Avaliação da atividade citotóxica e antidepressiva da Jurema-preta (Mimosa tenuiflora (Wild.) poir.) em modelos in vitro e in vivo

Abstract

“Jurema-preta” (Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae)) is a plant that has psychedelic effects and several pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anti-ulcer, antimutagenic, antiproliferative and anticancer. The present study sought to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of extracts of black jurema (M. tenuiflora) and the antidepressant activity of DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) isolated from M. tenuiflora, using in vivo models, in order to explore its antitumor and antidepressant therapeutic potential. The plant material was collected in Nova Jaguaribara-CE, where, subsequently, extracts were obtained from root bark, ethanolic (MT-RE) and hexane (MT-RH); DMT was also isolated from the hot aqueous extract of the plant. The pharmacokinetics of the compounds were analyzed using pkCSM: pharmacokinetics. Cytotoxic activity was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazole)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, using tumor cells and immortalized central nervous system cells. Male C57BL/6 mice were used for behavioral tests. In the in vitro findings, the MT-RE extract was considered highly active, as it inhibited growth by 81.8% in PC-3 and HCT-116 cells. However, MT-RH, when exposed to macrophage cell lines to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect, had a more cytotoxic action when compared to isolated DMT, which indicates an anti-inflammatory effect of DMT. In vivo findings, DMT was effective in reversing depressive behavior without altering locomotor and neurosensory activity–a fact observed in the open field and zero maze tests, respectively – and was also able to reverse the depressive condition, thus reducing the time of immobility and increasing swimming behavior, as seen in the forced swimming test. After nitrite/nitrate measurement to assess oxidative stress, a decrease in this substance in the striatum was noticeable. Along with the findings, a reduction in the inflammatory condition resulting from depressive-like behavior caused by LPS in the mice studied could be observed. The combination of in vitro and in vivo results indicates that a more comprehensive treatment may be offered, capable of treating and depression simultaneously, and promoting faster rehabilitation of the patient.