Physicochemical characterization of the vegetal drug and nebulized extract of the roots from Apodanthera congestiflora Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae)

Apodanthera congestiflora Cogn. is a Brazilian Cucurbitaceae, known for its anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic activities. The objective of this work was to determine the physicochemical characteristics of the vegetal drug (VD) and the nebulized aqueous extract (NAE) from A. congestiflora using official methods and other analytical techniques: scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction and infrared, applied in the characterization of plant extracts. The VD and NAE presented varied granulometry and acceptable moisture, ash, pH and density. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy have suggested that the particles of the compounds analyzed are amorphous, with different sizes. The thermal decomposition of the vegetal raw material occurred in four stages, with characteristic events of the loss of free water, volatile substances, bound water to herbal products and organic compounds, besides the presence of inorganic material, verified in elemental analysis in EDS. The curves observed in the DTA showed three peaks, the first being endothermic and others exothermic. Such characteristics have confirmed the preliminary analysis of sieving, ash content and moisture. Phytochemical screening showed positive results for saponins, alkaloids and polysaccharides, and in the semiquantitative assays, the values were 59.84 ± 1.24 mg g⁻¹ for total polyphenols, 55.28 ± 7.14 mg g⁻¹ for tannins and 34.78 ± 2.79 mg g⁻¹ for flavonoids. Infrared spectra showed characteristic peaks of O–H, C–H, C=O, C=C and C–O groups, which together with the results of the phytochemical analysis reinforce the presence of these phytochemicals. The results revealed that the analytical techniques allowed the joint characterization of the VD and the NAE, providing subsidies for the obtaining of a phytotherapic.