Journal of Plant Science and Phytopathology

ISSN: 2575-0135

Research Article

Pharmacological effects of Nephrolepis exaltata L. (fern) aqueous extract on an insect-based model (Nauphoeta cinerea)

Danrley Mariel Egidio Sanchez¹, Jocimar de Souza², Yoko Oshima-Franco² and Sandro Rostelato-Ferreira^1*

*Address for Correspondence: Sandro Rostelato-Ferreira, Biological Sciences Course, Health Sciences Institute, Paulista University (UNIP), Sorocaba, SP, Brazil, Email: sandrorostelato@yahoo.com.br

Dates: Submitted: 16 March 2018; Approved: 26 March 2018; Published: 27 March 2018

How to cite this article: Sanchez DME, de Souza J, Oshima-Franco Y, Rostelato-Ferreira S. Pharmacological effects of Nephrolepis exaltata L. (fern) aqueous extract on an insect-based model (Nauphoeta cinerea). J Plant Sci Phytopathol. 2018; 2: 031-036. DOI: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001017

Copyright License: © 2018 Sanchez DME, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords: Cockroach; Fern; Insecticidal

The American fern Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott known as ‘Bostoniensis’ is an ornamental plant considered to be safe [1], with few reports of contact dermatitis [2-4]. N. exaltata has ability to hydrolyze the acetates of phenols and aromatic-aliphatic alcohols in biotransformation reactions [5]. The plant also has been extensively studied in the metals adsortion, a process known as phytoremediation, such as arsenic [6], mercury [7], cadmium [8], and cuprum II [9]. Antimicrobial activity was reported using essential oil from aerial parts of N. exaltata which contain 2,4-Hexadien-1-ol (16.1%), nonanal (14.4%), β-Ionone (6.7%) and thymol (2.7%) [10].

The objectives of this work were: 1) to evaluate pharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of fern leaves from Nephrolepis exaltata on semi-isolated heart of cockroaches Nauphoeta cinerea, and 2) to find bioactive compounds in N. exaltata aqueous extract using thin layer chromatography. Our hypothesis was based on the influence of aqueous extract could have on cardiac beatings, since it is known that substances able in paralyzing the cardiac beatings could have insecticidal potential [11]. Research on cockroaches is becoming frequent by its easy maintenance, low cost, rapid reproduction and there are no restrictions on its use [12]. Besides, in recent years, organic agriculture has become an alternative to food consumption, since the problems that insecticides can cause to human health and the environment are already known [13]. However, the extract from Nephrolepis exaltata tested here showed a cardiotoxic effect, with a possible effect induced by a terpene, could be used as an insecticide.

Botanical material

The botanical material was commercially purchased from Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (CEAGESP), in Sorocaba city, cleaned and weight (6.4 g), oven- air dried during 24 h at 40°C, and further milled to obtain 1.11 g of powder (percentage of incoming=17.15 %).

Extracts obtention

The extract was obtained by water maceration method [14]. For each 1 g plant powder was used 20 mL distilled water, put in contact during 48 h, resulting in a 0.2% aqueous extract. Dilutions of aqueous extract in water were also performed to have 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8 extracts.

Biological material

Cockroaches (Nauphoeta cinerea) commercially purchased from Pet Shop Bicho & Cia, Sorocaba city, were put in an adequate recipient for its creation. The cockroaches had water and food (as fruits and vegetables) ad libitum.

Semi-isolated heart of Nauphoeta cinerea preparation

The cockroaches were immobilized using entomological pinheads. The lateral margins of abdomen were cut along on each side [15] and the cuticle removed using an ophtalmic scissor to expose the visceral organs which were carefully keep out using a tweezer, in order to view the vascular system. After, the insect was put under a 30X magnifying glass (Carl Zeiss, Germany) aiming to visualize the cardiac beatings. The mean beatings/minute in the first 5 minutes were considered as zero time. After the extract addition (200 µL of each), the beatings were accounted in intervals of 5, 15, and 30 minutes [16]. Experimental groups (n=4) were randomly distributed in: saline control, pure extract, extract diluted in water 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8. The obtained results were compared to pharmacological controls as acetylcholine chloride (110 µM, MW 181.66, Sigma-Aldrich) and adrenaline (110 µM, MW 183.20, Sigma-Aldrich), at the same 200 µL.

