Persea major: Content of Total Phenolic Compounds and Masterful Development of Gel for Application in Endodontics.

Abstract

Persea major (Pau de Andrade), is a plant native to southern Brazil known for its medicinal properties, focusing on the bark as a
raw material. The growing interest in herbal medicine research stands out, moving sustainable resources towards the development
of medicines. Persea major has traditionally been used due to its gastroprotective, antibacterial and antiseptic healing properties,
although there is a paucity of publications on its use. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of bioactive compounds,
such as benzyl tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins, with pharmacological potential, including cytotoxic action
against cancer cells. However, its potential in Endodontics remains little explored. In the present study, phenolic compounds were
extracted from three different solvents, water, ethanol:water (70:30 v/v) and ethanol:water:acetic acid (70:25:5) and then the total
concentration of phenolics was quantified by Folin-Ciocalteau method. The most significant result of total phenolic compounds
was observed in the acidified hydroethanolic extract sample (439.9 ± 1.22mg/mL), followed by the hydroethanolic extract sample
(153.2 ± 1.38mg/mL) and the extract sample aqueous (98.8 ± 1.52mg/mL). Subsequently, a pilot formulation of gel containing
Persea major was developed for endodontic use, lesions to bacterial elimination in root canals, with emphasis on the eradication of
Enterococcus faecalis, a bacterium known for its resistance to conventional treatments.