Chemical constituents and toxicological studies of leaves from Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth., a Brazilian honey plant

Nayana Bruna Nery Monção; Luciana Muratori Costa; Daniel Dias Rufino Arcanjo; Bruno Quirino Araújo; Maria do Carmo Gomes Lustosa; Klinger Antônio da França Rodrigues; Fernando Aécio de Amorim Carvalho; Amilton Paulo Raposo Costa; Antônia Maria das Graças Lopes Citó

Articles

Abstract

Pharmacognosy Magazine,2014,10,39s,s456-s462.

DOI:10.4103/0973-1296.139773

Published:August 2014

Type:Original Article

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Nayana Bruna Nery Monção, Luciana Muratori Costa, Daniel Dias Rufino Arcanjo¹, Bruno Quirino Araújo, Maria do Carmo Gomes Lustosa, Klinger Antônio da França Rodrigues¹, Fernando Aécio de Amorim Carvalho¹, Amilton Paulo Raposo Costa², Antônia Maria das Graças Lopes Citó

Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, 1 Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, 2 Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

Abstract:

Background: Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (Leguminosae) is widely found in the Brazilian Northeast region and markedly contributes to production of pollen and honey, being considered an important honey plant in this region. Objective: To investigate the chemical composition of the ethanol extract of leaves from M. caesalpiniifolia by GC-MS after derivatization (silylation), as well as to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo toxicological effects and androgenic activity in rats. Materials and Methods: The ethanol extract of leaves from Mimosa caesalpiniifolia was submitted to derivatization by silylation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identification of chemical constituents. In vitro toxicological evaluation was performed by MTT assay in murine macrophages and by Artemia salina lethality assay, and the in vivo acute oral toxicity and androgenic evaluation in rats. Results: Totally, 32 components were detected: Phytol-TMS (11.66%), lactic acid-2TMS (9.16%), α-tocopherol-TMS (7.34%) and β-sitosterol-TMS (6.80%) were the major constituents. At the concentrations analyzed, the ethanol extract showed low cytotoxicity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and murine macrophages. In addition, the extract did not exhibit any toxicological effect or androgenic activity in rats. Conclusions: The derivatization by silylation allowed a rapid identification of chemical compounds from the M. caesalpiniifolia leaves extract. Besides, this species presents a good safety profile as observed in toxicological studies, and possess a great potential in the production of herbal medicines or as for food consumption.