Abstract

OJITO RAMOS, Katia; HERRERA SANCHEZ, Yamila; VEGA PEREZ, Nadine  and  PORTAL VILLAFANA, Orelvis. Antioxidant activity in vitro and toxicity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Citrus spp. (Rutaceae) leaves. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.4, pp.368-379. ISSN 1028-4796.

Introduction: citrus fruits constitute an important source of flavonoids and phenols. The latter are secondary metabolites extensively studied in the last few years on account of their antioxidant effect and low toxicity and of their potentialities as pharmaceuticals. Objectives: to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity and toxicity against Artemia salina of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from leaves of Citrus aurantium L. var. sinensis L.; Citrus aurantium L.; Citrus aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle; Citrus latifolia (Tanaka ex Yu. Tanaka) Tanaka, Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae). Methods: the ethanol and methanol extracts were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction method, and characterized using phytochemistry assays; the total amount of phenols and flavonoids was also determined. The antioxidant activity was estimated by the free radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The toxicity of the extracts was evaluated against Artemia salina. Results: the amount of chemical compounds was higher in ethanol than in methanol extracts. The highest concentration of total phenols was found in methanol extract from Citrus reticulate where that of total flavonoids was seen in the ethanolic extracts from Citrus aurantiifolia and Citrus reticulate, in both solvents. The extracts showed antioxidant activity after the two tests. All the extracts presented moderate toxicity against Artemia salina, being the methanol extract from Citrus latifolia the least toxic (LC₅₀= 464.24 µg/mL). Conclusions: this study showed the existence of phenols and flavonoids, the antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Citrus spp. leaves and their moderate toxicity against Artemia salina.

Keywords : antioxidant activity; Artemia salina; citrus fruits; flavonoids.

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