Study of antibacterial, mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of crude hydroalcoholic extract from Copaifera trapezifolia

Abstract

The oral cavity harbors a micro-flora with marked differences in their composition, the clinical studies have correlated the association between these microorganisms and oral infections, such as dental caries, periodontal disease and endodontic infections. Dental caries is an infectious disease of hard tissue (teeth) of bacterial origin that results in dissolution of dental enamel, as endodontic infections can be caused by several bacterial species that reach the pulp cavity through dental caries, dentinal tubules exposed, exposure direct pulp, restorative procedures, lateral canals of teeth with periodontal involvement and the bloodstream. Over the past 20 years, interest in medicinal plants has increased the volume of scientific research on their biological effects in humans and animals, the study of these can lead to the development of new herbal medicines bearing the tripod safety, efficacy and quality. The Copaifera genus popularly known as "copaibeira", "pau d'oleo" and "copaíba", are easily found in the Amazon and Central Regions West of Brazil. Since the sixteenth century to "Copaiba" oil has been used in folk medicine to treat various diseases such as syphilis, bronchitis, sinusitis, strep throat, pneumonia, dermatitis, eczema, and as antimicrobial, anticancer, antitumor, among others. The species C. trapezifolia is well known because their leaves have a trapezoid shape. Its distribution is restricted to Atlantic Forest areas located mainly in southeastern and southern Brazil. Few studies on C. trapezifolia can be found in the literature, only the essential oil composition of the leaves was investigated. In view of the biological properties of the genus Copaifera, it is important to study the hydroalcoholic extract crude of the species C. trapezifolia; this study that explores efficiently the pharmacological potential of this species found only in the rich flora existing in our country. The methodology for assessing the antibacterial activity in vitro is carried out using the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, fractional inhibitory concentration index, sensitivity and kinetics of bacterial biofilm. The evaluation will be mutagenic through the Salmonella / microsome assay and the micronucleus test. The cytotoxic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract crude of C. trapezifolia will be assessed by clonogenic assay efficiency. These studies are valuable tools and should contribute to a better understanding of the biological activities of specie C. trapezifolia.