Abstract
In southern Brazil, the bottled latex of Synadenium grantii Hook f., Euphorbiaceae, is popularly used a sa treatment of all types of cancer. Similarly, Synadenium umbellatum Pax. is used in the central western region of Brazil for the same purpose and in the same manner of use. Both plants are popularly known as janaúba or leitosinha. The objectives of this study were to use pharmacobotanical analysis to verify whether these two species, which are considered to be distinct, are actually the same to determinea natomical markers; to assist in the identification and differentiation of other Euphorbia; and to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the latex in relation to HeLa and HRT-18 cells. Leaves and stems of the species were collected in Goiânia and Ponta Grossa and were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy techniques. The latex was also collected and analyzed in relation to its cytotoxic effect by employing MTT and NR techniques. The pharmacobotanical study of the specimens in both localities showed that they were the same species, namely Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns, which is the scientific nomenclature accepted and confirmed by an expert taxonomist who specializes in Euphorbia. The pharmacobotanical characteristics highlighted in this study can assist in the identification of the taxon and contribute to the control of the quality of this plant drug. The evaluation of the latex inrelation to HRT-18 cells demonstrated action after 48 h of experiment. In contrast, in relation to HeLa cells its induced cytotoxicity in all times and a dose-dependent manner. The IC50values (72 h) observed were 252.58 ± 18.51 μg/ml and 263.42 ± 15.92 μg/ml to MTT experiment and 250.18 ± 19.48 μg/ml and 430.56 ± 19.71 μg/ml to NR experiment for the HeLa and HRT-18 cells, respectively.
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Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful to the Fundação Araucária (Grant 24/2012: Programa Universal/Pesquisa Básica e Aplicada), the Postgraduate Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, and UEPG (C-LABMU laboratory) for financial support and fellowships.
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LECL (Postgraduate student) was responsible for performing the tests presented in the paper. She contributed in collecting and identifying plant samples, performed the voucher, analyzed the data, and drafted the article. KSP was responsible for anti-cancer tests. analyzing the data and drafting the article. VLPS and CRCF were responsible for scanning electron microscopy. TK contributed to running the laboratory works and preparing material for analysis. RZS donated the vegetal material and helped with laboratory support, as well as analysis of results. FLB was responsible for financial support, analysis of the data and drafting the paper. JMB was responsible for morpho-anatomical tests, analysis of the data and drafting the article.
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Luz, L.E.C., Paludo, K.S., Santos, V.L.P. et al. Cytotoxicity of latex and pharmacobotanical study of leaves and stem of Euphorbia umbellata (Janaúba). Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. 25, 344–352 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.07.005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.07.005