Phytochemical Profile and In Vivo Assessment of Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cenostigma pluviosum var. peltophoroides (Benth.) Gagnon & G.P. Lewis.

Cenostigma pluviosum var. peltophoroides, known as "sibipiruna," is a plant rich in polyphenols used in traditional medicine for gastrointestinal disorders. The study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the crude ethanolic extract of the stem bark (CEECP), evaluating its in vivo toxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity and anti-inflammatory activity. The plant material was macerated in 95% ethanol for 72 h, and the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation to obtain CEECP. Chemical characterization was performed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS in negative mode. In vivo approaches were performed using male/female Swiss albino mice. Acute toxicity was assessed at a single high dose of 2000 mg/kg. Mutagenicity was investigated by the micronucleus test and genotoxicity by the comet assay, both at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in carrageenan-induced paw edema and peritonitis models, at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of hydrolyzable tannins, phenolic acid heterosides, and biflavonoids. The safety profile of the CEECP was demonstrated for the first time, with no evidence of acute toxicity, mortality, mutagenicity, or genotoxicity at the tested doses. The extract significantly reduced paw edema in a dose-dependent manner at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, with inhibition rates of 65.78% and 73.12%, respectively, and also decreased leukocyte migration in the peritonitis model by 61.81% and 72.79% at the same doses. These findings indicate the CEECP as a source of pharmacologically relevant phytocompounds and, most notably, demonstrate its pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the extract exhibited a favorable safety profile in the toxicological evaluations, highlighting the extract as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.