Baccharis dracunculifolia, the main source of green propolis, exhibits potent antioxidant activity and prevents oxidative mitochondrial damage

Author(s)

Guimaraes, Natalia S. S. ^[1] ; Mello, Joyce C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Paiva, Juliana S. ^[1] ; Bueno, Paula C. P. ^[3] ; Berretta, Andresa A. ^[4] ; Torquato, Ricardo J. ^[5] ; Nantes, Iseli L. ^[2] ; Rodrigues, Tiago ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Mogi das Cruzes UMC, Ctr Interdisciplinar Invest Bioquim CIIB, Mogi Das Cruzes, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed ABC UFABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas CCNH, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Inst Quim, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto FCFRP USP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Bioquim, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Food and Chemical Toxicology; v. 50, n. 3-4, p. 1091-1097, MAR-APR 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 40

Abstract

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) is the main botanical source used by honeybees to produce Brazilian green propolis whose hepatoprotective properties have been already described. In this work we investigated the protective effects of the glycolic extract of B. dracunculifolia (GEBd) against oxidative stress in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM). The GEBd was prepared by fractionated percolation using propylene glycol as solvent. The total phenols and flavonoids, which are substances with recognized antioxidant action, were quantified in GEBd and the phytochemical analysis was carried out by HPLC. GEBd exhibited significant scavenger activity towards DPPH radicals and superoxide anions in a concentration-dependent manner, and also a Fe2+ chelating activity. GEBd decreased the basal H2O2 generation and the Fe2+- or t-BuOOH-induced ROS production in isolated mitochondria. Lipid oxidation of mitochondrial membranes, protein thiol groups and GSH oxidation were also prevented by GEBd. This shows that B. dracunculifolia exhibit potent antioxidant activity protecting liver mitochondria against oxidative damage and such action probably contribute to the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of green propolis. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/07246-7 - Study of the Antioxidant Mechanisms of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Rosmarinus officinalis Glycolic Extracts
• Grantee: Natalia Souza Sandim Guimarães
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 08/01724-4 - Characterization of the Antioxidant Properties of Plant Extracts against the Oxidative Stress in Isolated Mitochondria and Cultured Cells
• Grantee: Tiago Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants