Development and validation of an analytical method, phytochemical study, schistosomicidal and cytotoxic activities evaluation of Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract

Anacardium occidentale L., known as "cashew", "acaju" and "cacaju", is used in folk medicine for the treatment of mouth and peptic ulcers, intestinal disorders, dyspepsia, asthma, diabetes, throat ache, bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, inflammatory diseases, as astringent, tonic and to treat ulcers of Leishmania. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential are some of the biological properties of A. occidentale that have been proven in pharmacological studies. However, other potential uses of this species have yet to be investigated, for example, the schistosomicidal activity evaluation. In our research group studies were performed in vitro against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms, and the results obtained for the chestnut ethanolic extract were very promising (at concentrations of 50 and 25µg/mL the extract caused death of 100% and 25% of the parasites in 24 hours, respectively, with an IC50 of 12.48 µg/mL in human lung fibroblasts cells). A. occidentale figure in the list of 71 plants of interest to the SUS, so the importance of the development and validation of an analytical method for the quality control of these extracts, which are even free selling in medicinal herbs sites. Thus, this project aims to conduct studies to isolate and identify the bioactivity compounds from the chestnut ethanolic extract, as well as develop and validate an analytical method by HPLC-DAD to be used in the quality control of this plant species. In addition, it will contribute to human resource formation in Franca region and to the UNIFRAN M.D.-Ph.D. Program in Science (Capes, score 5). (AU)