Comparative study of composition of methanolic extracts of the paratoid gland secretions (PGS) of Rhinella jimi (cururu toad) from northeastern Brazil: Gender, seasonality and geographic occurrence

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Barros, Elcio Daniel Sousa ; Moncao Filho, Evaldo dos Santos ; Pio, Yara Polianna Fonseca ; de Amorim, Marcelo Rodrigues ; Berlinck, Roberto G. S. ; Moura, Rita de Cassia ; Fonseca, Mariluce Goncalves ; Dantas, Clecio ; Coelho, Ronaldo Cunha ; da Silva, Guilherme Ramos ; Chaves, Mariana Helena ; Vieira Junior, Gerardo Magela

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Toxicon; v. 214, p. 10-pg., 2022-05-13.

Abstract

Toads belonging to the Bufonidae family have a pair of paratoid glands that store highly toxic a biological secretion with varied chemical composition, that act as a chemical defense against microbial infections and predators. The paratoid gland secretion (PGS) of bufonids is rich in bioactive steroids, alkaloids, proteins, bufadienolides and bufotoxins. In the present investigation we performed a systematic analysis of the chemical profile of PGS obtained from the Bufonidae toad Rhinella jimi ("Cururu" toad) collected at three different regions of Piaui state, Northeastern Brazil. Our aim was to investigate the PGS variation related to the season of animals collection, geographic distribution and gender of the animals. The methanolic extracts of PGS were analyzed by UPLC-QToF-MS/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to the data set obtained by the UPLCQToF-MS/MS analyses. Among 23 compounds identified, dehydrobufotenine, suberoyl arginine, 3-(N-sub-eroyl-argininyl) telocinobufagin, 3-(N-suberoyl-argininyl) marinobufagin, telocinobufagin, marinobufagin and 3(N-suberoyl-argininyl) bufalin were detected in all PGS. Minimal variations in the composition of paratoid secretions of R. jimi were observed related to distinct geographical and seasonal parameters. R. jimi female animals presented the most diverse chemical composition in its PGS. With this comparative study, unprecedented for the species, it was possible to observe that the secretions of the paratoid glands produced by R. jimi from different regions of the state of Piaui, at different times of the year, presented consistent chemical composition, with discrete particularities in the number and nature chemistry of its constituents. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/17721-9 - The role of Chemistry in holobiont adaptation
• Grantee: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/01229-5 - Bioactive metabolites of bacterial flora microorganisms from non-filtering marine animals
• Grantee: Marcelo Rodrigues de Amorim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/50228-8 - Biodiversity components, and their metabolic characters, of Brazilian Islands: an integrated approach
• Grantee: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/01017-0 - Multi-use instrument approved and awarded in the project 2013/50228-8, name of instrument: ultra-performance liquid chromatograph coupled with a high resolution mass spectrometer
• Grantee: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program