In the scientific community, there is a growing interest in Tamarindus indica L. leaves, both as a valuable nutrient and as a functional food. This paper focuses on exploring its safety and antioxidant properties. A tamarind leaf fluid extract (TFE) wholly characterised was evaluated for its anti-DPPH activity (IC₅₀ = 44.36 μg/mL) and its reducing power activity (IC₅₀ = 60.87 μg/mL). TFE also exhibited a high ferrous ion-chelating capacity, with an estimated binding constant of 1.085 mol L^− 1 while its influence over nitric oxide production in human leucocytes was irregular. At low concentrations, TFE stimulated NO output, but it significantly inhibited it when there was an increase in concentration. TFE was also classified as a non-toxic substance in two toxicity tests: the acute oral toxicity test and the oral mucous irritability test. Further toxicological assays are needed, although results so far suggest that TFE might become a functional dietary supplement.

Context: Mimosa pudica L., belonging to the Fabaceae family, has been widely used in natural and traditional medicine because of its proven pharmacological properties. The present study examines through a preclinical toxicity assay, the safety of leaves and stems decoction of this plant used in popular medicine. Aims: To evaluate the oral toxicity at repeated doses of the M. pudica aerial parts. Methods: The toxicity assay was carried out using the limit test method by the administration of M. pudica decoction at repeated doses (1000 mg/kg of weight) for 28 days, to NMRI mice of both sexes. The body weight and clinical signs were assessed throughout the experimental period; and hematological and biochemical parameters, as well as, histopathological analysis of the main organs were evaluated at the end of the study. Results: The body weight of the animals treated with the plant decoction showed a significant decrease with respect to controls (p<0.05). The hematological parameters did not show alterations, while the biochemical markers exhibited a decrease in plasma proteins and an increase in glucose and the alanine aminotransferase enzyme activity. The histopathological study showed slight alterations in the brain, liver, lung, heart, thymus, and kidneys of experimental mice. Conclusions: The biochemical and histopathological results suggest that the decoction of M. pudica, administered orally at repeated doses, caused slight alterations that warn about the risks of its traditional use.

In the eastern region of Cuba, there is a traditional use of medicinal plants for various pharmacological purposes, although an inventory of these plant species necessary for the future search for new phytomedicines does not exist in all cases. This is the case for those used to treat central nervous system (CNS) disorders. To evaluate the traditional knowledge in two regions of Eastern Cuba: Santiago de Cuba and Holguín, regarding the use of medicinal plants with sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic effects, an ethnopharmacological study was conducted in two health areas of the main municipalities of these two provinces. A total of 400 people were surveyed, performing the socio-demographic characterization of the evaluated population as well as the qualitative characterization and evaluation of quantitative ethnopharmacological indicators such as the use value index and the significant use level of the medicinal plants used. The surveyed population in both provinces was predominantly female and over 60 years old, with a high level of preparation and professional training. A total of 27 plants were reported in the interviews conducted among the 1637 citations obtained, with similar results between the two provinces. The highest number of citations in both regions corresponded to plants used as sedatives, followed by hypnotics, and finally anxiolytics. Among the most used parts of these plants, the use of leaves prepared in the form of infusions predominated. Of the 8 plant species with the highest acceptance by the population, the plants P. neochilus, J. pectoralis, L. inermis, and P. incarnata obtained the best values for the evaluated ethnopharmacological indicators.

Context: Several factors can affect the erythrocyte cell membrane integrity targeting important hematological alterations that can be avoided by the cytoprotective effect offered by some plant extracts. Aims: To evaluate the cytoprotective activity of Adelia ricinella L. extracts on red blood cells (RBCs) membrane after hypotonic and oxidative treatments. Methods: Total phenols and flavonoid contents were spectrophotometrically determined in three extracts: AR1 (ethanol 95%), AR2 (ethanol 50%), and AR3 (aqueous extract). Luteolin and apigenin were quantified using HPLC-DAD techniques. Hypotonic erythrocyte membrane stabilizing activity of plant extracts, their antioxidant protective effect on H2O2-induced cell damage, and cytotoxicity on Vero cells were explored. Control cells were treated with sodium diclofenac or ascorbic acid. Results: AR2 extract showed the highest values of total phenols/flavonoids, as well as, for luteolin and apigenin with 207.5 and 1.86 µg/mL respectively. The extracts did not exert spontaneous hemolysis following the INVITOX protocol, presumably by the protective effect of high flavonoid content. A concentration-dependent pattern was observed on the hypotonic erythrocyte membrane stabilizing assay, in which both ethanol extracts but mainly AR1 (IC50 = 16.46 µg/mL) showed a significant activity with lower IC50 values than diclofenac-control group. On the other hand, AR2 (IC50 = 17.49 µg/mL) displayed the most potent cytoprotective effect on RBCs after H2O2-induced cell damage. Adelia ricinella extracts were not cytotoxic to mammalian Vero cells (IC50 > 256 μg/mL). Conclusions: The study suggests that Adelia ricinella extracts can promote erythrocyte cytoprotection by protecting both membrane layers, thus preventing potential hematological alterations induced by oxidizing damage and probably, in inflammation-related diseases.