“Potencial anti-inflamatório e anti-micobacteriano do extrato etanólico das folhas de Vatairea macrocarpa (angelim-do-cerrado) in vitro e in vivo”

Abstract

Vatairea macrocarpa (Benth) Ducke, popularly known as angelim do cerrado, maleiteira or amargoso, belonging to the Fabaceae family, has a popular indication for treating rheumatic diseases, as well as general inflammatory aspects such as pain, lesions, and swelling. Rheumatic diseases affect 0.3-1.0 per cent of the world's population, and long-term treatment with conventional drugs leads to adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-mycotic properties of the ethanolic extract of V. macrocarpa leaves (EEVM) in experimental models in vivo and in vitro. The EEVM was chemically analized by spectrophotometry, and the compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The EEVM was evaluated in vitro in two tests: methylthiazolyl diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) (3, 10, 30 and 90 μg/mL) and neutrophil phagocytic activity (1, 3 and 10 μg/mL). For in vivo models, EEVM (10, 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) was administered orally (v.o) for anti-inflammatory evaluation in carrageenan-induced pleurisy in Swiss mice. EEVM (30 and 100 mg/kg, v.o.) was tested against persistent paw inflammation induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) and pleurisy induced by Mycobacterium bovis (bacillus Calmette-Guerin - BCG) in C57bL6 mice. The chemical composition of the EEVM showed 157.06 mg GAE/g for phenolic compounds, 82.13 mg RUE/g for flavonoids and 48.99 mg TAE/g for tannins. Among the flavonoids, catechin, epicatechin and kaempferol-3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranoside were identified. He doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg of EEVM significantly reduced leukocyte migration in pleural exudate after carrageenan injection (P < 0.001) with maxomal inhibiton of 86.4%. In protein exudation evaluation, EEVM doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg demonstrated significant difference with maximal inhibition of 89%. In pleural exudates induced by BCG, the maximal inhibitory value for leukocyte migration was 82.7% (dose of 300 mg/kg of EEVM). Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo experimental models showed the anti inflammatory and anti-mycobacterial characteristics of V. macrocarpa as a natural agent against inflammatory diseases.