Season affects active metabolite composition and cytotoxic effect in Phoradendron wattii methanol extracts

Abstract

Plant-derived secondary metabolites are a source of promising bioactive molecules in the search for safer more selective cancer drugs. Mexico’s flora is extremely diverse and many species, such as Phoradendron wattii, form part of traditional medicine. Compounds with notable cytotoxic activity have been isolated from P. wattii, but their concentrations may vary seasonally. The aim was to identify any variation in active metabolite concentrations in Phoradendron wattii methanol extracts in response to season. Betulin exhibited the most evident seasonal variations, being most abundant during the midsummer drought. Cytotoxic activity was highest (29 ± 1 µg/mL) in the rainy season methanol extract. Though not the most abundant metabolite in the extracts, 3α,24-dihydroxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid is apparently one of the most active among them and is a promising chemotaxonomic biomarker for this species. In summary, secondary metabolite concentrations in P. wattii methanol extracts varied in response to season, and these variations influenced cytotoxic activity.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Phoradendron wattii
• seasonal variation
• secondary metabolite
• Yucatan
• cytotoxic activity

Acknowledgement

The research reported here forms part of a project financed by the CONACyT (A1-S-10616 CB 2017-2018 CONACyT). Dr. Moo-Puc thanks Fundación IMSS A.C. for use of the Centro de Investigación en Salud Dr. Jesús Kumate Rodríguez. Thanks are also due John Lindsay-Edwards for manuscript edition and revision.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.