Solanum cernuum Vell: Phytochemical study, evaluation of antiulcerogenic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic activities and attainment of dry extract by spray dryer

Abstract

Solanum cernuum Vell. (Solanaceae), popularly known as "panacéia", is a native tree from southern and southeastern Brazil. Its folk name is probably due to the wide range of applications in folk medicine including the treatment of ulcers, liver damage, skin infections and tumours, as diuretic, depurative, anti-hemorrhagic and for the treatment of gonorrhea. Considering the importance of S. cernuum in folk medicine and the lack of research supporting its use, the aim of this project is to obtain hydroalcoholic and alkaloidic extracts from the leaves of this plant. The hydroalcoholic extract will be partitioned with hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and n-butanol. The major compounds will be isolated from the extracts using distinct chromatographic techniques. The cytotoxicity assay will be performed by the XTT test and clonogenic survival with MCF-7, Skbr3, HB4a and BPH-1 cell lines. The antimicrobial testing methods will be performed using either broth microdilution or agar dilution methods for testing different bacteria strains, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and for fungi strains it will be used broth microdilution method. The formalin test, paw oedema and abdominal writhes induced by acetic acid will be performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity. Aiming to further develop commercial products it will be developed extract dry using spray dryer equipment to improve dissolution properties of the plant extract, as well as to evaluate the influence of the drying processes.