Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae): A Morphoanatomical Characterization of its Inflorescences, Chemical and Toxic Potential Investigation of Its Essential Oil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21664/2238-8869.2025v14i4.7332Keywords:
volatile oil, morphology, inflorescence, Tridax procumbens L., biological activitiesAbstract
Tridax procumbens L. (Asteraceae) is a native non-endemic species with ample distribution in Brazil, predominantly in anthropic areas. In folk medicine, this plant is used in the treatment of diarrhea, reduction of bronchial secretions, antiviral, wound healing, diabetes, antiseptic, among other uses. In this context, this study performs the morphoanatomical characterization of T. procumbens inflorescences, the phytochemical study of the volatile oil of the inflorescences and biological activities such as toxicity, with the brine shrimp assay (Artemia salina), and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results showed that the terminal inflorescences have a solitary head, irradiated by involucral bracts and covered by trichomes, connected ray flowers and tubular disc of both sexes. The volatile oil had 21 chemical compounds - terpenes with the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes used as a mixture of compounds in various applications such as cosmetics, food and medicine. The oil did not show toxicity to A. salina and showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC of 250 µg.mL-1. Our study contributes to the identification of the floral morphoanatomy and the identification of the chemical composition of the volatile oil, which may be relevant for quality control in the production of medicines with raw material from the inflorescence of T. procumbens. Furthermore, the pharmacognostic knowledge of the chemical characteristics of volatile oil from T. procumbens inflorescences add important information related to aroma, spices and antioxidants, as well as their biological activities.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Osvaldo Gomes Pinto , Jakeline de Oliveira Ramos, Marcos Moreira de Sousa, Giuliana Muniz Vila Verde, Plínio Lázaro Faleiro Naves , Eliete Souza Santana
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