Abstract
Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae) is a natural resource from the Amazonian Forest and is locally known in French Guiana as “loussé” (creole), “tata pilili” (wayãpi), or “ara” (palikur). The tree is used by indigenous populations for medicinal purposes. To increase the potential of this tree for cosmetic, agro-food, or pharmaceutical uses, extracts were obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) from T. guianensis leaves using various extraction solvents such as water, methanol, and methanol–water (85/15; v/v). Chemical (DPPH, TEAC, ORAC) tests were applied to assess the anti-radical potential of these extracts. The polyphenol contents were determined by spectrophotometric (UV/Visible) and by means of chromatographic (UPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-MSn) methods. Tapirira guianensis leaf hydromethanolic extract produced the highest polyphenol content and exhibited antiradical activities in chemical assays (DPPH, TEAC, and ORAC) similar to (or higher than) those of a well-known antiradical plant, green tea. In T. guianensis, two classes of polyphenols were evidenced: (1) galloylquinic acids (identified for the first time in the studied species) and (2) flavonols and flavanols (present in small amounts). Flavonols seemed to play a major role in the antioxidant activity of DPPH. These findings provide a rationale for the use of T. guianensis in traditional medicine and to pave the way for seeking new biological properties involving this Amazonian tree.
Highlights
The use of plant-based extracts has become an important topic in recent years
Compound 3 produced a molecular ion at m/z 647 in the negative ion mode and a major MS2 fragment m/z 495, which could be attributed to the loss of a galloyl residue (152 amu) due to the secondary fragments at m/z 477 (13%; −18: loss of H2O), m/z 343 (12%; 477 − 152: loss of a second galloyl residue), and m/z 325 (7%, −18: loss of H2O)
Fractionation was performed by solid phase extraction (SPE) according to the procedures used by De Villiers et al, 2004, and Monagas et al, 2003, [34,35], with some modifications
Summary
Plants are known to contain important bioactive compounds that may be useful to guarantee the human well-being as well as for the preparation of supplements or nutraceuticals that are enriched with these compounds [1] In this context, the use of plant leaves as alternative sources for the extraction of phytochemicals is a sustainable practice that has increased in recent years. Due to its wide distribution in central and South America, T. guianensis, locally known as “loussé” (creole), “tata pilili” (wayãpi), or “ara” (palikur), is used by indigenous populations for medicinal purposes: treatment for diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding, and vaginal infections; thrush young children; and as an anti-infectious agent (malaria, leprosis, syphilis, leishmaniosis) [2,3,4,5,6,7] It is a medium-sized tree that grows as a source of secondary vegetation and becomes a large tree in primary forests. The polyphenol composition of the latter extracts was determined by chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-MSn)
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