Antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect of Chilean Buddleja globosa (matico) and Ribes magellanicum (zarzaparrilla) flower extracts

Abstract

The native Chilean shrubs Buddleja globosa (matico) and Ribes magellanicum (zarzaparrilla) are used widely at a rural level, due to their medicinal properties. Nevertheless, little is known about their secondary metabolites and cytotoxic effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of different compounds like catechin, epicatechin, p-coumaric acid and the antioxidant capacity by ABTS, ORAC, FRAP and DPPH methods. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of both extracts was evaluated against Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cell lines by MTT and neutral red ASSAYS. The results suggest that the most abundant constituent in Budleja globosa and Ribes magellanicum were catechin (682.43 mg/100 g DW) and epicatechin (3362.08 mg/100 g DW) respectively; while the ORAC methodology showed an elevated antioxidant activity for matico (134147.31 µmol Trolox Eq/100 g DW). On the other hand, both extracts at the assayed concentrations affect the membrane stability and cellular metabolic capacity of the CHO-K1 cell lines. These finding provide a direction for further researches, and suggest the matico and zarzaparrilla flower extracts as promising sources of antioxidants, and as research objects through the analyze of their metabolic behavior and antitumoral potential.