Phytochemical Profile, toxicity assessment, and biological activities of hydroalcoholic extract of Calycophyllum spruceanum leaves

Abstract

Pharmacotherapy for the treatment of inflammation based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, ulcers, renal, cardiac and metabolic dysfunctions. Studies on natural products containing constituents with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity remain important and quite justified. Plants belonging to the Rubiaceae family are examples of source of bioactives. The hydroalcoholic extract of Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. F. ex K. Schum (Mulateiro) leaves (HECsL), native to the Amazon biomes, when subjective to liquid chromatography in UHPLC-MS, revealed the presence of four phenolic constituents: caffeoylquinic derivatives, small organic acids and flavonoids, constituents that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. HECsL did not show acute toxicity, nor did it change the motor coordination or body mass of the experimental animals. HECsL at a dose of 60 mg/kg reduced the number of writhings induced by 0.8% acetic acid (63%), increased the time spent on the hot plate (30%), and increased the tail withdrawal latency at a dose of 120 mg/kg (49%). The stimulation of hypernociception by carrageenan in the animals abdomen was reversed by HECsL (59%) by decreasing the number of total leukocytes (67%). HECsL has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive prophylactic effects on the peripheral and central nervous system of Swiss mice, being devoid of acute toxicity.