Actividad antioxidante del extracto metanólico y de las fracciones de Desmodium molliculum obtenidas por el método de partición líquido-líquido

Abstract

In Ecuador, Desmodium molliculum is known as “infant herb” and stands out for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The literature reports that phenolic compounds (flavonoids) are the main components of the species, therefore it is of interest due to its biological activity, including the afore mentioned antioxidant capacity, which could delay or inhibit cell damage, protecting them. In the present research work, the antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract and the fractions obtained by the liquid-liquid partition method were evaluated. The evaluation of antioxidant activity was carried out using the techniques: DPPH, FRAP and ABTS, and the content of total polyphenols by the Folin Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant capacity resulting from the application of the DPPH and FRAP techniques were higher for the fraction defatted with hexane with values of 234.72 ± 5.11 mg Trolox/g dry extract and 348.19 ± 5.42 mg Trolox/ g dry extract respectively, while for ABTS it was the chloroform fraction with a value of 226.07 ± 3.91 mg Trolox/g dry extract. The content of total polyphenols was 146.7 mg AG/g extract (crude extract), 195.07 mg AG/g extract (defatted fraction), 188.22 mg AG/g extract (chloroform fraction), 181.70 mg AG/g extract (aqueous fraction), 112.18 mg AG/g extract (tannin-free fraction) and 108.58 mg AG/g extract (fraction with tannins) with a value of p=2.1391E-09. From these results it is concluded that the content of total polyphenols is higher in the defatted fraction and there is a correlation between it and the antioxidant capacity.