Antioxidant potential of three medicinal species of topical traditional use in Northeastern Portugal: Juglans regia L., Malva neglecta Wallt. and Scrophularia scorodonia L.
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resumo
The decoctions of some widespread species from the northeastern Portuguese region are
traditionally used for their vulnerary properties and in the treatment of various skin disorders,
wounds or burns. Juglans regia L. (walnut), Malvaneglecta Wallt.(mallow) and
Scrophulariascorodonia L.(balm leave figwort)are good examples of such species. The leaves of
J. regia and the aerial parts of M. neglecta are used as disinfectants and anti-inflammatory, while
the aerial parts of S. scorodonia are used as a vulnerary. Furthermore, these plants are often
mixed to enhance its action [1].
The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of decoctions and methanolic extracts
of the mentioned three plants.The antioxidant activity was accessed by five in vitro assays:
scavenging effects on DPPH (2 ,2-diphenyl-1 -picrylhydrazyl) radicals, reducing power (measured
in FolinCiocalteu and ferricyanide Prussian blue assays), inhibition of β-carotene bleaching and
inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain cell homogenates by TSARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances) assay.
Walnut samples (methanolic extract and decoction) gave the highest antioxidant activity (lowest
EC50 valuesin all the assays), followed by figwortand mallow samples. The observed antioxidant
activity is certainly related to the phenolic compounds present in the studied samples and reported
in another abstract presented in the same symposium.
