Metabolomics analysis applied to chemotaxonomic study of species from Vernonia sensu lato (Vernonieae)

Author(s)

Marília Elias Gallon

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2017-05-31

Examining board members

Leonardo Gobbo Neto; Hosana Maria Debonsi; Luiz Alberto Beraldo de Moraes; João Semir

• Advisor: Leonardo Gobbo Neto

Abstract

Vernonia sensu lato is one of the largest and more complex genus of the tribe Vernonineae. The tribe belongs to Asteraceae, one of the largest families of flowering plants. Vernonineae is distributed widely in tropical and subtropical regions of America, Africa and Asia and it is chemically characterized by the presence of sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids (flavones and flavonols). Over the years, several taxonomic classifications have been proposed for the genus Vernonia s.l., however there has been no consensus among the researches. According to the traditional classification, the genus Vernonia s.l. comprises more than 1000 species and it is divided into sections and subsections (sensu Baker). In a recent classification, these species have been segregated into new genera, while the genus Vernonia sensu stricto was restricted to 22 species distributed mainly in North America (sensu Robinson). In this study, species belonging to the subtribes Vernoniinea, Lepidaploinae and Rolandrinae were analysed, employing UHPLC-UV(DAD)-MS(Orbitrap), followed by multivariate analyses. Data mining was performed using unsupervised (HCA and PCA) and supervised statistical analysis (OPLS-DA). The HCA showed segregation into four main groups. Comparing the HCA with the taxonomical classifications, we observed that the groups of the dendogram were in accordance with the genera created by Robinson. The species of the genera Stenocephalum, Stilpnopappus and Rolandra (Group 1) are more related with the species of the genus Vernonanthura (Group 2), while the genera Cyrtocymura, Chrysolaena and Echinocoryne (Group 3) are chemically more similar to the genera Lessingianthus and Lepidaploa (Group 4). These findings indicate that the subtribes Vernoniinae and Lepidaploinae are paraphyletic groups. Several metabolites were identified, highlighting chlorogenic acids, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones. ). According to OPLS-DA loading plot, it was possible to determine which variables are important for the discrimination among the groups. The species of the Group 1 were characterized by the absence of 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. Group 2 was characterized by the absence of quercetin (flavonol with free OH) and by the presence of kaempherol 3-O-rutinoside. Group 3 was the only group that do not show the flavonoid 7,3?,5?-trihydroxy-4?- methoxy-3-O-glycosylflavone. The species of the Group 4, especially the species of the genus Lessingianthus, were characterized by the low prevalence of flavones. Therefore, untarget metabolomic approach associated with mutivariate analysis allowed the identification of potential chemotaxonomic markers, helping in the taxonomical classifications (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/05453-9 - Metabolomics analysis of Vernonia Schreb: aiming chemotaxonomic purposes
• Grantee: Marilia Elias Gallon
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master