Chemical Profile, Antioxidant Activity, Flavonoids Content and Leaf Anatomy of Odontocarya vitis (Menispermaceae)

Abstract

Odontocarya vitis (Menispermaceae) is endemic to the Atlantic Forest from Brazil, and its family is known in folk medicine to treat inflammation and kidney problems. To the best of our knowledge, there is no description in the literature of chemical, biological activity, and leaf anatomy aspects of this species. The aim of this study was to contribute with data from O. vitis evaluating the chemical composition, the antioxidant activity and flavonoids content of the stems and leaves, and the leaf anatomy. The chemical composition was determined by gas-phase chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy, and long-chain hydrocarbons, steroids, and terpenoids were identified. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic crude extracts was determined by scavenger of the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and showed better results for the stems extracts (7.50±0.81 g extract/g DPPH). The flavonoids content was determined by the colorimetric method and evidenced the presence of these metabolites, with a strong negative correlation between the EC50 values and flavonoids content. Leaf anatomy was evaluated by optical microscopy and showed hypostomatic epidermis with normocytic stomata, dorsiventral mesophyll, and collateral vascularization. These studies can contribute to the knowledge of this species and evidence its potential as a source of active substances.