Antioxidante potential of extracts of Hyptis lappulacea Mart. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae)

• Grant number: 14/21233-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Cláudia Maria Furlan
• Grantee: Beatriz Ortega San Juan Loureiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chemistry of Natural products is a research area of growing interest due to its economical application. Among the many natural products, special importance is given to those with antioxidant activity due to their potential use in pharmacological, cosmetic, and food industries. Hyptis Jacq. is a genus from the Lamiaceae botanical family which has a great number of native or naturalized species in Brazil. The etnobotanical and economic importance of this genus is widely known around the world and there are many recent studies showing the pharmacological and antioxidant potential of Hyptis species. Based on these facts it is expected that Hyptis lappulacea Mart. ex Benth, like other Hyptis species, could make an important contribution as a source of chemical models with biological activity. Therefore, this project's objectives are to evaluate the antioxidant potential of different fractions of extracts from Hyptis lappulacea and to quantify total phenol, flavonoid and tannin contents in said fractions. To evaluate antioxidant potential the following in vitro methodologies will be applied: ORAC, iron III to iron II reduction (FRAP), DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging. To quantify the total phenol, flavonoid and tannin contents, in vitro reaction-based tests will be applied according to the substance class of interest.