Estudo de toxicologia clínica da tintura de Jalapa na constipação intestinal

Abstract

The Tincture Jalapa is a phytotherapic extracted from plant Operculina alata (Ham) Urban; know populary as Aguardente Alemã® and extensively used by the population. This phytotherapic has laxative and purgative properties and belongs to the family of Convolvulaceae composed of 51 genders, with wide distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. It is ancient plant use in folk medicine in the Northeast of Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical safety of the acute use of hydroalcoholic extract of Operculina alata in patients with functional constipation. The clinical trial consisted in a randomized study, double blind, placebo-controlled, with 76 volunteers, who were administered an oral dose of 15 mL of tincture Jalapa for one time a day for seven consecutive days. The volunteers were divided into two groups, Jalapa and placebo (with 38 volunteers each). The volunteers were included only if considered healthy, after clinical examination and exams complementary preceding the study. The laboratory evaluation included hematological analysis, and liver biochemistry. The assessment was made during the run-in period and post-study. Comparisons were made between the two groups in each phase of the study (intergroup analysis) as well as between the two phases in the same group (intragroup analysis). In the intergroup analysis, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups at any stage of the study, nor in the intragroup analysis, there statistically significant differences between the periods. Some adverse events were observed in 13 (34.21%) volunteers in the test group and 14 (36.84%) volunteers in the placebo group. Adverse events were found as dizziness, abdominal pain, headache, heartburn, chest pain, rash, drowsiness, asthenia, fever, nasal obstruction, nausea, epigastric pain. This study showed that this phytotherapic was well tolerated by volunteers. The clinical and laboratorial exams didn’t evidenced toxicity signs. Some adverse events were observed with the use of the tincture of Jalapa, and classified as possible, probable and not be attributed to the phytomedicine. Regarding the degree of severity adverse events were of mild intensity.