title: Phytochemical constituents and in vitro radical scavenging activity of different Aloe species.
abstract: The phytochemical profile of Aloe barbadensis Mill. and Aloe arborescens Mill. was investigated using colorimetric assays, triple quadrupole and time-of-flight mass spectrometry, focusing on phenolic secondary metabolites in the different leaf portions. Hydroxycinnamic acids, several characteristic anthrones and chromones, the phenolic dimer feralolide and flavonoids such as flavones and isoflavones were identified. The stable radical DPPH test and the ORAC assay were then used to determine the in vitro radical scavenging. The outer green rind was the most active, while the inner parenchyma was much less effective. The 5-methylchromones aloesin, aloeresin A and aloesone were the most active among the pure secondary metabolites tested. The results suggest that several compounds are likely to contribute to the overall radical scavenging activity, and indicate that leaf portion must be taken into account when the plant is used for its antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Chemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.lucini@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Chemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellizzoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Perugia, via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Chemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Pietro
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, via S. C. De Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colla
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002867:Chromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D002867:Chromones; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005960:Glucosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; C521199:aloeresin A; C069868:aloesin
keywords: Aloe-emodin (PubChem CID: 10207); Aloenin (PubChem CID: 16230); Aloeresin A (PubChem CID: 5317657); Aloesin (PubChem CID: 160190); Aloesone (PubChem CID: 5317700); Aloin (PubChem CID: 12305761); Anthrones; Antioxidants; Chromones; Metabolic profiling; ORAC; Phenylpropanoids