Leaves and barks of Luehea divaricata (Malvaceae) are used in folk medicine for the treatment of
infectious diseases, tumors, rheumatism and diabetes. This work presents in vivo experiments
(rats and mice) supported by in vitro and chemical analyses in order to address the above mentioned
folk medicinal uses. The phenolic constituents of both aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts
are mainly catechin derivatives (135.4 and 215.9 mg/g, respectively). Both extracts displayed
strong antioxidant activity. They also showed antiproliferative activities against tumor
cells, nitric oxide synthesis inhibition (indicative of anti-inflammatory activity) and antimicrobial
activity against a variety of infectious agents. Paracetamol-induced liver injury in rats, which
has a high inflammatory component, was substantially attenuated in animals treated with the hydro-
alcoholic extract (200 mg kg−1 day−1). This was deduced from aspartate aminotransferase
and alanine aminotransferase measurements in plasma as well as from the hepatic activities of
catalase and superoxide dismutase. Both extracts inhibited the pancreatic α-amylase with IC50
values of 11.50±0.05 and 18.70±3.87 μg/mL for the hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extract, respectively.
Both extracts inhibited starch digestion in mice at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. In
general terms the results confirm several of the vox populi notions about the therapeutic potential
of L. divaricata, the antidiabetic action, combined with the hepatoprotective effect, being the
most relevant observations. Not less important is the economical perspective for the rural producers
which may eventually increase their revenue by selling increasingly valued raw materials derived
from L. divaricata based on its therapeutic properties.
