title: Evaluation of antioxidant effect of different extracts of Myrtus communis L.
abstract: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Nevertheless, no optimal natural antioxidant has been found for therapeutics, therefore polyphenol antioxidants have been looked for in myrtle leaves, a plant that in folk medicine has been used as anti-inflammatory drug. Antioxidant-rich fractions were prepared from myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) leaves liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with different solvents. All myrtle extracts were very rich in polyphenols. In particular, hydroalcoholic extracts contain galloyl-glucosides, ellagitannins, galloyl-quinic acids and flavonol glycosides; ethylacetate extract and aqueous residues after LLE are enriched in flavonol glycosides and hydrolysable tannins (galloyl-glucosides, ellagitannins, galloyl-quinic acids), respectively. Qualitative and quantitative analysis for the single unidentified compound was also performed. Human LDL exposed to copper ions was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the myrtle extracts. Addition of these extracts did not affect the basal oxidation of LDL but dose-dependently decreased the oxidation induced by copper ions. Moreover, the myrtle extracts reduce the formation of conjugated dienes. The antioxidant effect of three myrtle extracts decreased in the following order: hydroalcoholic extracts, ethylacetate and aqueous residues after LLE. The extracts had the following IC50: 0.36, 2.27 and 2.88 microM, when the sum of total phenolic compounds was considered after the correction of molecular weight based on pure compounds. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference among hydroalcoholic extracts vs. the ethylacetate and aqueous residues after LLE. These results suggest that the myrtle extracts have a potent antioxidant activity mainly due to the presence of galloyl derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Florence, Via G. Capponi 9, Florence 50121, Italy. annalisa.romani@unifi.it
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coinu
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galardi
authors.forename: Franco F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Vincieri
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franconi
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031651:Myrtus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; C007650:ethyl acetate