Estudio fitoquímico de Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur procedente de la región de Cúcuta (Colombia)

Abstract

The main purpose of this research study is to conduct a phytochemical characterization of leaf and trichome extracts of Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur collected in the Municipality of Cucuta (Norte de Santander, Colombia). C. urens is a plant known in Cucuta as “pringamoza,” it is abundant and it is often reported as a common native weed found in tropical dry forest. Ethanolic extracts are prepared by separate maceration of 59.9 grams of leaves and 3.1 grams of trichomes, both previously treated by lipholization. Extracts were then concentrated at reduced pressure (50rpm, 150mbar, and 40°C). The results showed that the leaf’s extract yield was 34.18%. The secondary metabolites identified in C. urens were triterpenes, steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, cardiotonics, and cyanogenic glycosides. Some of these have important biological activities. It is concluded that C. urens from Norte de Santander is a plant species with great potential as a source of secondary metabolites for industrial applications and for traditional ethnobotanical medicine.