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Alcaloidic heterosides from Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil.: evaluation of the activities against dermatophytic fungus and skin cancer

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Author(s):
Juliana de Carvalho da Costa
Total Authors: 1
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:
Examining board members:
Jairo Kenupp Bastos; Denise Crispim Tavares
Advisor: Jairo Kenupp Bastos
Abstract

Solanum lycocarpum A. Saint-Hilaire (Solanaceae), commonly known as wolf apple or wolf´s fruit, is a plant native of Brazil very common in the Brazilian savanna. High concentrations of steroidal alkaloids are found in S. lycocarpum fruits, and solasonine (SS) and solamargine (SM) are the most important ones. These two alkaloids present potential antifungal and anticancer activities. Dermatophytic fungi are the most common agents responsible for superficial mycoses in humans and animals, by infecting exclusively the stratum corneum of skin, hair and nails. Skin cancer is the most frequent type corresponding to roughly 25% of all the malignant tumors registered in Brazil. A topical formulation for skin cancer treatment was developed by our research group and its stability tests are reported in this work. The S. lycocarpum fruits were collected, dried, milled and submitted to acid-base extraction furnishing a precipitate, which was solubilized in ethanol and then filtered. The heterosidic alkaloids SS and SM were isolated by using vacuum column chromatography and purified by semi-preparative HPLC. The formulation containing the alkaloidic extract stored at room temperature (27 ± 2 oC) was more stable than the ones in other conditions. Antifungal in vitro test of the alkaloidic extract, SS, SM and the aglycone (SD) were performed with Candida spp and dermatophytic fungi strains. The alkaloid SM displayed the lower inhibitory concentration. The toxicity of the alkaloidic extract, SS, SM and SD was verified in a cytotoxicicity test performed with both cultured human cells of spinocellular carcinoma (A431) and mice fibroblast cells (L929). An in vivo cytotoxicicity test was performed by inducing non-melanoma skin cancer in mice with spinocellular cells A431, in which only the animals treated with a commercial formulation Curaderm BEC 5, showed tumor reduction. There was no statistical difference between the group treated with the formulation containing the alkaloidic extract and control groups. Histological analysis confirmed that the skin cancer induced in the animals were spinocellular type. In an immunohistoquimic test, caspase-3 antibody was employed to stain the cells in apoptosis in the tumors, showing that apoptotic cells were more numerous in the group treated with the formulation Curaderm BEC 5. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/00925-6 - Evaluation of activities against dermatophyte fungi and against skin cancer of the alkaloid extract and glycoalkaloids of Solanum lycocarpum
Grantee:Juliana de Carvalho da Costa
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master