Avaliação da qualidade físico-química e caracterização fitoquímica de Miconia albicans (Canela-de-velho) comercializada no município de Cuité - PB.

Abstract

Plants are the oldest resource used by societies to treat various diseases. Over the years, knowledge has spread and medicinal plants have started to be cultivated and marketed as a therapeutic alternative. In folk medicine, Miconia albicans is used to treat arthritis, osteoarthritis, intestinal disorders and infections. In this perspective, the present work proposed to evaluate the physical-chemical quality parameters and the phytochemistry of four samples of M. albicans (A, B, C and D) commercialized in Cuité-PB city. Therefore, the organoleptic characteristics of color and odor analysis was carried out; microscopic characterization, foreign material and tests to determine the moisture content, total ash, dry residue and pH, in addition to the phytochemical groups determination. The results obtained for the four M. albicans samples were compared among themselves and with the existing literature. For the organoleptic characteristics, all presented the characteristic leaf color for the species; for odor, only sample B did not present a characteristic aroma, resembling seasoning, which may characterize contamination. In the microscopic analysis, it was possible to observe the adaxial epidermis without the stomata presence, the abaxial face covered by arachnoid trichomes, dorsiventral mesophyll and vein with xylem in the half moon shape, with phloem around and in the center; the foreign material content was higher than pharmacopeial specifications for all samples. Moisture content ranged from 12.14% ± 0.13 to 13.77% ± 2.36; total ash in the range of 3.65% ± 0.09 to 4.71% ± 0.12%; dry residue from 0.10% ± 0.01 to 0.14% ± 0.01; pH from 4.03 ± 0.14 to 4.55 ± 0.13. Phytochemical screening identified a strong phenolic compounds presence, and moderate to weak alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins presence; only sample B did not show positivity for tannins. The results show the need for further studies in order to standardize values in the physical-chemical parameters, in order to attest analyzed material quality. The data also reveal the species therapeutic potential, especially by the presence of compunds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.