Amazonian Eryngium foetidum leaves exhibited very high contents of bioactive compounds and high singlet oxygen quenching capacity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Phenolic compounds and carotenoids profile of Amazonian Eryngium foetidum leaves and the quenching ability of their hydrophilic extract against singlet oxygen (1O2) were determined. Chlorogenic acid (4327 μg/g, dry basis, d.b.) was the major phenolic compound in the leaves at very high concentrations, while lutein (205 μg/g, d.b.) and β-carotene (161 μg/g, d.b.) were the major carotenoids. The extract of E. foetidum leaves was able to scavenge DPPH● (91.6% at 5 mg/mL), ABTS●+ (15.77 μM Trolox equivalent/g extract) and it exhibited high efficiency to protect tryptophan against 1O2, with IC50 at 343 μg/mL and 78% of protection at the highest tested concentration (625 μg/mL). Therefore, E. foetidum leaves can be exploited as an accessible natural source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties to be used by the food or pharmaceutical industries.