Extracción aislamiento y purificación de alcaloides del extracto del tallo de Zaragosa (Aristolochia elegans).

Abstract

Consumption of plant species of the genus Aristolochia is related to the development of certain cancers, including nephrotic renal cancers. Two international studies have demonstrated that these species are utilized in traditional Chinese medicine. The studies published found that aristolochic acid is genotoxic and can be considered to be more potent than tobacco or ultraviolet light. In the Faculty of Sciences at the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (Higher education) a study was carried out titled 'Extraction, Isolation and Purification of alkaloids from the extract of the Aristolochia stem (Aristolochia sp.)”. The aim of this study was to obtain a standardized extract of the Aristolochia stem and identify and isolate the aristolochic acid present in the extract and subsequently determine the toxicity and average lethal doses of isolated in vitro aristolochic acid. The plant species were collected in the province of Pastaza to 16 kilometers from the city of Puyo. The sampling and preparation of the plant were carried out in such a way as to avoid damage to the material and thus not alter its phytochemical profile. The phytochemical study of the extract showed that alkaloid compounds existed in the extract. Subsequently by using thin layer chromatography it was possible to identify concentrated aristolochic acids which were subject to in vitro cytotoxicity testing in Artemia salina (shrimp brine). The cytotoxicity testing determined that the median lethal concentration (LC50) of the fraction of soluble aristolochic acids in dimethyl sulfoxide was 214.12 ppm in Artemia salina. It was thus determined that the toxicity of this compound is dangerously high, and that it is very likely that according to this data people who are consuming this plant are being exposed to the risk of irreversible damage to the renal system. It is recommended that a more advanced analysis is now carried out in order to find innovative pharmacological uses of this compound as well as to notify regional authorities so that they can alert the population to the dangers of the indiscriminate use of plants belonging to the Aristolochia genus.