Solanum lycocarpum: revisão do estado da arte, citotoxicidade e efeito na produção de óxido nítrico.

Abstract

Solanum lycocarpum, a plant species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, serves as a significant source for various plant derivatives employed in studies exploring the biological effects and potential therapeutic applications of this species. This study aimed to (i) conduct a comprehensive literature review on the biological effects and bioactive compounds of S. lycocarpum and (ii) assess cytotoxicity and modulation of nitric oxide (NO) production in an in vitro experimental model, utilizing RAW 264.7 cell culture and the alkaloid extract obtained from the fruit pulp (EASL). Scientific articles for the bibliographic review were sourced from the "PubMed Central (PMC)" and "PubMed" databases, with keywords including "Solanum lycocarpum" and "Solanum lycocarpum and active compounds." The selection of articles for complete reading and data collection was based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ultimately, 36 articles were chosen for analysis. In the in vitro study, cytotoxicity was determined through the MTT assay, and the effects on NO production were investigated using the Griess method. The review results highlighted that the fruits of S. lycocarpum are the most extensively studied part of the plant and have been associated with fetal toxicity. Phenolic acids and glycoalkaloids emerged as the primary compounds found in S. lycocarpum, with solamargine and solasonine identified as isolated compounds holding significant therapeutic potential. Importantly, the plant species exhibited no genotoxic effects in vivo and in vitro models, although there is a notable lack of studies focusing on leaves and other plant parts. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the mechanism of cell death. The in vitro study disclosed that unfiltered EASL solubilized in DMSO demonstrated higher cytotoxicity compared to the same filtered extract. However, no significant effects of EASL on NO production were observed in RAW 264.7 cells, whether stimulated or not with IFN-γ.