Vasorelaxant and Antioxidant Activity of Some Medicinal Plants from Campeche, Mexico

Context: Brosimum alicastrum, Cnidoscolus chayamansa, Tradescantia spathacea, Turnera diffusa, Manilkara zapota, and Jatropha gaumeri are medicinal plants recognized in Mexican Mayan Culture. Aim: Methanol leaves extracts of these plants were use as raw material to develop a phytochemical, spectroscopy, and pharmacological analysis. Subjects and Methods: Methanol maceration was carried out and were compared in terms of yield extraction, chlorophyll, simple phenolic and flavonoids content, antioxidant activity (DPPH and beta-Carotene bleaching models), as well as isolated aorta rings (E+), precontracted with noradrenaline. Results: Best content of simple phenolic and flavonoids compounds was recorder in B. alicastrum, J. gaumeri and T. diffusa. J. gaumeri extract exert an antioxidant (beta-carotene bleaching: EC50: 0.8 +/- 0.1 mu g/mL, E-max: 85.7% +/- 0.4%; DPPH: EC50: 60.3 +/- 1.8 mu g/mL, E-max: 60.4% +/- 1.8%; P < 0.05) and vasorelaxant (EC50: 161.61 +/- 7.45 mu g/mL; E-max: 79.71% +/- 3.88%; P < 0.05) activity in a concentration dependent-manner. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis allowed estimating a 1.26 and 2.28% of quercetin (Q) and gallic acid (GA) in J. gaumeri. GA exerts antioxidant activity in DPPH model (EC50: 1.6 +/- 0.2 mu g/mL; Emax: 92.9% +/- 3.3%) and Q/GA (1:2) mixture improves inhibition of beta-carotene bleaching (EC50: 0.005 +/- 0.005 mu g/mL; E-max: 69.2% +/- 0.7%; P < 0.05). Conclusion: J. gaumeri is a medicinal plant employed in Mayan traditional medicine and GA and Q could be related to traditional uses, as well as responsible for the pharmacological effects. GA and Q interactions improve inhibition beta-Carotene bleaching activity, which suggests greater solubility in lipophilic systems and potential interactions at the plasma membrane level.

Automated summary

Methanol leaf extracts of Brosimum alicastrum, Jatropha gaumeri, and Turnera diffusa exhibit high levels of simple phenolic and flavonoids compounds. J. gaumeri extract shows antioxidant and vasorelaxant activities, potentially linked to its content of gallic acid and quercetin. The interaction between gallic acid and quercetin improves the inhibition of beta-carotene bleaching, suggesting potential synergistic effects in lipophilic systems.