Chemical Composition in Species of the Genus Marcetia DC. (Melastomataceae)

Abstract

Melastomataceae has several compounds known for their biological effects and chemotaxonomic importance. Marcetia DC. (Melastomataceae) is a genus with 30 species but only three of these have been used in phytochemical studies, but without any chemotaxonomic study. Here we characterize the chemical composition of seven taxa of the genus and test the potential of these compounds as taxonomic markers and toxicity against Artemia salina Leach. Ethanol extracts were prepared, partitions were made in hexane and dichloromethane. As a result, polyphenols, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, and flavonoids were identified, with 52 compounds in the hexane fraction and 61 in the dichloromethane fraction. The chromatographic pattern revealed greater similarity between the preferred groups and distinction between species. Three species tested showed high toxicity in the assay with A. salina (LC50 for the species was 75.35 g.mL-1 for M. velutina, 10.07 g.mL-1 for M. grandiflora, and 7.31 g.mL-1 for M. macrophylla). We suggest that Marcetia constitutes a genus with a rich phytochemical profile with bioactive compounds and the set of some of the compounds seems to have taxonomic importance in the genus.