Traditional use , phytochemistry and biological activities of Poincianella pyramidalys ( Tul . ) LP Queiroz

1 Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, BR 135, km 03, Planalto Horizonte, Bom Jesus PI, Brazil. 2 Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Ensaios de Medicamentos (LABDEM) – Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Rua das Baraúnas, 351 Bairro Universitário Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. 3 Laboratório de Microbiologia, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, R. Baraúnas, 351 Bairro Universitário Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. 4 Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, R. Baraúnas, 351 Bairro Universitário Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil.


INTRODUCTION
Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.)LP Queiroz is an arboreal species of the Fabaceae family, popularly known as catingueira, pau-de-rato or catinga-de-porco.Until recently, this species was known as Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul., and, as a result of a taxonomic reformulation, it belongs to the genus Poincianella (Queiroz, 2009).P. pyramidalis is a small unarmed tree that can reach 4 m and greater heights in certain environments.It has bipinnate leaves with 5 to 11 leaflets that are sessile, alternate, leathery, oblong and obtuse.It has yellow flowers arranged in racemes with similar length to the leaves.The fruit is a pod that is sessile, leathery, flat, dark in color and can be up to 11 cm long (Corrêa, 1926;Braga, 1960).This species is a native pioneer and endemic of the Caatinga, broadly distributed in Northeastern Brazil, occurring in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia (Valladares et al., 2007;Santana et al., 2011).It adapts to xeric and degraded environments and can be found in several plant associations, inhabiting stony ground and growing well in humid lowlands (Lima, 1996;Oliveira, 2010).These features ensure its successful cultivation throughout the Brazilian semiarid climate (Fabricante et al., 2009).P. pyramidalis is considered as one of the most useful species for the people of that area because of its multiplicity of uses (Lucena et al., 2012).Among these uses is that of folk medicine, in which its flowers, leaves, and barks are used primarily in the treatment of infectious diseases and as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic (Braga, 1960;Maia, 2004;Santos et al., 2008).Its popular medicinal uses have attracted the attention of researchers from different areas.In recent years, studies have been developed to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of P. pyramidalis, including its antimicrobial, antioxidant, gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, radioprotective, and anthelmintic properties, apart from toxicity.This review aims to highlight the traditional medicinal use and main biological and phytochemical properties of P. pyramidalis, targeting future studies on this plant.

MEDICINAL USE
P. pyramidalis is a perpetual contributor to the various health problems of the Brazilian semiarid population.The uses of the stem bark, leaves, flowers and roots of this plant in folk medicine are described in Table 1.

Antimicrobial activity
There is a concern in global public health about bacteria resistant to most known antibiotics and their prevalence in causing morbidity and mortality.Staphylococcus aureus is one of the main actors in this scenario, commonly occurring in strains resistant to methicillin (MRSA), and recently, vancomycin (VRSA).So, with the discovery of new antibacterial agents with different mechanisms of action, new research is vital (Luna et al., 2010).Novais et al. (2003) observed a good microbiological activity in the ethyl acetate extract obtained from the bark and leaves of P. pyramidalis against S. aureus, by disk diffusion method.Alviano et al. (2008) also noted antibacterial activity against oral pathogens in the bark and leaves of this plant.The MIC values observed in this study were 1000 µ mL -1 to Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, and 8000 µg mL -1 to

Streptococcus mutans
and Lactobacillus casei, microorganisms related to dental caries.

Root Decoction
Respiratory problems: asthma, bronchitis, expectorant, respiratory infection, flu, cough.) was observed.The antimicrobial efficacy of these extracts against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella spp., S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Saraiva et al., 2012b) was observed.MIC values of methanol extract of the leaves against P. aeruginosa (MIC = 125 µg ml -1 ), and the ethyl acetate extract of the root against E. coli and S. aureus were 500 and 250 µg ml -1 , respectively; and the methanol extract of the leaves against E. coli was 250 µg ml -1 . In another study, it was found that the ethanolic extracts of the leaves of P. pyramidalis against strains of MRSA and S. aureus with NorA efflux pump protein overexpression.It was observed that the bacterial growth of S. aureus resistant NorA was 10-fold less than the negative control (DMSO 1%); and there was no observed growth of the MRSA strain after 24 h of incubation (Lima et al., 2006).P. pyramidalis also presented significant antifungal ), Candida guilliermondii (MIC = 25 μg mL -1 ), Candida albicans (MIC = 12.5 μg mL -1 ), Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC = 12.5 μg mL -1 ) and Fonsecaea pedrosoi (MIC = 200 μg mL -1 ).Barbosa et al. (2015) evaluated the susceptibility of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans resistant to azole antifungal and ATCC strain using plant extracts obtained from medicinal plants in the semiarid region of the State of Sergipe, Brazil.The researchers used the disk diffusion method and the aqueous extract of leaves of P. pyramidalis at a concentration of 4, 40 and 100 mg mL -1 . The extracts showed good activity against 5 of the 10 strains tested, with zones of inhibition ranging between 7 and 14 mm.The activity of ethanolic extract of the bark of P. pyramidalis against standard ATCC strain of Helicobacter pylori evaluated by Ribeiro et al. (2013) had 625 and 10,000 μg mL -1 , of MIC and MBC respectively; they were obtained by broth microdilution method.

