Phytochemical screening and analgesic profile of the lyophilized aqueous extract obtained from Chrysobalanus icaco leaves in experimental protocols

Abstract

Context: Chrysobalanus icaco L. (Chrysobalanaceae) has been used for the treatment of abdominal pain and cramps. Objective: Assess the chemical and pharmacological profile of the lyophilized aqueous extract from C. icaco leaves (AEC). Materials and methods: Chromatographic methods were used to assess compounds from AEC. Mice were treated with vehicle (control group) or AEC (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg, p.o.) (group with 7-8 mice) and the analgesic profile was assessed employing the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, hot plate tests and hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan (CG) or tumour necrosis factor-alpha. The animal motor performance was assessed using rota-rod and grip strength tests. Results:The chromatographic profile of AEC demonstrated the presence of terpenoid compounds. The acute pretreatment with AEC, at all doses, produced a significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of painful bahaviour (11.4 ± 3.6; 10.3 ± 2.8; 11.3 ± 2.2) when compared to the control group (24.7 ± 4.7) in acetic acid-induced writhing test. In the formalin test, AEC were effective in the second phase (p < 0.01) (57.2 ± 10.3; 56.3 ± 9.2; 54.7 ± 8.9) when compared to control group (121.9 ± 18.5). No response was observed in the hot plate test. The higher dose of AEC produced a significant (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) inhibitory effect on the mechanical hyperalgesia test. AEC did not affect the motor performance of the mice. Discussion: The terpenoids from AEC are known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. So, these results corroborate the experiments using the AEC in inflammatory pain protocols. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AEC act against inflammatory pain. ARTICLE HISTORY

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Crude Extracts and Fractions of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), Cajui (Anacardium microcarpum), and Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense C.): A Systematic Review

“…The concept of medicinal plants being “natural” does not guarantee benefits and safety, which makes it fundamental that a popularly known herbal medicine is widely studied with regard to its pharmacological and toxicological aspects in order to understand its adverse effects [5]. Adverse effects arise from the production of plant secondary metabolites that can be toxic to the organism, as anthraquinone, for instance, in Aloe vera can cause nephritis when the latter is ingested in a high concentration.…”

Chrysobalanus icaco L.: Fuente de fitoquímicos con potencial bioactivo contra el síndrome metabólico en México

“…C. icaco is used around the world, highlighting its medicinal and food uses and is known as cocoplum, gbafilo, fat-pork, icaco, cacco, abajeru, grageru, zicaque, icacillo, and caramio, to name a few (Araujo-Filho et al, 2016;Prance, 1972;Davies & Zibokere, 2011). Its distribution is quite extensive, due to its wide plasticity to establish itself in various plant associations and soils with high concentrations of salt.…”

“…It has great economic, nutritional, and medicinal value in Africa, as it is used to treat hypertension, fever, gastrointestinal diseases, and malaria. In Nigeria, a soup is prepared from the seed (Davies & Zibokere, 2011;Hernández, Martínez-Moreno & Castañón-Nájera, 2018;De Oliveira et al, 2013) Other uses given in Brazil are to treat chronic diarrhea, bleeding, abdominal pain, dysentery, and inflammations; for this, an infusion of the fruits, roots, stem, or leaves is prepared (Araújo-Filho et al, 2016;Alves et al, 2012). In El Salvador and Trinidad, infusions of fruits, leaves, roots, and stems are used to treat stomach ailments and bleeding (Castilho & Kaplan, 2011).…”

“…Plants of the Chrysobalanaceae family have been used in traditional medicine in some countries; notably, Mexico and Brazil, where it is used to treat various diseases, such as leucorrhoea, bleeding, hypoglycemic, diabetes, and antiangiogenic (Alves, Satiro & Perrelli, 2012;Araújo-Filho et al, 2016;Carnevale, Pilon, Da Silva & Castro-Gamboa, 2013). C. icaco stands out for its nutritional and ethnopharmacological qualities because within its composition of both the leaves and the fruit are significant amounts of phytochemicals such as pomolic acid, which induces apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia cells (Fernandes, Weinlich, Oliveira, Amarante-Mendes & Rocha, 2007), sesquiterpenes and diterpenes with analgesic and antiinflammatory activity (Araújo-Filho et al, 2016), cytotoxic anthocyanins in HT-29 colon cancer cells, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (Venancio et al, 2016), rutin and myricetin with antifungal activity (Silva et al, 2017). Although C. icaco is a source of other phytochemicals like terpenes, most often flavonoids like flavonols and anthocyanins are most studied in fruits.…”