Characterization of Schinus lentiscifolius Marchand (Anacardiaceae) Bark Extract and Its Effects on Lymphocyte Oxidative Stress and Heat Shock Response

Schinus lentiscifolius Marchand has been used in folk medicine to treat immunoinflammatory related diseases, which are marked by OS and altered HSR. Our study aimed to evaluate OS and HSR in lymphocytes treated with S. lentiscifolius bark extracts. S. lentiscifolius barks were partitioned with solvents to obtain hexane (SL‐HEX), ethyl acetate (SL‐ACOET) and methanol (SL‐MEOH) extracts, and the presence of bioactive compounds was evaluated by thin layer chromatography. Total phenols were measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and flavonoids were identified by HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS. Antioxidant capacity was verified by DPPH method, cell viability by Trypan Blue method, lipid peroxidation by TBARS and HSP70 by immunoblotting. The SL‐ACOET extract presented higher content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in vitro. It was able to reduce lipid peroxidation levels in lymphocytes induced by H₂O₂ and improved cell viability. The SL‐ACOET extract inhibited HSR by a decrease in both intracellular content and release of 70 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70) and also by decrease extra‐to‐intracellular HSP70 ratio in lymphocytes submitted to heat shock (2 h, 41 °C). S. lentiscifolius bark extract has antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect on HSR probably due to the presence of polyphenols as the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol.