ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic "aroeira" (Myracrodruon urundeuva) extract on the viability of human gingival fibroblast. For this, fibroblasts (2x103 cells/well) were plated in a 96-well plate and incubated for 24 h; the medium (Eagle's medium modified by Dulbecco - DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum was replaced by DMEM with different ethanolic extract concentration (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000μg / mL). The fibroblast viability was analyzed after 48,72, and 96 h by the neutral red capture test and violet crystal. The "aroeira" extract, at high concentrations (100 and 1000 µg/mL) caused decrease in both cellular viability tests (p<0.05). However, dilutions between 0.1 and 10 µg/mL did not affect the viability of the cells. It was concluded that "aroeira" extract was able to change the gingival fibroblast viability, and this effect was concentration dependent.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated subcutaneous tissue response to Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva) extract employing edemogenic and histological analyses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Test groups consisted of aqueous and ethanolic Aroeira extracts and saline (control). For edema quantification, 18 rats received an intravenous injection of Evan's Blue. After 30 min, the extracts and saline were injected on the dorsum of the rats, which were then sacrificed after 3 and 6 h. Readings were performed in a spectrophotometer. For subcutaneous implantation, 30 rats received a polyethylene tube containing the extracts on their dorsum and then they were killed after 7 and 28 days. The samples were processed for histological analysis and evaluated with a light microscope. The inflammatory infiltrate was quantified. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between aqueous extract and saline groups in relation to edema quantification in the different periods (p>0.05). Ethanolic solution resulted in more edema independently of the experimental period (p<0.05). Histological analysis showed similar results on the 7-day period for the 3 groups. There was a notable reduction on inflammatory cell number for saline and aqueous extract groups at 28 days. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract showed biocompatible properties similar to those of saline.