title: Chemical constituents and toxicological studies of leaves from Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth., a Brazilian honey plant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (Leguminosae) is widely found in the Brazilian Northeast region and markedly contributes to production of pollen and honey, being considered an important honey plant in this region.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the chemical composition of the ethanol extract of leaves from M. caesalpiniifolia by GC-MS after derivatization (silylation), as well as to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo toxicological effects and androgenic activity in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethanol extract of leaves from Mimosa caesalpiniifolia was submitted to derivatization by silylation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identification of chemical constituents. In vitro toxicological evaluation was performed by MTT assay in murine macrophages and by Artemia salina lethality assay, and the in vivo acute oral toxicity and androgenic evaluation in rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally, 32 components were detected: Phytol-TMS (11.66%), lactic acid-2TMS (9.16%), α-tocopherol-TMS (7.34%) and β-sitosterol-TMS (6.80%) were the major constituents. At the concentrations analyzed, the ethanol extract showed low cytotoxicity against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and murine macrophages. In addition, the extract did not exhibit any toxicological effect or androgenic activity in rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The derivatization by silylation allowed a rapid identification of chemical compounds from the M. caesalpiniifolia leaves extract. Besides, this species presents a good safety profile as observed in toxicological studies, and possess a great potential in the production of herbal medicines or as for food consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayana Bruna Nery
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Monção
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Muratori
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Dias Rufino
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Arcanjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Quirino
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo Gomes
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Lustosa
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Klinger Antônio da França
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Aécio de Amorim
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amilton Paulo Raposo
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônia Maria das Graças
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lopes Citó
keywords: Cytotoxicity; GC-MS; Leguminosae; Mimosa caesalpiniifolia; derivatization; toxicology