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Chemical Assessment and in Vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Ficus carica Latex

2010; American Chemical Society; Volume: 58; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1021/jf9039759

1520-5118

Andreia P. Oliveira, Luís R. Silva, Federico Ferreres, Paula Guedes de Pinho, Patrı́cia Valentão, Branca M. Silva, José Alberto Pereira, Paula B. Andrade,

Hibiscus Plant Research Studies

Ficus species possess latex-like material within their vasculatures, affording protection and self-healing from physical attacks. In this work, metabolite profiling was performed on Ficus carica latex. Volatiles profile was determined by HS-SPME/GC−IT-MS, with 34 compounds being identified, distributed by distinct chemical classes: 5 aldehydes, 7 alcohols, 1 ketone, 9 monoterpenes, 9 sesquiterpenes and 3 other compounds. Sesquiterpenes constituted the most abundant class in latex (ca. 91% of total identified compounds). Organic acids composition was also characterized, by HPLC−UV, and oxalic, citric, malic, quinic, shikimic and fumaric acids were determined. Malic and shikimic acids were present in higher amounts (ca. 26%, each). The antioxidant potential of this material was checked by distinct in vitro chemical assays. A concentration-dependent activity was noticed against DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity was evaluated, but a weak effect was found.