyani, 2006), reproductive tonic (Thanamool et al., 2013), to treat gastrointestinal problems, skin infections, and wound healing (Dos Reis et al., 2015). Previous pharmacological studies have demonstrated its use as a dieting supplement, for diabetes prevention (Shimoda et al., 2001) besides its antinociceptive (Ramos et al., 2010) and estrogenic effects in ovariectomized rats (Thanamool et al., 2013). In addition, T. paniculatum leaves extract and its fractions have demonstrated outstanding activity against Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli (Dos Reis et al., 2015).
Phytochemical investigations revealed tannins, steroids, saponins and triterpenes in its chemical composition (Yulia and Razier-A, 2006). Moreover, some data revealed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol as major compounds (Dos Reis et al., 2015). Another study has shown three quinolizidine alkaloids (javaberine, javaberine A hexaacetate and javaberine B hexaacetate) isolated from T. paniculatum (Jung et al., 2006). Such compounds showed significant inhibitory effect on TNF-α production by fat cells and macrophages (Shimoda et al., 2001).
Although T. paniculatum leaf extracts is popularly used in Brazil as a cardioprotective agent, there is a lack of scientific evidence proving this ethnobotanical indication. Thus, we collected T. paniculatum leaves and conducted a morpho-anatomical characterization to provide quality control parameters. Then, an ethanol soluble fraction (ESTP) was obtained and its constituents were identified by LC-DAD-MS. In addition, an acute toxicity assay was performed in female Wistar rats in order to observe any toxic effects after one single administration. Finally, the diuretic and hypotensive potential of ESTP were investigated in male Wistar rats followed by the evaluation of its possible effects on peripheral vascular resistance.
Section snippets
Drugs and solvents
Heparin was obtained from Hipolabor (Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil), xylazine and ketamine hydrochloride from Syntec (São Paulo, SP, Brazil). Hydrochlorothiazide, acetylcholine chloride, phenylephrine, indomethacin, Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, tetraethylammonium, 4-aminopyridine, glibenclamide, NaCl, KCl, NaHCO3, MgSO4, CaCl2, KH2PO4, dextrose and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). All other reagents were obtained in analytical grade.
Plant material
Anatomical profile and histochemical characterization
In Talinum paniculatum (Fig. 1A), the leaves (Fig. 1B) present both epidermises with wavy anticlinal walls (Fig. 1C and D) and covered externally by slightly striate cuticle (Fig. 1D). Parallelocytic stomata are present on both abaxial (Fig. 1C) and adaxial (Fig. 1D) epidermises, characterizing the leaf as amphistomatic. These characteristics are common in Talinum genus (Ogburn and Edwards, 2009). However, Talinum caffrum (Thunb.) Eckl. & Zeyh. presented brachyparallelocytic stomata besides
Discussion
Talinum paniculatum is widely distributed over the Brazilian territory, mainly in the Biome Cerrado. Despite its use in traditional medicine for several purposes (Dos Reis et al., 2015; Coelho et al., 2018), detailed ethnopharmacological data on this species are still scarce. For this reason, we performed a detailed morpho-anatomical, phytochemical, toxicological, and pharmacological study of T. paniculatum leaves.
After plant collection in a Cerrado area of Mato Grosso do Sul state (Brazil) and
Conclusion
This study has shown that Talinum paniculatum presents an important diuretic effect after prolonged exposure. Apparently, these effects are involved with the activation of the SK KCa channels contributing to the increase of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate.
Author's contributions
SELT: performed experiments related to toxicity, diuresis, blood pressure, heart rate and mechanisms involved. Also data analysis, discussion and wrote the manuscript. RACP, CAST, MIS, LPG and AOS: performed experiments related to blood pressure, heart rate and mechanisms involved; data analysis and discussed the results. AAMM and ELBL: plant collection, extract preparation, and performed experiments related to the diuretic potential of the species. VPA and JMB: performed the anatomical and
Conflicts of interest
Authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.
Funding
This work was supported by grants from the Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT, Brazil, 59/300.046/2015), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil, 449464/2014-8) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brasil).
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the University Hospital of the Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados for the biochemical analyzes.
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