Estudo pré-clínico do Extrato Hidroetanólico de Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess.: atividades hipoglicemiante e toxidade

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from a deficit in production or action of insulin in the body. However, many drugs used in controlling this disease cause various adverse and side effects, impairing adherence to treatment. On this context, there is growing popular use of plants with therapeutic potential, which have been used increasingly as an alternative treatment for many diseases, including diabetes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity and toxicity of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Calophyllum brasiliense Gross Cambess (EBHECb) in rats and mice. Activities toxicity were determined using different doses of EBHECb (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, p.o., single dose) for a period of 14 days, whereas in sub- acute toxicity were administered daily to 500 mg/kg (v.o.) of EBHECb for a period of 30 days. The induction of diabetes was performed by alloxan (42 mg/kg, i.v.) being administered a daily dose (500 mg/kg, p.o.) of EBHECb for 30 days, in which we assessed the clinical and laboratory parameters of the treated animals and their respective controls at the end of each activity. Regarding toxicity, animals showed no significant sign that featured a possible toxic effect of the extract when evaluated the behavioral and clinical signs, percentage of death, weight gain, water intake, food intake, biochemical and hematological analysis. Regarding the hypoglycemic activity, the animals showed clinical and laboratory signs consistent with diabetes. The group treated with EBHECb showed a decrease in feed intake, statistically significant (p<0.01, Tukey test) from day 10, with weight maintenance, presenting statistically significant difference (p<0.001) between the 15th and 30th day, when compared to the control group. Regarding the water intake, animals treated with insulin and EBHECb considerably reduced water consumption after their respective treatments, with statistically significant results (p<0.001). The group treated with EBHECb also declined by 34.57 % urine excretion and glycosuria of 595.08±26 mg/dL (p<0.001), which represented a reduction of approximately 20 % when compared to control group. Compared to glucose, the group treated with EBHECb got 18% reduction in blood glucose levels, statistical significance (p<0.01 and p<0.001) when compared to control group. Therefore, the present study suggests that EBHECb is a promising product for oral use, has low toxicity and good hypoglycemic activity, requiring studies to prove their mechanisms of action