(624c) Phytochemical Profile and DPPH Free Radical Scavenging of Amazonian Plant Extracts

1. Introduction: The medicinal plants use is based in ethnopharmacology information, and in development countries is the available form to many disease treatments. The Amazonia Rain Florets have the biggest biodiversity in the world, which leads to use of biodiversity, especially plants, for the treatment of diseases in folk medicine. Nevertheless, the popular use of medicinal plants has no security or efficacy proves. Thus, the medicinal plants studies are important.  One of the activities most studied is antioxidant potential, due the free radicals (FR) or oxygen reactivity species (ROS) are involved in cell aging, inflammation process, cardiovascular diseases and cancer [1]. In Amapá State, The Pharmacy of Scientific and Technological Institute Research of Amapá (IEPA) sells plant extract use in folk medicine. Hence, the present work aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and DPPH free radical scavenging of commercial extracts from Dalbergia subcymosa Ducke (common name, Verônica), used from uterine inflammation and anemia treatments; Croton cajucara L. (common name, Sacaca), used as hepatoprotector and hipocholesterolemic; and Licania macrophylla Benth (common name, Anauerá), used in infection processes.

2. Material and methods: The commercial extracts were purchased in September 2014 from Scientific and Technological Institute Research of Amapá (IEPA). The phytochemical profiles were determined by colorimetric methods [2]. The compounds analyzed were phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. The free radical scavenging was evaluated by the DPPH assay [3], using rutin and silymarin (Silybum marianum standardized extract) as positive controls. The DPPH methanol solution was prepared at 60µM, and the spectrophotometric reads were performed at 515nm, after 30 min. The results expressed in EC₅₀.

3. Results and Discussion – The radical scavenger activity of the ethanolic extracts was found that the reduction of DPPH occurred in a concentration-dependent manner, as observed with the decrease in the absorbance of DPPH. The EC₅₀ of radical scavenger activity of the Dalbergia subcymosa Ducke was 36.77±3.55 μg/mL and the phytochemical profile shown the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. The Croton cajucara EC₅₀ of radical scavenger activity value obtained was 35.21±9.13 μg/mL, shown antioxidant activity, and were found in this extract the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and saponins. However, according to Tieppo (2006) [4] the Croton cajucara chloroform extract no show the antioxidant activity, the difference between the results may be due different extraction forms. The popular use of Croton cajucara as anti-inflammatory was proved [5]. The Licania macrophylla Benth ethanolic extract shown the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins, and in revised literature were related the presence of steroids and triterpenoids [6].  The Licania macrophylla Benth EC₅₀ of radical scavenger activity value obtained was 28.50±7.45 μg/mL, result was similar the founded in other specie of the same genre [7]. The present work is the first report of the DPPH scavenger activity from these commercial extracts.

4. Conclusions – The screening of plant extracts using DPPH free radical method proved to be effective for the selection of those, which could have an antioxidant activity.  These extracts are rich in radical scavengers, such as flavonoids and tannins, known as antioxidants.  Further, more studies are necessary to characterize the biological antioxidants.

5. References

[1] J.F.S. Daniel, et. al. J. Brazil. Chem. Soc., 16, (2004) p.634-638

[2] M. Kalegari, et.al. Nutrition., 30, (2014) p. 713-718

[3] W. Brand-Williams, M. E. Cuvelier and C. Berset. LWT-Food Sci. Technol., 28, (1995) p. 25-30.

[5] Perazzo, F. F. et al. Rev. bras. farmacogn. 17 (4), (2007), p.521-528

[6] Gomes, M. L. et al. Rev. Bras. Farm., 87 (1), (2006), p. 26-29

[7] Silva, J.B.N.F. et al. Arch. Biol. Sci., 64 (2), (2012) p. 459-464