The "Joseph's Coat" plant (Alternanthera littoralis) is native to the Brazilian coast and has been used since ancient times in folk medicine to treat inflammations, microbial infections, and parasitic diseases, but scientific evidence supporting its uses has been limited until now.
The study first focused on the chemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of the plant's aerial parts to identify its bioactive compounds, a task performed by Marcos Salvador, a pharmacist at the Institute of Biology (IB) of the State University of Campinas. Subsequently, the team, led by pharmacologist Candida Casuilla from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Federal University of Guadalupe, evaluated the extract's efficacy in experimental models of arthritis.
"We conducted toxicological analyses to ensure the safety of the extract," explained Ariel Cristina Arena, associate professor in the Department of Structural and Functional Biology at the Institute of Life Sciences at São Paulo State University.
The results showed that the ethanolic extract of A. littoralis significantly reduced inflammation in laboratory animals, with a decrease in edema, improved joint health indicators, and modulation of inflammatory mediators, indicating antioxidant and tissue-protective effects.
Arena noted that these findings enhance the plant's medicinal potential, establish a solid scientific foundation for preclinical research, and pave the way for the development of future herbal products. The study also confirmed the extract's safety at therapeutic doses, making it promising for potential human use.
However, the researcher cautioned against immediate clinical use, explaining that further toxicological analyses, clinical studies, and standardization of the extract are needed to ensure safety, efficacy, and pharmaceutical quality, in addition to meeting regulatory requirements.
The study was published in the journal Ethnopharmacology.
