Abstract
ABSTRACT: Plants that contain antioxidant compounds have attracted increasing interest for their vital role in the attenuation of oxidative damage caused by free radicals and in the treatment of various diseases. The present study investigated the β-ecdysone content and the antioxidant activity of Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia glomerata) extracts obtained from inflorescences, stems, and roots. The P. glomerata extracts were tested for antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, β-carotene bleaching test, and phosphomolybdenum method. The β-ecdysone content of P. glomerata extracts was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The P. glomerata inflorescences showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity and the strongest antioxidant activity in the β-carotene bleaching assay and phosphomolybdenum test. The roots showed the lowest antioxidant capacity in all of the assays. The concentration of β-ecdysone in the plant organs followed the following decreasing order: inflorescences > stems > roots. The present study showed that P. glomerata inflorescence extract had high antioxidant capacity that could be attributed to the presence of β-ecdysone.
Highlights
The plants are considered a major source of natural antioxidants that can produce significant effects in the treatment of various diseases (SHOKRI et al, 2018)
This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of different organs of P. glomerata to identify the plant part that has the highest antioxidant capacity
P. glomerata extracts obtained from the roots, stems, and inflorescences and standard β-ecdysone were dissolved in methanol at a concentration of 3000 μg/ ml in triplicate
Summary
The plants are considered a major source of natural antioxidants that can produce significant effects in the treatment of various diseases (SHOKRI et al, 2018). Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen (Amaranthaceae), traditionally known as Brazilian ginseng, is a Brazilian medicinal plant of great economic interest because of its popularity in Brazil and its potential for exportation (NASCIMENTO et al, 2007). It has promising applications in both phytotherapy and phytomedicine (SALDANHA et al, 2013). Considering the identification of β-ecdysone in P. glomerata inflorescences, stems, and roots (SERRA et al, 2012) and the antioxidant activity of β -ecdysone (DANIEL et al, 2005; NSIMBA et al, 2008), all of the major organs of P. glomerata appear to be sources of natural antioxidants. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of different organs of P. glomerata (the inflorescences, stems, and roots) to identify the plant part that has the highest antioxidant capacity
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