In vitro biological evaluation of extracts of Lafoensia glyptocarpa Koehne (Lythraceae)

Despite the importance of the use of animal models in scientific research, the ethical debates that involve these uses have been directing several areas to the search for alternatives to this practice, since in some cases animals are treated in a barbaric way during the experiments. Several in vitro tests have already been carried out, which have proved to be very efficient, such as toxicity tests in cell cultures and cell viability, but a barrier is the regulatory tests, as each organism reacts in a different way. Every new medical device or drug must undergo an assessment of the biological effects of its exposure to the human body, which includes cytotoxicity tests. These tests are prioritized as indicators of toxicity, as they are simple, fast and have high sensitivity. The performance of cytotoxicity tests is important for extracts of native Brazilian plant species with medicinal potential, which are still in the identification and standardization phase of their uses. Due to the use of medicinal plants in Brazil as several alternative treatments, it is essential that the population is previously warned about the risks involved with the use of these natural extracts. This project aims to apply in vitro cytotoxicity tests, evaluating the effects of Lafoensia glyptocarpa extracts in cells, seeking to demonstrate the sensitivity levels of these tests in order to contribute to the reduction (and possible replacement) of animal models.