Free radical scavenging activity of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pederson (Amaranthaceae)

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the free radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities of the butanolic (BuOH) extract, methanolic (MeOH) extract and 20-hydroxyecdysone extracted from the roots of Pfaffia glomerata. Materials and methods: Pfaffia glomerata roots were collected, powdered and extracted with methanol by maceration at room temperature. The extract was concentrated under vacuum, yielding a residue, followed by a butanol extraction. The 20-hydroxyecdysone (EC) was obtained by chromatographic separation of the BuOH fraction. An amount of 10 mg of each dry extract and EC was dissolved in 0.1% dimethyl sulphoxide-phosphatebuffered-saline solution (DMSO-PBS) and screened for their capabilities on scavenging thiobarbiturate reactive substances (TBARS). The antioxidant activity of each extract was determined in vitro by measuring malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in erythrocyte ghosts treated with ferric-ascorbate. The investigation has also included the cytotoxicity measurement by Trypan blue exclusion test and tetrazolium reduction assay in mice peritoneal macrophages. Results: The free radical scavenging activity of EC was higher than that present in the BuOH fraction. The MeOH extract showed a remarkable pro-oxidant activity. The ECfree radical reaction-inhibition was almost twice of that of the control α-Tocopherol (αT). The Trypan blue exclusion assay confirmed toxicity of the MeOH extract, whose lethality surpassed 80% of the treated macrophages after 1 h of 0.01 mg exposure per 10 6 cells.Conclusions: The present study shows the antioxidant effect of the Brazilian Ginseng. The scavenging effect was evidenced for EC as well the BuOH fraction. The MeOH extract showed cytotoxicity on mice peritoneal macrophages. Such toxicity is probably due to ginsenosides present in this latter fraction and warrants further toxicological evaluation of the Brazilian Ginseng roots.

Phytochemical Analysis of Pfaffia glomerata Inflorescences by LC-ESI-MS/MS

“…Several pharmaceutical manufacturers have produced phytopharmaceuticals containing P. glomerata , although only the roots have been processed to obtain the active ingredients [3,4]. The extracts show several biological properties including, gastroprotective effects [5], antioxidant activity [6,7], leishmanicidal potential [8], anti-inflammatory activity, and analgesic effect [9].…”

“…However, recent studies have confirmed the presence of significant amounts β-ecdysone in all of the major parts of P. glomerata , including stems and inflorescences [3,13]. Many pharmacological effects are attributed to β-ecdysone, such as antioxidant activity, and wound-healing and skin-regenerating properties, in addition to its use in cosmetic preparations [6,14,15,16].…”

β-ecdysone content and antioxidant capacity in different organs of Brazilian ginseng

“…The extract of Pfaffia glomerata roots has shown several biological properties, such as gastroprotective effects (FREITAS et al, 2004), leishmanicidal potential (TULMANN NETO et al, 2005), antiinflammatory activity, and analgesic effect (TULMANN NETO et al, 2004). Moreover, studies have reported that the extract of Pfaffia glomerata roots has antioxidant activity (DANIEL et al, 2005;LEAL et al, 2010;BATISTA et al, 2019).…”

“…β-ecdysone is a secondary metabolite with biotechnological, pharmacological, medical, and agrochemical applicability (FELIPE et al, 2019). Researchers have reported the antioxidant activity of this compound (DANIEL et al, 2005;LAFONT & DINAN, 2003;BATISTA et al, 2019). NSIMBA et al, (2008) showed that all of the isolated ecdysteroids in their study, including β-ecdysone, inhibited collagenase and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical.…”

“…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. Although considerable investigations have been performed on the roots of P. glomerata to assess different activities, including antioxidant activity, scientific information about the antioxidant properties of other organs of this plant is still unavailable.…”