Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity of Solanum sessiliflorum (Cubiu) Extract: An In Vitro Assay.

Journal: Journal of nutrition and metabolism
Published Date: Dec 15, 2015

Abstract

Cubiu is a vegetable of Solanaceae family, native to the Amazon, which is widely distributed through Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. It is used in food, medicine, and cosmetics by native populations. Research has shown that cubiu extracts have antioxidant activities with great biological relevance. We performed a phytochemical screening to identify the main chemical groups that could confer antioxidant activity to this extract. Several tests and qualitative precipitation specific staining for major classes of secondary metabolites were used. Antioxidant capacity in vitro tests (DPPH and ABTS) were also used to assess the extract's ability to sequester free radicals of 70% hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts of cubiu flour. Alkaloids, organic acids, phenols, flavonoid glycosides, and coumarins were found in the hydroethanolic extract while the aqueous extract presented anthocyanins, gums, tannins and mucilage, amino groups, and volatile and fixed acids. For in vitro tests, the IC50 value obtained in the DPPH assay was 606.3 ± 3.5 μg/mL while that for the ABTS assay was 290.3 ± 10.7 µg/mL. Although cubiu extracts present chemical compounds directly related to antioxidant activity, our results show that it has a low antioxidant activity. Additional studies will be needed to isolate and characterize specific compounds to further assess antioxidant activity.

Authors

  • Diego Rocha de Lucena Herrera Mascato
    Programa Multi-Institucional de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
  • Janice B Monteiro
    Division of Biochemistry, Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, USA.
  • Michele M Passarinho
    Programa Multi-Institucional de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
  • Denise Morais Lopes Galeno
    Programa Multi-Institucional de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
  • Rubén J Cruz
    Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, Ponce, PR 00734, USA.
  • Carmen Ortiz
    Divisions of Pharmacology & Toxicology & Cancer Biology, Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, USA.
  • Luisa Morales
    Public Health Program, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, USA.
  • Emerson Silva Lima
    Laboratory of Biological Activity, Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, Federal University of Amazonas, Ave. Rodrigo Otavio Ramos 6200, Coroado, CEP 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
  • Rosany Piccolotto Carvalho
    Programa Multi-Institucional de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.

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