Hidrodestilação assistida por enzimas, atividade antioxidante (DPPH) e antitumoral do óleo essencial de Matourea azurea

Abstract

Society has undergone demographic and epidemiological changes in recent decades, and the need for new products to address diseases related to senescence and climate change is imperative. In this context, phytochemicals derived from plant secondary metabolism play a central role in the search for new bioactive compounds. The species Matorea azurea has essential oil rich in mono- and sesquiterpenes and is widely used in traditional medicine. It has antifungal properties and activity against Leishmania amazonensis, in addition to containing molecules with potential for the flavoring market. In this context, this study aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the essential oil obtained by traditional hydrodistillation and enzyme-assisted hydrodistillation through spectrometry techniques, as well as to investigate its antioxidant and antitumor effects. For this purpose, anexperimental design was carried out to compare the effect of enzyme-assisted hydrodistillation (cellulase) at concentrations of 1%, 1.5%, and 2% on essential oil yield and chemical composition. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect (DPPH) and antitumor activity were investigated in adenocarcinoma A545 and glioma GL and C6 cell lines with the essential oil of M. azurea leaves obtained by conventional hydrodistillation. After identifying the major compounds, a DFT (Density Functional Theory) study was conducted to assist in the interpretation of the infrared spectrum and to understand the implications for the chemical reactivity of these compounds based on data generated with the frontier orbital energy values. The results were subjected to ANOVA with 95% confidence. Gas chromatography and FTIR showed that its essential oil is rich in mono- and sesquiterpenes, including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and ethers. The major compounds include mirtenal, β-copaen-4-α-ol, viridiflorol, pinocarvona, and trans-pinocarveol. The GAP HOMO-LUMO analysis revealed that the terpenes in question are stable and not highly reactive. Enzyme-assisted hydrodistillation resulted in a 32% increase at the optimal cellulase concentration (1%), with both qualitative and quantitative changes observed after this process. The inhibition of the DPPH radical was weak, with an IC50 value of 225.41 µL/mL. The essential oil of M. azurea did not show antitumor activity; however, it provided strong cytological protection against hydrogen peroxide and exhibited no cytotoxicity in healthy cell lines, motivating future research considering its inert behavior and the interesting attributes of the plant species, such as high adaptability and easy propagation.