Cytotoxic and antioxidative potentials of ethanolic extract of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) leaves on human blood cells

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 84; pp. 614 - 621
• Main Authors: da Cunha, Francisco Assis Bezerra, Waczuk, Emily Pansera, Duarte, Antonia Eliene, Barros, Luiz Marivando, Elekofehinti, Olusola Olalekan, Matias, Edinardo Fagner Ferreira, da Costa, José Galberto Martins, Sanmi, Adekunle Adeniran, Boligon, Aline Augusti, da Rocha, João Batista Teixeira, Souza, Diogo Onofre, Posser, Thaís, Coutinho, Henrique Douglas Melo, Franco, Jeferson Luis, Kamdem, Jean Paul, Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Antioxidants - isolation & purification; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - toxicity; Biphenyl Compounds - chemistry; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Comet Assay; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; DPPH; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Ethanol - chemistry; Eugenia - chemistry; Eugenia uniflora; Humans; Internal Medicine; Leukocytes - drug effects; Leukocytes - metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Medical Education; Osmotic Fragility - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Phytotherapy; Picrates - chemistry; Pitanga; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Polyphenols; Polyphenols - isolation & purification; Polyphenols - pharmacology; Risk Assessment; Solvents - chemistry; TBARS; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Polyphenols; TBARS; DPPH; Pitanga; Eugenia uniflora; Comet assay
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.09.089

Abstract Eugenia uniflora is used in the Brazilian folk medicine to treat intestinal disorders and hypertension. However, scanty information exist on its potential toxicity to human, and little is known on its antioxidant activity in biological system. Hence, we investigated for the first time the potential toxic effects of ethanolic extract (EtOH) of E. uniflora (EEEU) in human leukocytes and erythrocytes, as well as its influence on membrane erythrocytes osmotic fragility. In addition, EEEU was chemically characterized and its antioxidant capacity was evaluated. We found that EEEU (1–480 μg/mL) caused neither cytotoxicity nor DNA damage evaluated by Trypan blue and Comet assay, respectively. EEEU (1–480 μg/mL) did not have any effect on membrane erythrocytes fragility. In addition, EEEU inhibited Fe2+ -induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain and liver homogenates, and scavenged the DPPH radical. EEEU presented some polyphenolic compounds with high content such as quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, luteolin and ellagic acid, which may be at least in part responsible for its beneficial effects. Our results suggest that consumption of EEEU at relatively higher concentrations may not result in toxicity. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies should be conducted to ascertain its safety.