Pharmacological evaluation of Schinus terebinthifolius leaf polysaccharides: from chemical profiling to anti-inflammatory and wound-healing applications.

This study aimed to characterize the physicochemical profile of polysaccharides from Schinus terebinthifolius leaf (PSTL) and evaluate their antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing potential. Colorimetric analyses revealed a total carbohydrate content of 41% (w/w), a total protein content of 8.5% (w/w), and a total phenol content of 1.1% (w/w). Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) identified characteristic functional groups, including O-H, C-H, and C=O. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy indicated low nucleic acid levels. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that these polysaccharides displayed a predominantly amorphous structure with partially ordered crystalline regions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the following molar ratios: glucose (4.19%), galacturonic acid (10.9%), galactose (9.01%), arabinose (9.2%), rhamnose (1.66%), and xylose (65.03%). These findings were consistent with the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The functional tests showed that PSTL demonstrated strong emulsifying, foaming, and oil- and water-retention capacities. The biological evaluation revealed significant, concentration-dependent antioxidant activities (IC50 = 0.69, 0.52, and 0.74 mg/mL for DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 radicals, respectively). In vivo tests showed anti-inflammatory effects, evidenced by a significant reduction in carrageenan-induced paw edema, and notable analgesic effects, as evidenced by decreased writhing responses. Importantly, PSTL promoted wound healing, achieving a 91.6% wound contraction rate at a dose of 40 mg/kg. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that S. terebinthifolius leaf polysaccharides possess multiple pharmacological properties, making PSTL a promising natural extract for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing applications.