Thin layer chromatography (TLC)

Aliquots of pure extract from the pow­der of N. exaltata were spotted onto 0.3mm thick silica-gel or GF254 plates (Merck®) along with appropri­ate standards [17, 18]. The pres­ence of phytochemical groups such as phenolic acids and flavonoids was investigated by comparison with the follow­ing standards (Sigma): caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, tannic acid, rutin, quercetin, atropin, β-sitosterol, cumarin, lupeol, betulin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, all solubilized in absolute ethanol (1mg/mL). Spots were observed with or with­out chromogenic agent (UV light, 360 nm). The spot of each standard was compared with spots exhibited by N. exaltata extract. The following systems were used as described elsewhere [19]: System I: ethyl acetate (Synth®); formic acid (Anidrol®); acetic acid (Chemco®); H2O (100:11:11:24). System II: ether (Anidrol®); toluene (Synth®) (1:1). Chromogenic agentes were: A) NP/PEG: 5% (v/v) ethanolic NP (diphenylboric acid 2-aminoethyl ester, Sigma®), followed by 5% (v/v) ethanolic PEG4000 (polyethylene glycol 4000, Synth®), being visualized under UV light at 360nm. B) Sulphuric anisaldehyde (0.5 mL anisaldehyde solved in 10 mL acetic acid, 85 mL methanol and 5 mL H2SO4 concentrate), heating the plaque during 10 min at 100 °C. C) Dragendorf/KOH reagent: Dragendorf (Solution “a”–2 g bismut subnitrate in 25 mL acetic acid, complete to 100 mL distilled water. Solution “b” –40 g KI, complete to 100 mL distilled water. Mixture 10 mL solution “a” and 10 mL solution “b”, add 20 mL acetic acid, complete to 100 mL distilled water); KOH 10 % diluted in ethanol.

Statistical analysis

Results were expressed as the mean ± standard error mean (±SEM). The Student’s t-test or repeated measures ANOVA were used for statistical comparison of the data. The signifi­cance level was set at 5%.

Figure 1 expresses the percentage of heart beating (Y-axis) in function of counting in intervals of 5, 15 and 30 minutes (X-axis) of classic pharmacological drugs as adrenaline and acetylcholine in comparison to saline. Notice the effects sympathomimetic (increase of heart beatings) and parasympathomimetic (decrease of heart beatings) in semi-isolated heart of N. cinerea, induced by adrenaline and acetylcholine, respectively. Adrenaline is the active sympathomimetic hormone from the adrenal medulla. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, consequently stimulates the heart [20]. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter found at neuromuscular junctions, autonomic ganglia, parasympathetic effector junctions, a subset of sympathetic effector junctions, and at many sites in the central nervous system 21]. At heart, acetylcholine acts causing bradycardia due to blockade of post-junctional muscarinic receptors, whereas the slight recovery seen at 15 and 30 minutes can express the vagal stimulation [22].

Figure 2 shows the pharmacological effects of extracts in different concentrations. The heart beating blocker effect seen with aqueous and diluted 1:1 and 1:2 extracts can be exploited for insecticidal use of the fern N. exaltata, which is among the most popular ornamental ferns [23].

Diluted 1:4 N. exaltata extract did exhibit similar profile of acetylcholine, which means that the blocker effect is a dose-dependent pharmacological event. On the other words, other than insecticidal use can be ventured to N. exaltata, for example, as a cholinergic agonist. However, the future pharmacodynamic of N. exaltata must be studied.

Figure 3 shows the chromatographical profile of N. exaltata aqueous extract face to two systems of mobile phases and three chromogenic agents, which matched to each other, resulted in the phytogroup identification. Note that N. exaltata exhibits the same chromatographical profile of terpenes (Figure 3A, 3B) but does not as flavonoids (Figure 3E).

Terpenes are a diverse group of more than 30,000 lipid-soluble compounds. Terpenoids are classified according to the number of isoprene units they contain. Thus, 1 unit, hemiterpene; 2 units, monoterpenes; 3 units, sesquiterpenes; 4 units, diterpenes; 5 units, sesterpenes; 6 units, triterpenes; and 8 units, tetraterpenes [24]. Terpenes exhibit a range of toxicity which confer antimicrobial properties and a wide range of effects within the insect central nervous system, but very low toxicity to mammals [25]. Phytochemical studies must be carried out in order to identify the terpene structure in aqueous extract of N. exaltata.

Concluding, aqueous extract of fern Nephrolepis exaltata is cardiotoxic to cokroaches Nauphoeta cinerea on a dose-dependent manner. An unidentified terpene present in N. exaltata could contribute to this effect.