The expressive use of medicinal plants promotes a growing need to understand the properties of vegetal compounds and their possible biologically active behaviors. Studies focusing on Croton heliotropiifolius have reported a predominant presence of alkaloids, polyphenols and reducing compounds. This species is reported as useful in relieving stomach pain and dysentery and as an antipyretic. This study aimed to evaluate the hemolytic capacity of the methanolic extract of C. heiotropiifoliusbyin vitroosmotic fragility assay in erythrocytes, and determine the antioxidant potential of this extract using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)method. The osmotic fragility assay was performed at the concentrations 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 μg/mL of extract. For the in vitro photocolorimetry of free radical sequestration using DPPH, the concentrations used were 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL. The methanolic extract of C. heliotropiifolius showed a low in vitro hemolytic activity under the test conditions. The highest concentration (1,000 μg/mL) showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in relation to the other concentrations, but reached a percentage of 2.95%,a low percentage to confirm hemolysis. Regarding antioxidant capacity, all the concentrations tested presented statistical differences at a level of significance of p<0.001. The improvement in the antioxidant activity index followed an increase in extract concentration. Thus, it is probable that there is no damage to the erythrocyte membrane and that the extract has compounds able to stabilize free radicals. Our study provides important data, contributing to a possible development of herbal medicines in addition to improving the scientific knowledge on Croton heliotropiifolius.
