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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Ruscus aculeatus L. is a subshrub used in traditional medicine in different parts of the
world, namely in Europe and Iberian Peninsula [1]. According to reported folk
knowledge, the aerial parts are mainly used as diuretics and the underground parts are
used for the treatment of disorders of the urinary system and as laxative [2]. The present
work reports a comprehensive study on R. aculeatus phenolic compounds and
bioactivities, intending to contribute to the knowledge of the chemical composition of this
unexplored species. The plant material of R. aculeatus was harvested in April 2019 inside
woodlands and hedgerows, in Valpaços, Portugal. Two distinct parts were gathered, the
aerial part (cladodes or laminar stems and lateral branches) and the underground organs
(rhizomes with roots). After lyophilization, the distinct parts of the plant were further
analyzed. Hydroethanolic extracts and aqueous (infusions and decoctions) preparations
from the two mentioned parts of the plant were prepared. Phenolic compounds were
determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a diode array
detector (DAD) and mass spectrometry (MS) using the electrospray ionization interface
(ESI). Multi-resistant clinical bacterial strains were used to screen the antimicrobial
activity and the antioxidant activity was evaluated through two different in vitro assays:
inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates by thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances (TBARS) and oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay (OxHLIA). The cytotoxic
activity was assayed using MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell
lung carcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
human tumor cell lines, and also a non-tumor cell line (porcine liver primary cells, PLP2).
Nine phenolic compounds were detected in all extracts. Apigenin-C-hexoside-Cpentoside
isomer II was the major compound in aqueous extracts and, in the
hydroethanolic extract, the most abundant one was quercetin-O-deoxyhexoside-hexoside,
followed by apigenin-C-hexoside-C-pentoside isomer II. All extracts revealed
antioxidant activity and potential to inhibit some of the assessed bacteria; the aqueous
extracts of the aerial part and infusions of roots and rhizomes did not show cytotoxic
effects in a non-tumour primary cell culture. This preliminary study provides suggestions
of the biological potential associated with the empirical uses and knowledge of this
species, in particular its bioactivities.
Description
Keywords
Ruscus aculeatus L. Traditional medicine
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Rodrigues, Joana P.B.; Fernandes, Ângela; Dias, Maria Inês; Pereira, Carla; Pires, Tânia C.S.; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Carvalho, Ana Maria; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Barros, Lillian (2021). Phenolic compounds and bioactive properties of Ruscus aculeatus L.: na underexploited subshrub. In 7th Portuguese Young Chemists Meeting. ISBN 978-989-8124-31-0