Heteropterys aphrodisiaca: A savanna plant species with an outstanding in vitro antioxidant activity of its ethanolic extract - oxygen radical absorbance assay (ORAC)

trait is inherited in an autosomal recessive mode. We also studied postnatal changes in the levels of GLUT1 and AA recycling capacity in Shiba dogs. At one month, all Shiba dogs uniformly showed high levels of GLUT1 and AA recycling capacity, but they rapidly declined with age. By 6 months, normal dogs totally lost GLUT1, and AA recycling capacity decreased to 7 % of the onemonth level. On the contrary, other dogs showed 50 % decrease in GLUT1 and AA recycling capacity which still remained at high levels and lasted throughout life. GLUT4 was invariably present in all dogs. Shiba dogs bearing GLUT1 in erythrocytes can be a good animal model for further understanding the mechanism of regulation and function of AA in the organism. Keywords: Ascorbic acid, GLUT1, erythrocyte, Shiba dog doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.176 [0019] Heteropterys aphrodisiaca: A savanna plant species with an outstanding in vitro antioxidant activity of its ethanolic extract – oxygen radical absorbance assay (ORAC) R.P. Leite*1, L.G. Malta1, M.H.A. Jorge1, I.M.O. Sousa2, M.A. Foglio2, H. Dolder1 1 State University of Campinas, Brazil, 2Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil Introduction: Heteropterys aphrodisiaca is an endemic bush from the Brazilian savannas whose root is largely consumed imbibed in an alcoholic solution as a folk medicine. Several therapeutic properties have popularly been attributed to it, such as health invigoration and sexual performance improvement, although these are broad and nonspecific effects. The scientific literature lacks reports on H. aphrodisiaca phytotherapic activity, even though a chemioprotection against cyclosporin A and a memory improvement in aged rodents have been demonstrated. Since the mechanisms through which this plant exerts its therapeutic purposes are not yet clarified, we have investigated whether H. aphrodisiaca medicinal properties could, at least partially, be explained by a possible antioxidant activity. Material and Methods: Dehydrated samples of H. aphrodisiaca roots have been provided by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Coorporation). After crushing to powder, the plant was subjected to a shaking extraction procedure with absolute ethanol and the solvent was removed in a rotary evaporator. The sample

was subsequently analyzed in duplicate by the ORAC assay (Oxygen radical absorbance assay), using the . AAPH reactive species, a peroxyl radical (ROO ) generator. The results were expressed in µmol Trolox Equivalent/g dw. Conclusions: The results showed an outstanding antioxidant activity of H. aphrodisiaca ethanolic extract (5452 ± 72 µmol TE.g-1 dw), which is in sharp contrast with several other folk medicinal plants, such as aqueous extract of both green tea (814 ± 30 µmol TE.g-1 dw) and black tea (927 µmol TE.g-1 dw) [1]. The data obtained indicates that the capacity of scavenging free radical might be a feasible explanation for the therapeutic properties of H. aphrodisiaca, although in vivo studies must be performed in order to confirm this hypothesis. [1] Cao, et. al (1996). Antioxidant capacity of tea and common vegetables. J. Agric. Food Chem. 44, 34263431. Keywords: Heteropterys aphrodisiaca, Folk medicine, ORAC, Antioxidant activity doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.177 [0020] Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of heteropterys aphrodisiaca, an endemic Brazilian plant – trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay (TEAC) R.P. Leite*1, L.G. Malta1, M.H.A. Jorge1, I.M.O. Sousa2, M.A. Foglio2, H. Dolder1 1 State University of Campinas, Brazil, 2Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil Introduction: Heteropterys aphrodisiaca is an endemic Brazilian plant whose root is used as a phytotherapic compound by local communities. Several properties have popularly been attributed to it, although none of them are scientifically proved. Furthermore, the plant is traditionally taken imbibed in alcohol and does not go through standard extraction procedures. Some therapeutic properties have recently been demonstrated for H. aphrodisiaca, such as chemoprotection against ciclosporin A and memory improvement in aged rodents. Based upon the presented data, we have investigated whether H. aphrodisiaca medicinal properties could be explained by a possible antioxidant activity. Material and Methods: Dehydrated samples of H. aphrodisiaca roots have been provided by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation). After

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