Caracterização das frações do látex de Hancornia Speciosa (Mangabeira) : atividade angiogênica, expressão de genes e prospecção fitoquímica

Abstract

The latex of several plants presents biotechnological potential for the development of new drugs. Among the lactiferous, the best known and commercially explored is the rubber tree, which has latex with angiogenic properties. The F1 fraction of natural rubber latex originated Regederm®, cream-gel used in the treatment of tissue lesions. However, there are reports of allergies to products based on natural rubber latex. For this reason, researchers have been looking for other latex producing lactiferous species with less allergenic potential. The mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomes), a plant native to the Cerrado and poorly explored commercially, may be an alternative, since this plant produces a latex with less amount of proteins, biocompatible and with angiogenic properties. The objective of this work was to fractionate the mangabeira latex and to evaluate the angiogenic potential of its fractions; aiming to identify which of these fractions has the potential to be used as biomaterial for medical applications, and also to determine the main secondary metabolites that constitute the angiogenic fraction. To evaluate the angiogenic potential, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was performed on fertilized chicken eggs. The data obtained from this technique were complemented by quantitative real-time PCR of genes related to tissue remodeling and by phytochemical prospection of the fraction responsible for the highest angiogenic activity of mangabeira latex. The morphometric results, obtained by the CAM assay, showed a significant increase of the vascular network in the membranes treated with the serum and F1 fractions of the mangabeira latex when compared to the neutral control and control inhibitor. In addition to the morphological evaluation of the CAMs, histological analysis were also performed, which identified a higher intensity of inflammation, conjunctival cells and angiogenesis in the CAMs submitted to the serum and F1 fractions of the mangabeira latex, confirming the morphometric data and suggesting the regenerative activity of mangabeira latex. Molecular analysis showed increased expression of the metalloprotease 2 gene, associated with angiogenesis, in CAMs treated with F1 fraction of mangabeira latex. Thus, in general, the data obtained in the present study shows that the serum fraction of mangabeira latex represents an important angiogenic agent and that this biomaterial has therapeutic potential to be explored by the medical sciences. The chemical prospection of the serum fraction, responsible for the highest angiogenic activity, showed the presence of flavonoids and tannins. Literature data highlight the pharmacological importance of these compounds to be substances that have antioxidant, antimicrobial and strong angiogenic potential, being able to act in the acceleration of the tissue regeneration process. The use of the mangabeira latex serum as a biomaterial in medical applications represents a very promising area, in particular due to its ability to naturally stimulate angiogenesis and to present biocompatibility with living systems. These results add economic value to H. speciosa, which until the present moment has been commercially explored only by the use of its fruits by the food industry.