Chemical composition of Libidibia ferrea var. ferrea aqueous extract for antimicrobial purpose and cytogenotoxicity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

• Published in: South African journal of botany 2022-08, Vol.148, p.336-343
• Main Authors: Luna, Mychely S. Melo, Costa, Raisa Ferreira, Araujo, Silvany de Sousa, Araujo, José Rafael da Silva, Miranda, Paulo Henrique Oliveira de, de Veras, Bruno Oliveira, Oliveira, Fernanda Granja da Silva, Harand, Wolfgang, da Silva, Carlos Eduardo Santos, de Carvalho, Maria Eduarda Torres, da Silva, Márcia Vanusa, Brasileiro-Vidal, Ana Christina, dos Santos Correia, Maria Tereza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anemia; anti-infective agents; biofilm; caatinga; Caesalpinia ferrea; chemical composition; chromatography; Cytotoxicity; diabetes; Fabaceae; flavonoids; Folk medicine; fractionation; fruits; genotoxicity; human health; humans; hypertension; medicine; Micronucleus test; micronucleus tests; mutagens; proanthocyanidins; species; Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 0254-6299
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2022.04.023

•Libidia ferrea aqueous extract is rich in tannins and flavonoids.•The fractions were able to reduce biofilm formation up to 71%.•The fractions do not present cytotoxicity and genotoxicity according to in vitro asssays. Libidibia ferrea (Mart. Ex Tul) L. P. Queiroz (Fabaceae) is a typical Caatinga species, 53 commonly known as “Brazilian ironwood” and “leopard tree” and has been used in folk 54 medicine in the treatment of several diseases such as anemia, ulcer, hypertension, 55 diabetes, and antimicrobial agent. However, its adverse effects on human health are not 56 entirely known. The present work aimed to investigate the chemical composition, 57 antibiofilm formation, and cytogenotoxicity potential of Libidia ferrea aqueous extract 58 (AELf). Phytochemical screening, chromatographic analyses, and fractionation were 59 performed to characterize AELf. Additionally, the AELf effect on Staphylococcus aureus 60 biofilm formation was also investigated. Also, twelve extract concentrations were tested 61 by the MTT assay to verify cytotoxicity, while genotoxic (cytokinesis-block 62 micronucleus assay - CBMN) evaluations were carried out on PBMC cells using three 63 different concentrations (10, 20, and 30 mg/mL). The phytochemical analysis revealed 64 the presence of flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, leucoanthocyanidins, and hydrolyzable 65 tannins in higher concentrations. As also, AELf was able to inhibit biofilm formation (≥ 66 50%) on the tested strain by up to 55.3% (44.7 ± 7.8) and 71.1% (28.9 ± 3.4) at 67 concentrations 1.25 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/mL, respectively. AELf concentrations used in 68 the MTT and CBMN assays showed no cytotoxic and genotoxicity activity. The aqueous 69 extract of L. ferrea var. ferrea fruit presents good potential for the future development of 70 antimicrobial products since concentrations around 2.5 mg/mL showed antibiofilm 71 activity. Additionally, the aqueous extract has a good safety profile.