Biological Characterization of an Edible Species from Brazilian Biodiversity: From Pharmacognostic Data to Ethnopharmacological Investigation

• Published in: Journal of medicinal food Vol. 21; no. 12; p. 1276
• Main Authors: Tirloni, Cleide Adriane Signor, Silva, Aniely Oliveira, Palozi, Rhanany Alan Calloi, Vasconcelos, Paulo César de Paula, Souza, Roosevelt Isaias Carvalho, Dos Santos, Ariany Carvalho, de Almeida, Valter Paes, Budel, Jane Manfron, de Souza, Lauro Mera, Gasparotto Junior, Arquimedes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Antihypertensive Agents - chemistry; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Biodiversity; Brazil; Diet; Disease Models, Animal; Ethnopharmacology; Female; Hypertension - drug therapy; Male; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sapindaceae; Brazil; hypotensive; toxicity; antioxidant; diuretic; antihypertensive; Sapindaceae
• ISSN: 1557-7600
• DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2018.0010

(A. St.-Hil.) Radlk. is a large tree belonging to family Sapindaceae and popularly known as "pitombeira" or "pitomba." Although species have relevant economic and medicinal uses in Brazil, no study has investigated its effectiveness as a diuretic, hypotensive, and antihypertensive agent. The aim of this study was to present a detailed anatomical and histochemical study for and provide important safety and efficacy parameters. After morpho-anatomical and microchemical study, a purified aqueous extract (ethanol soluble fraction obtained from [ESTE]) was obtained, and detailed phytochemical investigation was performed. Subsequently, acute oral toxicity test was performed in male and female rats. Moreover, diuretic, hypotensive, and antihypertensive effects on normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were investigated. Finally, the effects of prolonged treatment with ESTE on serum levels of nitrite, thiobarbituric acid reactive species, and nitrotyrosine were also measured in SHR. Oral treatment with ESTE did not induce acute toxic effects and did not affect urine production, blood pressure, or heart rate of normotensive and SHR. Prolonged treatment with ESTE was able to increase serum nitrite levels and significantly reduce oxidative and nitrosative stress markers in SHR. Data obtained showed that ESTE has a significant antioxidant activity without showing any clinical signs of acute toxicity. The use of this species as a diuretic, hypotensive, or antihypertensive agent should be carried out with caution, since administration in rodents did not produce renal and/or hemodynamic responses that justify this indication.