Antioxidant activity of five Brazilian plants used as traditional medicines and food in Brazil.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluates the radical-scavenging activity of five plants used as food and medicines in the northeastern region of Brazil.


METHODS
Spectrophotometric analysis of the plants' ethanol extracts was carried out. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) test. The antioxidant capacity was measured using ascorbic acid as a positive control.


RESULTS
All tested plant extracts showed an antioxidant activity, but the highest activity was observed with the extracts of Momordica charantia and Eugenia jambolana.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, these species must be studied as a putative source of products for use in the prevention and treatment of diseases in which oxidants or free radicals are implicated.
Laboratory of Research on Natural Products, Brazil.
Allana K L
AK
Santos
José G M
JG
Costa
Irwin R A
IR
Menezes
Isaac F
IF
Cansanção
Karla K A
KK
Santos
Edinardo F F
EF
Matias
Henrique D M
HD
Coutinho