PHYTOCHEMICAL PROSPECTION OF THE HEXANIC EXTRACT OF POLYGONUM ACRE (POLYGONACEAE) USED IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE OF QUILOMBOLA COMMUNITIES OF REGIÃO DOS LAGOS - RJ (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Plants have been used throughout the history of humanity for various purposes, from religious rituals to the treatment of diseases. Furthermore, concern began not only with the use, but with knowledge of the identity of these substances, contributing to the development of various sectors, such as medicine, pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics industry and food industry. This study aims to relate the traditional use of the plant species Polygonum acre with its phytochemical potential and biological activity. The species used is P. acre, popularly known as Catainha or Erva-de-bicho. P. acre is popularly used in the form of tea, ointment, sitz bath and tablets, due to its anti-inflammatory action. Previous studies have identified groups of secondary metabolites in the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of P. acre, such as tannins, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, sterols and triterpenes. In this study, a sample of the plant species was subjected to hexane extraction. To identify the presence of groups of secondary metabolites, phytochemical prospecting tests, Thin Layer Chromatography (LCD) and Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) were carried out. The results of the phytochemical tests were negative for the presence of secondary metabolites: tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes, saponin heterosides and alkaloids in the hexane extract, and positive for phytosterols. While CCD detected the presence of alkaloids and GC/MS identified esters, carboxylic acid and a specific phytosteroid, known as stigma-4-en-3-one. The results reflect the complexity involved in phytochemical studies and the challenges of investigating the chemical composition of a plant species.