Chemical evaluation and anti-radical activity of varieties of Morus alba l. (morera, moraceae) from Venezuela.

Abstract

Mulberry (Morus alba L.), known as white mulberry, is a plant widely used in medicine and food due to its chemical composition. The qualitative study of the primary and secondary metabolites of the methanolic extracts of the four varieties of Morera was developed by chromatographic profile (TLC) against standards. Quantification was performed through colorimetric assays. All results were analyzed through statistical analysis. The results indicated the existence of similarities between varieties for both primary and secondary metabolites. The radical capacity of the varieties analyzed was also evaluated by finding that the Táchira variety had the highest anti-radical capacity with an IC50 of 553.58 ± 3.23 µg / mL followed by the Maracay IC50 varieties of 1054.01 ± 1.76 µg / mL, Boconó IC50 of 1398.93 ± 2.23 µg / mL and Yu-62 IC50 of 3817.89 ± 18.08 µg / mL. It was found that the use of the thin layer chromatography (CCF) technique was efficient to detect the presence of phenolic compounds, soluble carbohydrates, and amino acids in the four varieties studied. The Yu-62 variety had the highest total phenol contents and proteins; the amino acid content was higher for the Táchira variety, while the soluble carbohydrate content was higher in the Boconó variety. The presence of saponins was not detected in any of the four varieties evaluated