Analysis of Polysaccharide Fraction from Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) on Regeneration of Planarian (Girardia tigrina)

The present study evaluates the regenerative activity of a polysaccharide fraction from yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) using planarian (Girardia tigrina) as a model. At 10 mg L-1, the polysaccharide fraction improves the regeneration of the head, pharynx, and tail of G. tigrina. At the end of experiment, at 10 mg L-1, the planarians obtained are 22-72% higher than the control group. The planarian fragments exposed to the highest concentration used, i.e., (60 mg mL(-1)), show signs of toxicity, producing death of some organisms. Thus, the polysaccharide fraction presents a great potential for improving the regeneration of planarian segments, suggesting its potential use in tissue regeneration.