title: Profiling of antioxidant potential and phytoconstituents of Plantago coronopus.
abstract: The halophyte species Plantago coronopus has several described ethnomedicinal uses, but few reported biological activities. This work carried out for the first time a comparative analysis of P. coronopus organs in terms of phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of organic and water extracts from roots, leaves and flowers. The leaves contents in selected nutrients, namely amino acids and minerals, are also described. Roots (ethyl acetate and methanol extracts) had the highest radical scavenging activity (RSA) towards 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, while leaves (hexane extract) had higher RSA on nitric oxide radical and iron chelating ability. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified eighteen phenolics from which salicylic acid and epicatechin are here firstly described in Plantago species. Leaves had mineral levels similar to those of most vegetables, proving to be a good source for elements like calcium, sodium, iron and magnesium, and also for several of the essential amino acids justifying it use as food. Our results, especially those regarding the phenolics composition, can explain the main traditional uses given to this plantain and, altogether, emphasize the potential of P. coronopus as a source of bioactive molecules particularly useful for the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Custódio
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química e Bioquímica - DQB, Faculdade de Ciências - FC, Universidade de Lisboa - UL, Campo Grande, Ed. C8, 5º piso, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Neng
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química e Bioquímica - DQB, Faculdade de Ciências - FC, Universidade de Lisboa - UL, Campo Grande, Ed. C8, 5º piso, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: J M F
authors.initials: JMF
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlier
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.affiliation: Centre of Marine Sciences - CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve - UAlg, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barreira
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010943:Plantago / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts