Combining chemometric and phytochemical tools to isolate and characterize activity of Vismia gracilis compounds against Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Vismia gracilis extracts were tested against Aedes aegypti to assess mortality and behavioural effects. The leaf hexanic extract (L-Hex) presented increased larvicidal activity with exposure period: LC₅₀ 46.48 µg/mL (24 h) and LC₅₀ 20.57 µg/mL (48 h). Eight compounds were annotated/isolated from the L-Hex active extract, 4 benzophenones and 4 anthraquinones. Considering chemometric findings, the benzophenone moiety, tested as the commercial benzophenone, promoted larval mortality (LC₅₀ 16.35 µg/mL). Both the L-Hex extract and benzophenone induced intestinal damage in larvae. Benzophenone also promoted toxicity and behavioural effects in female adults. These findings highlighted the potential use of this class of compounds for developing vector-control products.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Vismia gracilis
• chemometrics
• benzophenones
• Aedes aegypti control
• larvicidal

Acknowledgements

We dedicate this work to the botanist Professor José Elias de Paula for the legacy left to the Laboratório de Farmacognosia (UnB). We acknowledge the Brazilian Ministry of Health for funding (TED 74/2016 and 42/2017) and FAPDF (0193.001482/2016). We also acknowledge the CAPES PrInt Program (88887.364317/2019-00) for the fellowship at the University of Notre Dame (USA) and the Genetic Heritage Management Council (CGen)/IBAMA n. 06/2012-Process 02000.002272/2006-73 for granting authorization to access the plant samples.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES); Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal;Ministério da Saúde.