title: Essential oil of Psidium cattleianum leaves: antioxidant and antifungal activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psidium cattleianum Sabine (Myrtacea) is rich in vitamin C and phenolic compounds, including epicatechin and gallic acid as the main components.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant capacity in vitro of the essential oil of araçá (EOA). The acute toxicity of the EOA also was evaluated in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The leaves of the P. cattleianum were extracted by steam distillation. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by in vitro tests [1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), linoleic acid oxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS)], and ex vivo analysis [TBARS, δ-aminulevunilate dehydratase (δ-Ala-D) and catalase activity, non-protein thiols (NPSH), and ascorbic acid levels]. The toxicity was studied in mice by a single oral administration of EOA; and the antifungal activity was performed with five strains of fungi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EOA exhibited antioxidant activity in the FRAP assay and reduced lipid peroxidation in the cortex (Imax = 32.90 ± 2.62%), hippocampus (IC50 = 48.00 ± 3.00 µg/ml and Imax = 32.90 ± 2.62%), and cerebellum (Imax = 45.40 ± 14.04%) of mice. Acute administration of the EOA by the oral route did not cause toxicological effects in mice (LD50 > 500 µg/ml). The EOA also showed antifungal activity through of the determination minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 41.67 ± 18.04 to 166.70 ± 72.17 µg/ml for tested strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of present study indicate that EOA possess antioxidant properties, antifungal and not cause toxicity at tested doses.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Limpa, CCQFA, Universidade Federal de Pelotas , Pelotas-RS , Brazil and.
authors.forename: Micheli R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Francine N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.forename: Daniela H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Raquel G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Lucielli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savegnago
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D031647:Psidium / Q000737:chemistry*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014250:Trichosporon / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005609:Free Radicals; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010851:Picrates; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
keywords: Araçá; oxidative stress; toxicology