Antiarthritic property and toxicological evaluation of the tea prepared from Ximenia americana barks

Abstract Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae), popularly known as wild plum, northern plum or Brazilian plum, is used in the folk medicine to treat several inflammatory conditions. This study evaluated the effect of the tea, containing total carbohydrates (44.8%), polyphenols (28 gallic acid equivalent - GAE) and proteins (1.3%), and the polysaccharide fraction (FII) of X. americana barks (Tea-Xa) on rat zymosan-induced arthritis, along with the acute toxicity of Tea-Xa given per oral . Female rats ( N = 36; 200–220 g) received Tea-Xa (30–300 mg/kg; p. o. ) or FII (1 mg/kg; i.v.) 2 h after zymosan-induced arthritis, being evaluated for hypernociception, edema and articular leukocyte influx, histopathological alterations (inflammatory signs, tissue necrosis and disorganization, edema). For toxicity (OECD-423) female rats ( N = 9; 170–200 g) received per oral Tea-Xa (300 or 2000 mg/kg) and were observed for behavioral (14 days) and hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters (day 14). Tea-Xa and FII reduced joint hypernociception and edema (47%), articular cavity neutrophils (83%) and nitrite (55%). Joint histopathological analysis revealed that Tea-Xa (30–300 mg/kg) and FII reduce tissue disorganization, and Tea-Xa attenuates the inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis and tissue disorganization. Tea-Xa (LD50 greater than 2000 mg/kg/body weight) did not alter body weight, relative organ mass, liver and kidney function markers, or tissue structure. No alterations were observed of most animal behavioral parameters. The polysaccharides of X. americana possess anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects on zymosan-induced arthritis and Tea-Xa did not produce adverse effects or mortality.