Article · Volume 6, Issue 24 · pp. 335–338
Antioxidant activity of five Brazilian plants used as traditional medicines and food in Brazil
Allana K. L. Santos1, José G. M. Costa1, Irwin R. A. Menezes2, Isaac F. Cansanção4, Karla K. A. Santos3, Edinardo F. F. Matias3, Henrique D. M. Coutinho3
- 1Laboratory of Research on Natural Products, Brazil.
- 2Laboratory of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry, Brazil.
- 3Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of Region of Cariri, Crato (CE) Brazil.
- 4College of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Barbalha (CE), Brazil.
Abstract
Background: This study evaluates the radical-scavenging activity of five plants used as food and medicines in the northeastern region of Brazil.Materials and Methods: Spectrophotometric analysis of the plants’ ethanol extracts was carried out. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) test. The antioxidant capacity was measured using ascorbic acid as a positive control.Results: All tested plant extracts showed an antioxidant activity, but the highest activity was observed with the extracts of Momordica charantia and Eugenia jambolana.Conclusions: Therefore, these species must be studied as a putative source of products for use in the prevention and treatment of diseases in which oxidants or free radicals are implicated.
Keywords: DPPH; Eugenia jambolanum; Eugenia uniflora; Hyptis martiusii; Mentha arvensis; Momordica charantia; radical scavenging A B S T R A C T
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