Antioxidant activity
The production of free radicals in the body causes numerous problems that manifest as degenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, aging, and immune problems; therefore, this creates a need to discover new antioxidants.In plants, phenolic substances act as free radical scavengers and metal chelators, which may be used as antioxidants in various pathologies (Haslam, 1998).Santos (2010) determined the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of the bark of P. pyramidalis, by method of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).This indicates the lipid peroxidation.The extract (concentrations of 100 and 1000 µg mL -1 ) showed antioxidant activity reducing significantly (P < 0.001) lipid peroxidation compared to the control (77.66 and 82.41%, respectively).This was achieved by the reduction of TBARS production.The antioxidant potential of Brazilian medicinal plants was evaluated by Alviano et al. (2008) using photometric test DPPH.The aqueous extract of leaves of P. pyramidalis presented a great elimination activities of DPPH (EC 50 = 15.2 ± 1.0 mg L -1 ), and was better than the synthetic antioxidant BHT (EC 50 = 86 μg mL -1 ).While in another study by Silva et al. (2011a), the antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of the bark and leaves was evaluated by DPPH and FIC assays.The extract from the bark showed high antioxidant activity (IC 50 = 16.98 ± 1.34 μg mL -1 ) compared to standards rutin and ascorbic acid (IC 50 = 22.96 ± 1.99 and 16.12 ± 0 01 μg mL -1 , respectively).Moreover, the extract of leaves was more effective in chelating ferrous ions (IC 50 = 62.49± 10.77 μg mL -1 ), with IC 50 values closer to EDTA control (IC 50 = 15.26 ± 0.58 μg mL -1 ). Melo et al. (2010) evaluated the antioxidant activity of 14 medicinal plants of the Brazilian semi-arid region; P. pyramidalis presented lower IC 50 value (42.95 ± 1.77 μg mL -1 ) and good antioxidant activity.The authors attributed this to the antioxidant activity, that the high concentration of phenolic compounds is mainly tannins.Ribeiro et al. (2013) evaluated the antiulcerogenic activity and gastric mucosal protection factors of ethanolic extract of the bark of P. pyramidalis through several in vivo models using Wistar rats.In the ethanol-induced ulcer model, the animals were treated with doses of extracts of 30, 100 and 300 mg kg -1 , and the results showed inhibition of the parameters with higher concentration.The values of ulcer lesion index, total lesion area, and percentage of lesion to extract were 0.92±0.40,0.93±0.46mm 2 , 0.16±0.08%,respectively.Histopathological analysis Chaves et al. 3355 showed that the animals pretreated with the extract showed less mucosal damage compared to the control group.In the indomethacin-induced ulcers model, the extract (100 mg kg -1

Gastroprotective activity
) and positive control (Cimetidine 100 mg kg -1 ) significantly reduced the ulcer, exhibiting the same ulcer inhibition rate (86.97%).In the model gastric secretion, using ligation of pylorus in groups treated with the extract of P. pyramidalis, there was a volume of discharge and acid secretion was not reduced compared to the vehicle.However, when these groups were compared to the model determination mucus there was a significant increase in mucus production (vehicle = 1.00 ± 0.13 mg L -1 ; extract 300 mg kg -1 = 1.61 ± 0.09 mg L -1 ). Diniz et al. (2015) investigated the possible mechanisms of the action of ethanolic extract of the bark of P. pyramidalis against ethanol-induced gastric damage.To evaluate the possible involvement of gaseous mediators (nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide) in the protective extract, pretreated groups of rats with L-NAME or PAG were used.The protective effect of the extract was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with PAG, suggesting possible involvement of H2S in the gastro protector extract.The authors believe that another mechanism of action would be an anti-inflammatory effect on gastric mucosa caused by attenuation of expression of the inflammatory mediator gene and increased expression of the anti-inflammatory mediator gene.

