Phenolic composition, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities of edible and medicinal plants from the peruvian amazon

Abstract

Among 23 extracts of medicinal and edible plants tested, Mauritia flexuosa L.f., Arecaceae, showed sig-nificant antioxidant ability (DPPH and ORAC = 1062.9 and 645.9 ± 51.4 μg TE/mg extract, respectively),while Annona montana Macfad., Annonaceae, demonstrated the most promising anti-proliferative effect(IC50for Hep-G2 and HT-29 = 2.7 and 9.0 μg/ml, respectively). However, combinatory antioxidant/anti-proliferative effect was only detected in Oenocarpus bataua Mart., Arecaceae (DPPH = 903.8 andORAC = 1024 μg TE/mg extract; IC50for Hep-G2 and HT-29 at 102.6 and 38.8 μg/ml, respectively) andInga edulis Mart., Fabaceae (DPPH = 337.0 and ORAC = 795.7 μg TE/mg extract; IC50for Hep-G2 and HT-29 at 36.3 and 57.9 μg/ml, respectively). Phenolic content was positively correlated with antioxidantpotential, however not with anti-proliferative effect. None of these extracts possessed toxicity towardsnormal foetal lung cells, suggesting their possible use in development of novel plant-based agents withpreventive and/or therapeutic action against oxidative stress-related diseases.