Abstract
Vismia genus is distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central, South America and some areas of Africa. According to previous investigations, antioxidant potential of Vismia species might be related to anthrones, anthraquinones, flavonoids and phenol derivatives biosynthesized by these plants. In this investigation, phytochemical screening of Vismia baccifera (VB) from Mérida-Venezuela and Vismia macrophylla (VM) from Táchira-Venezuela methanolic extracts, carried out using various chemical assays, revealed an abundant presence of anthraquinones in both species analyzed. Glycosides were also present while flavones and dehydroflavones were observed abundantly in VB but moderated in VM. Triterpenes were also detected and steroids showed to be abundant in VM but moderate in VB. On the other hand, antioxidant capacity measured by the DPPH assay showed that VM possesses a stronger antioxidant activity than VB with IC50 5.50 µg mL-1. Phenol and flavonoid assays carried out by Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric test also revealed that methanol extracts of both species contain high concentrations of these metabolites. A relationship between the antioxidant activity, total phenol and flavonoids content of the extracts analyzed was demonstrated in this investigation since those samples with higher phenolic concentrations showed likewise higher antioxidant activity.
Highlights
Free radicals such as superoxide ions, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive species generated from normal oxygen metabolism as well as different exogenous factors (Parajuli, Pun, Parajuli, & Jamarkattel-Pandit, 2012) and biochemical reactions from human organisms (Álvarez et al, 2008)
Recent investigations have proved the antioxidant potential of V. ferruginea and V. baccifera extracts, and the results have indicated that this activity may be related to chemical compounds biosynthesized by these plants (Álvarez et al, 2008)
Phytochemical screening of methanolic extracts of Vismia baccifera (VB) and Vismia macrophylla (VM) was carried out using various chemical assays in order to identify either the presence or absence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, coumarins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, glycosides, quinones, saponins, tannins, steroids and triterpenoids
Summary
Free radicals such as superoxide ions, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are highly reactive species generated from normal oxygen metabolism as well as different exogenous factors (Parajuli, Pun, Parajuli, & Jamarkattel-Pandit, 2012) and biochemical reactions from human organisms (Álvarez et al, 2008). The search for natural antioxidants that might prevent these degenerative diseases has attracted the attention of researchers; as a result, a number of investigations have revealed that such diseases may be prevented by a proper intake of antioxidants (Shah & Hossain, 2014; Hossain & Shah, 2015). Plant extracts have revealed to be a major source of chemical compounds with high antioxidant activity (Lizcano, Fadil-Bakkali, Ruiz-Larrea, & Ruiz-Sanz, 2010; Baydar, Özkan, & Yasar, 2007; Tepe & Sokmen, 2007). Vismia genus (Hypericaceae) comprises approximately 55 species, distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America (Botta, Delle-Monache, Delle-Monache, Marini-Bettolo, & Menichini, 1986).
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