title: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic effects of the leaf extract from Passiflora nitida Kunth.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high plasma glucose levels, leading to major complications, such as insulin resistance, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, also with alterations in the immune and neuronal systems. Brazilian plants have been studied as important sources for new molecules with medicinal properties. The genus Passiflora known as "Maracujá" has been used as a traditional folk medicine for a long time, so an investigation was performed regarding an endemic kind of passion fruit (Passiflora nitida Kunth) from Amazonas, Brazil. Here, we aimed to determine its potential biological activity against metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress, pain, and inflammation. The hydroethanol leaf extract revealed an in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) = 6.78 ± 0.31 μg/mL and an α-amylase inhibition of IC₅₀= 93.36 ± 4.37. In vivo, experiments of different saccharide tolerance resulted in significant glycemia control and, with alloxan-diabetic mice, resulted in a decrease of total cholesterol, a hypoglycemic effect, and an antioxidant activity by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances measurement. Also, it decreased the carrageenan-induced edema volume and the rate of writhing as a nociceptive response. These results indicate positive effects of P. nitida extract and its potential to inhibit metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Activity, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amazonas Federal University, Alexandre Amorim Street, 330, 69010-300 Aparecida, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Victor
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Montefusco-Pereira
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Araújo Boleti
authors.forename: Lorisa Simas
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Humberto Reis
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Emerson Silva
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D029598:Passiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases