LICANIA RIGIDA LEAF EXTRACT: PROTECTIVE EFFECT ON OXIDATIVE STRESS, ASSOCIATED WITH CYTOTOXIC, MUTAGENIC AND PRECLINICAL ASPECTS.
oxidative stress, plant, toxicity.
Brazilian plant biodiversity is a rich alternative source of bioactive compounds since plant-derived extracts and/or their secondary metabolites exhibit potential properties to treat several diseases. One such plant is Licania rigida Benth (Family Chrysobalanaceae), a large evergreen tree distributed in Brazilian semi-arid regions, which despite its use in popular medicine is still poorly studied. Thereby, this study evaluated by standardized methods, acute and subchronic oral toxicity, mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in vivo and in vitro of the L. rigida aqueous leaf extract of (AELr), as well as its protective effect against to oxidative stress. No toxic and genotoxic effects were observed by in vitro and in vivo assays after exposure of cell culture, Wistar rats, and Drosophila melanogaster to different concentrations of the extract. Concerning the antioxidant effect, the extract exhibited a protective effect by decreasing the lipid peroxidation determined by malondialdehyde. No changes were observed for glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Therefore, the data support the potential of AELr for therapeutic purposes based on popular knowledge. Notwithstanding, further studies are required to validate its pharmacological application to develop a phytotherapic formulation.