Avaliação antifungica, farmacognóstica e toxicológica sazonal de Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae)

Abstract

The study of medicinal plants raised great scientific interest, mainly due to them being considered as potential sources of bioactive molecules with differentiated structure and new mechanism of action. The importance of research focused on the discovery and production of new herbal medicines should be the great contribution they have presented before diverse pathologies. The species Petiveria alliacea is a medicinal plant widely used by the population of the Amazon region and stands out for presenting various claims and still use some classes of metabolites with proven therapeutic actions. This study aimed to evaluate seasonal pharmacognostical parameters, antifungal potential of the extracts produced at different sampling times on Aspergillus species and toxicity of these in vitro and in vivo. In the evaluation of seasonal Pharmacognostical, P. alliacea, using Brazilian Pharmacopeia methods the results demonstrated reproducible parameters for quality control of the plant drug, there was no difference in the presence of the chemical constituents of hydroalcoholic and dust, revealing the presence of saponins, alkaloids and sugars across the plant and root extracts and only sesquiterpenolactones depsides. The results of microdilution method performed with extracts from the roots of two periods, showed weak antifungal activity in vitro, but did not observe any effect of extracts of the aerial parts. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT colorimetric method, showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of the root of the two periods did not reduce cell viability in any of the concentrations tested, and was any signs of acute toxicity of the extract at a dose of 5000 mg/kg in mice. These data are considered relevant and the current study showed that P. alliacea is a promising medicinal species, but further investigations are required for its various allegations are confirmed and usage for the plant to be used in developing a new phytotherapeutic agent.