Antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunostimulant properties of saline extract from Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Swartz (Fabaceae) leaves

Abstract

<em>Caesalpinia pulcherrima </em>(L.) Swartz is a species that originates in India and Central America and is widely distributed in the world. This plant presents important biological properties, due to the presence of some secondary medicinal metabolites, such as tannins, glycosides, flavonoids and diterpenes. In folk medicine, <em>C. pulcherrima</em> is used in different diseases as bronchitis, asthma, infections, wounds and eye irritations. The aim of this study was to perform a phytochemical screening and evaluate which biological properties the saline extract of leaves from <em>C. pulcherrima</em> have against microorganisms and animal cells. Results showed that 15 majority compounds could be found in saline extract distributed among phenol, coumarin and quercetin groups.Saline extract of leaves from <em>C. pulcherrima</em> also showed good results in antioxidant test and showed significant antifungal property against <em>Candida</em> strains. Moreover, the saline extract did not showed cytotoxicity against mice splenocytes and promoted proliferation in these cells. These results may be predictive for future studies using the saline extract from <em>C. pulcherrima</em> leaves as cell stimulant agent in a pharmaceutical phytotherapic formulation used in cicatricial and <em>in vitro </em>immunostimulant assays.