Abstract

An infusion of 5% Byrsonima japurensis stem bark, an Amazonian medicinal plant, presented anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperalgesic, antiplatelet and antiulcer activity in a previous study. In this study, pharmacognostical parameters for this raw material were determined and the technological characterization of the infusion was performed, concurrently with the assessment of their antioxidant potential. The analysis of the raw material and the crude extract was done using pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopeial methods. The antioxidant potential was evaluated by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS•+) and nitric oxide (NO•) radical scavenger assays. The raw material presented a mean size of particles of 318.30 ± 1.65 µm, ash content of 3.39 ± 0.04 g%, 10.32 ± 0.09 g% loss on drying and 12.23 ± 0.17 g% of matter extractable by water. The extract obtained by infusion of 5% of plant drug is rich in polyphenol compounds (50.69 ± 3.64 mg GAE/g) with appreciable flavonoid content (2.38 ± 1.15 mg quercetin/g). This extract showed expressive antioxidant activity, which was significantly better than ascorbic acid and Trolox in both DPPH and ABTS radical scavengers tests (p < 0.05), which is closely related to its previously detected anti-inflammatory activity

Key words: Infusion, nitric oxide, phenol compounds.