Compuestos bioactivos y actividad antioxidante in vitro del extracto etanólico e hidroalcohólico de Ricinus communis L. (Higuerilla)

Introduction: Medicinal plants are sources of various bioactive compounds that merit study. Ricinus communis L. (Higuerilla) is a shrub that grows in Peru. It is used in folk medicine for various ailments. However, it is necessary to make scientific evidence on its bioactive compounds (polyphenols and metals) to initiate preclinical phase studies. Objective: To evaluate the bioactive compounds involved in the in vitro antioxidant activity of ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extract of Ricinus communis L. leaves (Higuerilla). Methods: Ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extract were elaborated by maceration. The total phenolic content was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, flavonoids by aluminum chloride colorimetry, and metals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS); and antioxidant activity by three in vitro methods. Results: The presence of bioactive compounds in ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extract was highlighted, whose results were reported in that order: total phenolic content (CPT: 102.30 ± 1.33 mg GAE/g), total flavonoid content (CFT: 1.94 ± 0.03 mg QAE/g); 20.98 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g, and 0.99 ± 0.02 mg QAE/g. Metals in mg/100 g: Calcium 4.8 ± 0.08, 10.5 ± 0.19; Copper 3.82 ± 0.05, 0.97 ± 0.03; Magnesium 37.6 ± 0.55, 119.1 ± 0.81; Zinc 2.48 ± 0.02, 3.8 ± 0.09. Antioxidant activity: DPPH IC50 1.30 ± 0.08, 2.57 ± 0.04; ABTS 0.78 ± 0.05, 3.16 ± 0.06 TEAC mg/g; FRAP 1.80 ± 0.13, 1.55 ± 0.02 TEAC mg/g. Pearson coefficient CPT/DPPH, CFT/DPPH, CFT/FRAP (ethanolic), and ABTS/CFT in hydroalcoholic extract. A positive correlation was found with a range of R 0.849-0.979). P-value < 0.05. Conclusions: The leaves of R. communis L. present polyphenolic compounds and metals with antioxidant activity, so it is emerging as a potential resource to be valued in traditional Peruvian medicine.