An experimental design approach to obtain canthinone alkaloid-enriched extracts from Simaba aff. paraensis

Abstract

The species of the genus Simaba (Simaroubaceae) are found in almost all Brazil and they are used by local population for the treatment of ulcers and malaria. The genus is characterized by the presence of quassinoids and canthinone alkaloids. There is a great interest in canthinones due to important biological activities associated with this class of alkaloids. In this study, methods were developed for obtaining enriched fractions of canthinone alkaloids from Simaba aff. paraensis using experimental factorial design analyzed by gas chromatography. Three alkaloids were detected: canthin-6-one, 4,5-dimethoxycanthin-6-one and the major 9-methoxycanthin-6-one. Within the experimental domain, factorial designs 22 helped establish the minimum amount of solvent and minimum time necessary to obtain extracts enriched in canthinone alkaloids from S. aff. paraensis barks by two extraction methods. These results represent a reduction in costs for obtaining canthinone alkaloids described for the first time in S. aff. paraensis. Keywords: Medicinal plant, β-Carboline alkaloids, Extraction process, GC-MS