Oxygen and nitrogen reactive species are effectively scavenged by Eucalyptus globulus leaf water extract.
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Family Myrtaceae) is a plant of Australian origin, with a reported therapeutic use in airway inflammatory diseases. Considering that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an effective scavenging activity against these reactive species may contribute for the therapeutic effect of this plant. In the present study, a water extract of E. globulus leaves was evaluated for its putative in vitro scavenging effects on ROS (HO(*), O(2)(*-), ROO(*), and H(2)O(2)) and RNS ((*)NO and ONOO(-)) and on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extract's phenolic composition were also performed. The Eucalyptus leaf water extract presented a remarkable capacity to scavenge all the reactive species tested, with all the 50% inhibitory concentrations being found at the mug/mL level. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of polyphenols such as flavonoids (rutin and quercitrin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid), which may be partially responsible for the observed antioxidant activity. These observations provide further support, beyond the well-known antibacterial and antiviral activities of the Eucalyptus plant, for its reported use in traditional medicine such as in the treatment of airway inflammatory diseases, considering the important role of ROS and RNS in the inflammatory process, although further studies are needed to prove the bioavailability of the antioxidants/antibacterial compounds of the extract as well as the ability of the active compounds to reach specific tissues and to act in them.
Almeida
Isabel F
IF
Departamento de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Fernandes
Eduarda
E
Lima
José L F C
JL
Valentão
Patrícia
P
Andrade
Paula B
PB
Seabra
Rosa M
RM
Costa
P C
PC
Bahia
M F
MF
D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010851:Picrates; D018515:Plant Leaves; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl