Antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects in extracts of the medicinal herb Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. ("marcela")

Abstract

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. (Compositae) is a medicinal herb used in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay for its choleretic, antispasmodic and hepatoprotective properties. The presence of the flavonoid quercetin and its derivatives, and of different phenolic acids such as caffeic, chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids in the aerial parts of this plant has led us to study the antioxidant activity of its extracts using different bioassays. The inhibition of luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence by the aqueous and methanolic extracts was used to show that their total reactive antioxidant potential index (TRAP; in µM Trolox equivalents) was 91.0 ± 15.4 and 128.1 ± 20.1 µM, respectively, while the total antioxidant reactivity index (TAR) was calculated to be 1537 ± 148 and 1910 ± 171 µM. Only the methanolic extract was capable of reducing iron (II)-dependent DNA damage. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by two different methods. The aqueous extract reduced hydroperoxide-initiated chemiluminescence in rat liver homogenates at all concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, with a calculated IC 50 = 225 µg/ml, while the methanolic extract was only effective at higher concentrations (100 and 1000 µg/ml). Both aqueous and methanolic extracts were capable of reducing the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in rat liver homogenates, with an IC 50 >1000 µg/ml. The results obtained suggest that the extracts of A. satureioides possess significant free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity in vitro, a fact that should encourage future in vivo studies.

Comparative profiles of Achyrocline alata (Kunth) DC. and A. satureioides (Lam.) DC., Asteraceae, applying HPLC-DAD-MS

“…In others surveys, made in some cities of the state, in special those towards the Brazilian border with the Latin American country, in this case Paraguay and Bolivia, A. alata continued being cited as the most used species in popular medicine (Siqueira & Palhano, 1994). However, no pharmacological report of A. alata was found in the literature, whereas previously pharmacological evaluations were reported about A. satureioides, which showed antispasmodic and relaxing effects; anti-inflammatory (Simões et al, 1988, Hnatyszyn et al, 2004, Fachinetto et al, 2007, analgesic and sedative activities, effects on intestinal transit and antioxidant action (Desmarchelier et al, 1998, Leal et al, 2006, Grassi-Zampieron et al, 2009.…”

Dados químicos e farmacológicos sobre as plantas utilizadas como medicinais pela comunidade do bairro Ponta Grossa, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

“…Este efeito foi atribuído à atividade β-adrenérgica da sinefrina (Calapai et al, 1999). Esta substância também está correlacionada com uma ação redutora da pressão portal, possivelmente através de uma vasoconstrição arterial, detectada na infusão da casca do fruto (Huang et al, 1995 (Desmarchelier et al, 1998;Simões, 1984;Ferraro et al, 1981), ácido clorogênico e isoclorogênico (Desmarchelier et al, 1998), derivados da fenilpirona e cavapirona (Kaloga et al, 1983), fl avonóides (Desmarchelier et al, 1998;Mesquita et al, 1986;Simões, 1984), minerais (Puhlmann et al, 1992;Bassani, 1990), óleos voláteis (Lorenzo et al, 2000) e polissacarídeos (Puhlmann et al, 1992;Wagner et al, 1985). Para revisão, ver Petrovick et al (1997).…”

“…Para revisão, ver Petrovick et al (1997). Dados farmacológicos: Diferentes extratos (aquoso, etanólico e hidroalcóolico) e frações purifi cadas (polissacarídeos e fl avonóides) das infl orescências, folhas e caules têm sido extensivamente estudados, in vitro e in vivo, por diferentes autores, apresentando resultados promissores para as seguintes atividades: antiinfl amatória, antiespasmódica e analgésica (Santos, 1996;Silva, 1993;Simões et al, 1988Simões et al, , 1986Simões, 1988Simões, , 1984Schenkel, 1985), colerética (Kadarian et al, 2002), sedativa (Simões et al, , 1986Simões, 1984), imunoestimulante (Puhlmann et al, 1992;Simões et al, 1986;Wagner et al;, antiviral (Simões, 1992), antimicrobiana (Gutkind et al, 1981;Mota, 1963), hipoglicemiante (Gugliucci; Menini, 2002a) e antioxidante Menini, 2002b;Souza, 2002;Desmarchelier et al, 1998).…”

Antioxidant Effect of Nanoemulsions Containing Extract of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D.C.—Asteraceae

“…The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract (SE80) was higher than the isolated quercetin (Q). It is known that some fractions of A. satureioides extracts can exhibit synergism, as compared to a solution of pure quercetin, thus increasing their antioxidant properties (8). The increase of antioxidant effect after nanoencapsulation has been previously reported by some authors.…”

“…This plant is native to South America and grows in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and many other activities have been attributed, including antiinflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial (5-7). The antioxidant potential of the methanolic and ethanolic extractive solutions of A. satureioides has already been described (6,8). Interestingly, some fractions of lyophilized ethanolic extracts proved to be more effective than isolated compounds, leading to the conclusion that possible synergism occurs (9,10).…”