title: Phenolic profile and biological potential of Endopleura uchi extracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve the knowledge on the metabolite composition of Endopleura uchi bark, concerning phenolic compounds, and to evaluate some of its biological capacities for further possible exploitation in food and pharmaceutical industries associated to their health-promoting qualities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different extracts (infusion and hydroethanolic) were studied concerning phenolic composition and biological potential.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five compounds were determined by HPLC-DAD, being bergenin the major one. In general way, infusion presents a greater richness in these metabolites. The antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase and antibacterial activity were checked by in vitro assays. A dose-dependent response was noticed against DPPH, superoxide and nitric oxide radicals, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and against α-glucosidase inhibitory assay. Antibacterial capacity of both extracts was investigated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, being more effective against the first one. The concentrations of infusion extract tested here revealed that is non-toxic for intestinal (Caco-2) cells line.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the extracts of Endopleura uchi may be interesting for incorporating in pharmaceutical preparations for human health, since it can suppress hyperglycaemia and inhibit cholinesteases, and or as food additive due to its antiradical and antibacterial activities.
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506, Covilhã, Portugal; Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Escola Superior de Saúde Dr Lopes Dias, Avenida do Empresário, Campus da Talagueira, 6000-767, Castelo Branco, Portugal; LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: lmsilva@ff.up.pt.
authors.forename: Luís R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: REQUIMTE/Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rafaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teixeira
keywords: Anti-diabetic activity; Bark; Biological potential; Endopleura uchi; Phenolic compounds