Anti-inflammatory activity
The anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract (90%) of P. pyramidalis was evaluated by in vivo models with Wistar rats.In the model of carrageenan-induced edema and MPO activity in rat paws, the extract (400 mg Kg -1 ) was able to reduce the edema at 2, 3 and 4 h after the injection of carrageenan.The group treated with the extract has inhibition of edema (41.2%), while dexamethasone (2 mg kg -1 ) unleashed an inhibition of 54.4% compared to the group treated with carrageenan.The extract at the same concentration was also able to reduce the action of MPO.The group treated with the extract showed 4.5 ± 0.5 mg UMPO -1 and the vehicle group had 7.1 ± 0.9 mg UMPO -1 .In addition, the activity of this extract was against carrageenan-induced peritonitis in mice.The extract (400 mg kg -1 ) significantly inhibited the migration of leukocytes into the peritoneal cavity (2.63 ± 0.23 × 106 mL -1 of leukocytes / 80.2% inhibition) compared to the vehicle group (7 22 ± 0.99 × 106 mL -1 of leukocytes) (Santos et al., 2011).Another study was conducted with 90% ethanolic extract of P. pyramidalis to assess the anti-inflammatory activity using Wistar rats with hemorrhagic cystitis.The groups treated with the extract (100 and 400 mg kg -1 ) showed a significant reduction of cyclophosphamide-induced MPO. 100 mg kg -1 concentration was significantly decreased in leukocyte infiltration in the urinary bladder and basal concentration of MDA (Moraes et al., 2013).Santana et al. (2012) evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of P. pyramidalis in acute pancreatitis model in rats.The authors investigated the levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood, pancreas neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation and abdominal hyperalgesia.The extract (400 mg kg ) was able to reduce the levels of amylase and lipase in serum after 6 or 24 h of induction; it also reduced MPO activity in pancreatic tissue, leading to a decrease in infiltration neutrophils and promoting anti-inflammatory effect.The extract also promoted protective effect against the lipoperoxidation caused by CBDO.MDA formation decreased after 6 h of pancreatitis induction, and was maintained for 24 h.In the hyperalgesia test was reported that the groups treated with the extract (100, 200 or 400 mg kg -1 ) had a reduction in abdominal hyperalgesia after 6 h of induction.This effect was maintained for 24 h for the highest concentration.These results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract.

Antinociceptive activity
The ethanolic extract of the bark of P. pyramidalis (100, 200 and 400 mg kg -1 ) reduced significantly the contortion acetic acid-induced compared to the control group.Inhibition of nociceptive behavior occurred; it was induced by formalin at neurogenic and inflammatory phases.In the hot-plate reaction time, the extract (400 mg kg -1 ) increased the pain latency time of mice exposed to the hot plate.The group treated with the extracts did not show any significant effects in the rotarod test (Santos et al., 2011).The possible mechanism of action of ethanol (90%) extract in the nociceptive behavior was investigated by Santos et al. (2013a).In the analysis of possible involvement of L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO), groups of mice were pre-treated intraperitoneally with nitric oxide precursor L-arginine (600 mg Kg ).The previous treatment with L-arginine reversed the antinociceptive effect of L-NOARG and extract, suggesting the participation of Larginine/nitric oxide pathway in the antinociceptive activity of P. pyramidalis extract.We also observed antinociceptive effect on the glutamate induced nociception at 10, 30, and 100 mg Kg -1 . The authors suggest the participation of NMDA receptors in this antinociceptive effect.

Radioprotective activity
Ionizing radiation interaction with biological environment may have various effects such as death or mutation in cells, chromosomes and even DNA.Santos et al. (2013b) reported the effect of methanolic extracts of P. pyramidalis opposite to the damage caused by irradiation on Biomphalaria glabrata embryos.The bark extract (250 ppm) showed radioprotective activity in the groups irradiated with doses of 2.5 and 4.0 Gy, while the extract of the leaves at the same concentration showed activity in the groups irradiated with doses between 2.5 and 100 Gy, demonstrating potential radioprotective activity.

Anthelmintic activity
Borges-dos- Santos et al. (2012) evaluated the potential benefits of the aqueous extract of P. pyramidalis on goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.In vivo studies demonstrated a significant reduction in the count of eggs in the feces throughout the trial period; which, according to the authors, can be related to the direct activity of the extract reducing the fertility of female parasites.The extract also led to increased concentration of IgA, which can be involved with the generation of protective immunity.

Toxicity
The toxicity of plant species is one of the most important parameters in evaluating its timely use by the population.The bioassay with Artemia salina is commonly used to speculate toxicity of plant extracts.In the work of Luna et al. (2005), the ethanol extract of the stem bark (1000 ppm) showed high toxicity, with 100% mortality forwarded to A. salina.Oliveira (2010), performing the same test, described the toxicity according to the polarity of the extracts, fractions with ethyl acetate and the more toxic methanol, followed by butanol.The hexane fraction was considered nontoxic, while the other showed moderate toxicity.

CONCLUSION
P. pyramidalis is a natural resource used extensively in the Brazilian semiarid region.This study has identified numerous compounds, largely with recognized action on the body.The species showed therapeutic potential; antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were the most pronounced and they validate its traditional use.All parts of the plant, including the stem, flower, root and leaf had pharmacological action and a wealth of compounds.But, it is necessary to identify and isolate the chemical constituents, and all those responsible for producing the therapeutic action, as well as conducting in vivo tests to determine the mechanisms involved in the biological activities.

Table 1 .
) agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Poincianella pyramidalis uses in traditional medicine.