ESSENTIAL OIL OF Senecio brasiliensis: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IMPACT ON THE LOCOMOTION OF Drosophila melanogaster

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: The vast diversity of plant species represents a significant source of natural metabolites with potential for scientific investigation, especially in developing of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical applications. Senecio brasiliensis, commonly known as "maria-mole," is considered a toxic invasive plant and poses a serious threat to livestock, as its ingestion by cattle is associated with hepatotoxicity. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the essential oil of Senecio brasiliensis and its toxicological effects on the locomotor activity of Drosophila melanogaster. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plant was collected, identified, and registered in SisGen (AD8B684). The essential oil was extracted from the leaves and flowers using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus. Phytochemical analysis was then performed using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and locomotor behavior was assessed by startle-induced negative geotaxis assay at 24h, 48h, and 72h, at concentrations of 0.0030mg/mL, 0.030mg/mL and 0.30mg/mL of Senecio brasiliensis essential oil. RESULTS: The phytochemical analysis of the oil resulted in the characterization of 100% of its constituents, with major components including bicyclogermacrene, caryophyllene, alpha-terpinolene, germacrene D, limonene, beta-myrcene, among others. The most abundant constituents were bicyclogermacrene and germacrene D, at 23.36% and 21.58%, respectively. Upon exposure of Drosophila melanogaster to different concentrations of Senecio brasiliensis essential oil for 24h, 48h, and 72h, the performance in locomotor behavior showed no statistically significant differences compared to the control group. However, a trend of increased locomotion was observed after 24h of exposure, as the essential oil concentration increased. CONCLUSIONS: These results reinforce the potential of this species as a source of bioactive substances and pave the way for future studies exploring other pharmacological and toxicological parameters, expanding our understanding of the biological effects of this essential oil.