title: Phytochemical analysis of Passiflora loefgrenii Vitta, a rich source of luteolin-derived flavonoids with antioxidant properties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The paper describes the flavonoid composition of the aerial parts (young leaves, YL; adult leaves, AL; stems, ST) of Passiflora loefgrenii Vitta, a rare species native to Brazil, where it is traditionally used as food. Antioxidant potential has also been evaluated. To the best of our knowledge, no phytochemical and biological study on this species has been reported previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compositional data have been acquired combining HPLC-diode array detector (DAD) and Electrospary ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) analyses. Antioxidant activity has been evaluated by the 2,2'-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glycosylated flavones, with luteolin as the main aglycone, can be regarded as biomarkers for this drug. Qualitative composition of the extracts from YL, AL and ST was similar. The bulk of the constituents was made up by 8-C-ß-glucosyl luteolin (orientin), 7-O-α-rhamnosyl-6-C-ß-glucosyl luteolin and 6-C-α-rhamnosyl luteolin, which totally amounted to 16.57 (73%), 10.77 (74%) and 5.07 (77%) μg/mg in YL, AL and ST, respectively. P. loefgrenii showed a good antioxidant activity (IC50 of 350 μg/ml), higher than generally reported for other passifloras.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P. loefgrenii, rich in luteolin glycosides, can be regarded as a good candidate to be explored for therapeutic properties other than the sedative one since it represents a rich source of valuable flavonoids with antioxidant potential.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Argentieri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biotecnologia, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biotecnologia, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guzzo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pinarosa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avato
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D047311:Luteolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D029598:Passiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D047311:Luteolin
keywords: DPPH scavenging activity; apigenin; flavonoids; garlic passion fruit; luteolin