Effect of Syzygium cumini and Bauhinia forficata aqueous-leaf extracts on oxidative and mitochondrial parameters in vitro.

Aqueous-leaf extract of Syzygium cumini and Bauhinia forficata are traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes and cancer, especially in South America, Africa, and Asia. In this study, we analyzed the effects of these extracts on oxidative and mitochondrial parameters in vitro, as well as their protective activities against toxic agents. Phytochemical screenings of the extracts were carried out by HPLC analysis. The in vitro antioxidant capacities were compared by DPPH radical scavenging and Fe(2+) chelating activities. Mitochondrial parameters observed were swelling, lipid peroxidation and dehydrogenase activity. The major chemical constituent of S. cumini was rutin. In B. forficata were predominant quercetin and gallic acid. S. cumini reduced DPPH radical more than B. forficata, and showed iron chelating activity at all tested concentrations, while B. forficata had not similar property. In mitochondria, high concentrations of B. forficata alone induced a decrease in mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, but low concentrations of this extract prevented the effect induced by Fe(2+)+H2O2. This was also observed with high concentrations of S. cumini. Both extracts partially prevented the lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)/citrate. S. cumini was effective against mitochondrial swelling induced by Ca(2+), while B. forficata alone induced swelling more than Ca(2+). This study suggests that leaf extract of S. cumini might represent a useful therapeutic for the treatment of diseases related with mitochondrial dysfunctions. On the other hand, the consumption of B. forficata should be avoided because mitochondrial damages were observed, and this possibly may pose risk to human health.

Bauhinia forficata Link (Fabaceae) / Bauhinia forficata Link (Fabaceae)

Bauhinia forficata é uma leguminosa nativa da Mata Atlântica vulgarmente conhecida como pata de vaca. Ela ocorre em quase todos os tipos de solos e sua madeira é usada na produção de papel, lenha e peças de carpintaria e, suas folhas como alimentação animal. É também empregada como cobertura vegetal, planta ornamental, mas sobre tudo, é uma planta medicinal. Seus principais componentes biologicamente ativos incluem compostos flavonóides que parecem ser os grandes responsáveis por suas propriedades farmacológicas, no entanto, terpenos, esteróides, ácidos aromáticos, quinonas, lactonas, alcalóides, inibidores de proteases, proteases e lectinas têm sido isolados e purificados a partir de diferentes órgãos de várias espécies do gênero Bauhinia. Estes novos compostos têm sido caracterizados e suas propriedades farmacológicas são objetos de intensas investigações. As folhas, as flores e as cascas do caule de B. forficata têm sido usadas na medicina popular para o tratamento de diferentes tipos de patologias, especialmente diabetes, dores e processos inflamatórios.(AU)

Bauhinia forficata is a legume native from Atlantic Forest named as cowage. It occurs in almost all types of soils, its wood is used in the production of pulp and paper, wood and carpentry and its leaves employed as animal feed. It is also used in plant cover, as an ornamental plant, but, more importantly, as a medicinal plant. Among the most important biologically active ingredients include are flavonoid compounds that appear to be largely responsible for its pharmacological properties. However, terpenes, steroids, aromatic acids, quinones, lactones, alkaloids, lectins and protease inhibitors have also been isolated and purified from various organs of several species of the genus Bauhinia. These new compounds have been characterized and their pharmacological properties are the purpose of intense investigation. The leaves, seeds and stem from Bauhinia species have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of different kinds of diseases and conditions, especially diabetes, infection, pain and inflammatory processes.(AU)

Comparative evaluation of UV/VIS and HPLC analytical methodologies applied for quantification of flavonoids from leaves of Bauhinia forficata

Spectrophotometric determinations (direct dilution or after acid hydrolysis) of flavonoid content in leaves of Bauhinia forficata Link, Fabaceae, from two different regions from Brazil were compared with contents of kaempferitrin quantified by HPLC analysis. The absence of kaempferitrin peak in one sample denotes the risk of LC-method failure. On the other hand, the both spectrophotometric assays showed satisfactory performance and do not underwent influence from absence of kaempferitrin. Since several flavonoids are present in the herbal material, different content of flavonoids were observed for each analytical procedure. However, a strong positive association could be detected among methods (R²>0.99). Although a conversion factor should be adopted to compare procedures, the data showed that the spectrophotometric methods remain as an important tool for analysis of complex matrices such herbal drugs, notably when there aren't any pharmacological or chemical marker established for the species. Moreover, it's possible to suggest that the techniques studied in this work exhibit similar performance under the conditions employed. Nevertheless, before the adoption of kaempferitrin as an analytical marker by HPLC for Bauhinia species, the pharmacological knowledge should be better developed. In this cases, the use of spectrophotometric assay provide higher assurance of the reproducibility of the efficacy and safety.