EVALUATION OF THE CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SCHINUS TEREBINTHIFOLIUS RADDI

Phytotherapy consists in all pharmaceutical preparation using certain part of plants as a feedstock with known pharmacological effects for medicinal purposes. In order to a better understanding of the biological effects associated with herbal medicines, many scientific studies have been conducted and developed in recent years. Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Aroeira) is native from Peru and is also found in Europe, Asia and some Latin American countries. This herbal remedy was chosen for study because of its wide use and interesting pharmacological actions. Among the effects documented in the literature, they are a potent antimicrobial agent. Its use as hydroalcoholic extract showed positive effect on cystotomy healing in rats and the studies indicate that Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi vaginal gel is effective and safe for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. The experimental model discussed in this study was the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) in different strains of protozoa. Evaluation of the effects of the extract with Trypanosomacruzi and Leishmaniaamazonensis strains was conducted at different concentrations of a dilution series to allow a more sensitive analysis, in a wide concentration range. A static or toxic action can be distinguished by the color reaction which is involved rezazorina. The results indicate that in none of the tested strains were observed cytotoxic effects of aqueous extract. There was also no inhibitory action on the development of tested strains.