The Dynamics of Subcutaneous Tissue Response to Microorganisms Associated with the Extract of Araçá (Psidium cattleianum): An Edemogenic and Microscopic Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate in vivo tissue reaction to the extract of araçá (Psidium cattleianum) associated with inactivated microorganisms. Material and Methods: A 0.1 mL suspension was used containing Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Enterococcus faecalis, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Porphyromonas endodontalis, which were inactivated by heat and mixed into a 1.0 mL saline (control group), an aqueous solution, or a hydroalcoholic extract of araçá. Eighteen male rats (Rattus norvegiccus) under general anesthesia received 0.2 mL of 1% intravenous Evans blue. Thirty minutes later, 0.1 mL of one of the associations was injected into the animals’ dorsal region. The animals were euthanized after 3 and 6 hours, and the materials obtained were placed in formamide for 72 hours then analyzed in a spectrophotometer (?=630 hm). For the morphological analysis, 30 rats received polyethylene tubes implants with the extracts or the saline with the associations in the dorsal region and euthanized after 7 and 30 days to be analyzed according to an inflammation cell score. Results: No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the edema among groups. The optical microscopy results showed a repair in the 30-day-period, which was higher when compared to the 7-day-period (p<0.0001). Nevertheless, in the 7-day-period, the hydroalcoholic extract presented a significant response compared to the aqueous extract (p=0.05) and a trend for better results than the control group. Conclusion: The aqueous and hydroalcoholic araçá extracts associated with inactivated microorganisms showed similar responses to control, indicating no interference on the toxic effects of the bacterial components in tissue repair.KeywordsAnaerobic bacteria; Edema; Inflammation; Plant extracts; Psidium.