Chemical Characterization and Effects of Aqueous Uncaria tomentosa Stem-Bark Extract on Keratinocyte Scratch Closure and Inflammatory and Redox Responses
8 affiliations
- 1Graduate Program in Basic and Applied Immunology, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus 69077-000, AM, Brazil
- 2GERONTEC Research Center, Open University Foundation of the Third Age, Manaus 69029-040, AM, Brazil
- 3Amazonas Institute of Forensic Science, Manaus 69090-000, AM, Brazil
- 4Research Group in Sustainable Chemistry and Metabolomics, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
- 5Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil
- 6Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
- 7Biogenomics Laboratory, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
- 8Graduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, RS, Brazil
Abstract
Background: Plant-derived bioactive compounds are increasingly investigated as modulators of cellular processes associated with healthy aging. Uncaria tomentosa is traditionally consumed as a botanical preparation, but the effects of its aqueous stem-bark extract on keratinocyte repair-related responses remain insufficiently characterized. Methods: The extract was examined using colorimetric assays, DPPH radical scavenging, and untargeted LC-HRMS/MS with molecular networking and in silico class prediction. Cell viability, membrane integrity, extracellular NDUFS7, superoxide, nitric oxide-related products, and cell-cycle distribution were assessed at 1–100 µg/mL. Scratch closure, cytomorphology, IL-1β, and TNF-α were evaluated at 1, 3, and 10 µg/mL. Results: The aqueous extract contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids and exhibited DPPH-scavenging activity. LC-HRMS/MS supported a diverse profile including flavonoid glycosides, caffeoylquinic acids, procyanidins, iridoids, and putative triterpenoid glycosides. The extract preserved viability and membrane integrity and did not produce marked basal redox imbalance or increased extracellular NDUFS7. It moderately redistributed cell-cycle phases without a classical arrest pattern. Scratch closure increased at 6 and 24 h. IL-1β decreased at 1 and 3 µg/mL, whereas TNF-α remained broadly stable. Conclusions: The aqueous extract enhanced keratinocyte monolayer closure and selectively modulated inflammatory and redox-metabolic responses relevant to inflammaging. Cellular senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype were not directly demonstrated.
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BibTeX
@article{ribeirofilho2026chemical,
title = {{Chemical Characterization and Effects of Aqueous Uncaria tomentosa Stem-Bark Extract on Keratinocyte Scratch Closure and Inflammatory and Redox Responses}},
author = {Euler Ribeiro-Filho and Verônica Farina Azzolin and Vitória Farina Azzolin and Ednea Aguiar Maia-Ribeiro and Suziani da Cruz and Madson do Nascimento and João Batista Xavier Moraes and Josiel do Nascimento Amazonas and Alan Diego da Conceição Santos and Maria Eduarda Chelotti and Débora Filipetto Pulcinelli and Fernanda Barbisan and Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213715},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3715},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Chemical Characterization and Effects of Aqueous Uncaria tomentosa Stem-Bark Extract on Keratinocyte Scratch Closure and Inflammatory and Redox Responses
AU - Euler Ribeiro-Filho
AU - Verônica Farina Azzolin
AU - Vitória Farina Azzolin
AU - Ednea Aguiar Maia-Ribeiro
AU - Suziani da Cruz
AU - Madson do Nascimento
AU - João Batista Xavier Moraes
AU - Josiel do Nascimento Amazonas
AU - Alan Diego da Conceição Santos
AU - Maria Eduarda Chelotti
AU - Débora Filipetto Pulcinelli
AU - Fernanda Barbisan
AU - Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213715
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3715
AB - Background: Plant-derived bioactive compounds are increasingly investigated as modulators of cellular processes associated with healthy aging. Uncaria tomentosa is traditionally consumed as a botanical preparation, but the effects of its aqueous stem-bark extract on keratinocyte repair-related responses remain insufficiently characterized. Methods: The extract was examined using colorimetric assays, DPPH radical scavenging, and untargeted LC-HRMS/MS with molecular networking and in silico class prediction. Cell viability, membrane integrity, extracellular NDUFS7, superoxide, nitric oxide-related products, and cell-cycle distribution were assessed at 1–100 µg/mL. Scratch closure, cytomorphology, IL-1β, and TNF-α were evaluated at 1, 3, and 10 µg/mL. Results: The aqueous extract contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids and exhibited DPPH-scavenging activity. LC-HRMS/MS supported a diverse profile including flavonoid glycosides, caffeoylquinic acids, procyanidins, iridoids, and putative triterpenoid glycosides. The extract preserved viability and membrane integrity and did not produce marked basal redox imbalance or increased extracellular NDUFS7. It moderately redistributed cell-cycle phases without a classical arrest pattern. Scratch closure increased at 6 and 24 h. IL-1β decreased at 1 and 3 µg/mL, whereas TNF-α remained broadly stable. Conclusions: The aqueous extract enhanced keratinocyte monolayer closure and selectively modulated inflammatory and redox-metabolic responses relevant to inflammaging. Cellular senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype were not directly demonstrated.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -