Antioxidant activities and HPLC/DAD analysis of phenolics and carotenoids from the barks of Cariniana domestica (Mart.) Miers

Abstract

The species Cariniana domestica belongs to Lecythidaceae and is popularly known as Jequitiba. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities from different bark extracts using DPPH and TBARS assays, as well as identify and quantify phenolic compounds and carotenoids by means of HPLC/DAD. The plasma lipid peroxidation was induced with iron sulfate in male Wistar rats and the radical scavenging activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Folin-Ciocalteu was used to determine the phenolic content. TBARS assay varied from 11.11±0.85 to 44.5±2.31 and DPPH from 6.5±0.81 to 19.5±1.32 μg mL-1. The phenolic content ranged from 54.6±0.33 to 309.3±2.73. Beta-carotene (3.73±1.02%) was found in dichloromethane fraction. Several phenolic compounds were identified in ethyl acetate fraction, being caffeic acid the most abundant compound (5.81±0.64%). Results obtained indicated that C. domestica exhibits great antioxidant properties. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc.