PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND ANTIOXISING ACTIVITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM CASTAINHO - PE

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants is deeply rooted in the history of traditional populations, representing an important therapeutic tool in vulnerable communities, such as quilombolas. These communities often depend on local natural resources for the treatment of various diseases, which justifies the search for scientifically validating the use of plant species with therapeutic potential. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of three species with high use value in the quilombola community of Castainho, Garanhuns-PE: Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze, Momordica charantia L. and Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit. The leaves were collected, dried and submitted to infusion to obtain the extracts. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds, such as tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes, and saponins. The quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids indicated significant concentrations, especially Hyptis pectinata (503.86 μg/mg of polyphenols). The evaluation of the antioxidant activity by the DPPH method demonstrated that only Hyptis pectinata sequestered 50% of the DPPH radical, indicating its significant antioxidant potential. The fact that Acanthospermum australe and Momordica charantia did not present the same sequestration capacity may be related to the concentration of the extracts used in the assay. These findings suggest that the plants studied have compounds with therapeutic potential, reinforcing the importance of bioprospecting in traditional communities.