Characterization and Quantification of Compounds in the Hydroalcoholic Extract of the Leaves from<i>Terminalia catappa</i>Linn. (Combretaceae) and Their Mutagenic Activity

Abstract

Terminaliais a genus of Combretaceous plants widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Thus, the aim of this study was to quantify the majority compounds of the hydroalcoholic extract (7 : 3, v/v) of the leaves fromT. catappaby HPLC-PDA, chemically characterize by hyphenated techniques (HPLC-ESI-IT-MSn) and NMR, and evaluate its mutagenic activity by theSalmonella/microsome assay onS. typhimuriumstrains TA98, TA97a, TA100, and TA102. The quantification of analytes was performed using an external calibration standard. Punicalagin is the most abundant polyphenol found in the leaves. The presence of this compound as a mixture of anomers was confirmed using HPLC-PDA and1H and13C NMR. Mutagenic activity was observed in strains TA100 and TA97a. As the extract is a complex mixture of punicalagin, its derivatives, and several other compounds, the observed mutagenicity may be explained in part by possible synergistic interaction between the compounds present in the extract. These studies show that mutagenic activity ofT. catappain the Ames test can only be observed when measured at high concentrations. However, considering the mutagenic effects observed forT. catappa, this plant should be used cautiously for medicinal purposes.</jats:p