Background:Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) L.P. Queiroz (Fabaceae) is a tree which is native to Brazil, widely known as “Jucá,” where its herbal derivatives are used in folk medicine with several therapeutic properties. The constituents, which have already been described in the fruit, are mainly hydrolysable tannins (gallic acid [GA] and ellagic acid [EA]).Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the phenolic variability in the fruit of L. ferrea by ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) and chromatographic methods (high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]/high-performance thin layer chromatography [HPTLC]).Materials and Methods:Several samples were collected from different regions of Brazil and the qualitative (fingerprints by HPTLC and HPLC) and quantitative analysis (UV/VIS and HPLC) of polyphenols were performed.Results:The HPTLC and HPLC profiles allowed separation and identification of both major analytical markers: EA and GA. The chemical profiles were similar in a number of spots or peaks for the samples, but some differences could be observed in the intensity or area of the analytical markers for HPTLC or HPLC, respectively. Regarding the quantitative analysis, the polyphenolic content by UV/VIS ranged from 13.99 to 37.86 g% expressed as GA or from 10.75 to 29.09 g% expressed as EA. The contents of EA and GA by liquid chromatography-reversed phase (LC-RP) method ranged from 0.57 to 2.68 g% and from 0.54 to 3.23 g%, respectively.Conclusion:The chemical profiles obtained by HPTLC or HPLC, as well as the quantitative analysis by spectrophotometry or LC-RP method, were suitable for discrimination of each herbal sample and can be used as tools for the comparative analysis of the fruits from L. ferrea.SUMMARY The polyphenols of fruits of Libidibia ferrea can be quantified by UV/VIS and HPLCThe HPLC method was able to detect the gallic and ellagic acids in several samples of fruits of Libidibia ferreaThe phenolic profiles of fruits from Libidibia ferrea by HPTLC and HPLC were reproductible. Abbreviations used: HPTLC: high performance thin layer chromatography, HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography, UV-Vis: spectrophotometry

Background: Several countries have made an association that how conventional and traditional medicines support the rational use of medicinal plants in different treatments. Brazil has stimulated the cultivation of and the development of the studies of Libidibia ferrea, a plant with medicinal properties, which are provided by the presence of bioactive compounds in its several parts, such as fruits. The synthesis of these biomolecules may increase with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) inoculation. However, there have been no previous reports about the optimization in the production of biomolecules in the fruits of mycorrhizal L. ferrea. Objective: The aim of this study was to define the potential advantages of inoculation with AMF by increasing the production of biomolecules and antioxidant activity in fruits of mycorrhizal L. ferrea. Methods: The phytochemical and mycorrhizal analyses occurred after 32 months of transplanting to the field and the plants were inoculated or not with Acaulospora longula, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Gigaspora albida and then by transplanting the seedlings to the field. Results: Compared to those from the control treatment, the concentration of phenols and tannins in the fruits of L. ferrea inoculated with A. longula increased 26.4% and 39.8% (p <0.05), respectively. The fruits also had higher antioxidant activity. In contrast, the concentration of phosphorus in the fruits of L. ferrea inoculated with A. longula and C. etunicatum was not incresead. Because the concentration of phosphorus in fruits was verified in this study. Conclusion: Mycorrhization increased the concentration of biocompounds and antioxidant activity in the fruits of L. ferrea, which is of great interest to the herbal medicine industry.