Evaluation of antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extract of Cynara scolymus L. (Asteraceae) in vitro and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

George Laylson da Silva Oliveira; Francisco Rodrigo de Asevedo Mendes de Oliveira; Marcus VinÃ­cius Oliveira Barros de Alencar; Antonio Luiz Gomes Junior; Alexandre Araujo de Souza; Ana AmÃ©lia de Carvalho Melo Cavalcante; Rivelilson Mendes de Freitas

doi:10.5897/AJPP2013.3836

African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
Language: English
ISSN: 1996-0816
DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
Start Year: 2007
Published Articles: 2286

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extract of Cynara scolymus L. (Asteraceae) in vitro and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

George Laylson da Silva Oliveira

George Laylson da Silva Oliveira
Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Francisco Rodrigo de Asevedo Mendes de Oliveira

Francisco Rodrigo de Asevedo Mendes de Oliveira
Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Marcus VinÃcius Oliveira Barros de Alencar

Marcus VinÃcius Oliveira Barros de Alencar
Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Antonio Luiz Gomes Junior

Antonio Luiz Gomes Junior
Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Alexandre Araujo de Souza

Alexandre Araujo de Souza
Federal University of PiauÃ, CCN, Chemistry Department, Ininga, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Ana AmÃ©lia de Carvalho Melo Cavalcante

Ana AmÃ©lia de Carvalho Melo Cavalcante
Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Rivelilson Mendes de Freitas

Rivelilson Mendes de Freitas
Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, 64048-901, Brazil.
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Article Number - 893C7BD43059
Vol.8(5), pp. 136-147 , February 2014
https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPP2013.3836

Accepted: 03 February 2014
Published: 08 February 2014

Abstract

The present study evaluated the antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Cynara scolymus on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, proficient and deficient in antioxidant defenses, and by in vitro methods with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), inhibition of hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, formation of nitric oxide, and removal of the hydroxyl radical. A simultaneous quantitative analysis to total phenolics, flavonoids and hydrolysable tannin was also performed, and according to the results obtained, phenolic compounds (661.15 ± 20.11 mg GAE/g of E), flavonoids (123.96 ± 11.47 mg R/g of E) and hydrolysable tannin (14.25 ± 3.18 mg GAE/g of E) were detected in the aqueous extract of C. scolymus. The aqueous extract at study showed high antioxidant capacity in all antioxidant methods in vitro and exhibited significant antioxidant capacity to protect strains of S. cerevisiae from oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. The analysis of the correlation made between the content of phenolic compounds and the different antioxidants in vitro methods, indicated that these compounds are mainly responsible for the antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extract of C. scolymus. Therefore, this study suggests that the aqueous extract of leaves of C. scolymus is a great natural source of compounds with antioxidant capacity.