Purpose of study: Oxidative stress is correlated with the onset of degenarative diseases and can be intensified due to exposure to external factors such as solar radiation, protein glycation and environmental pollutants1. Furthermore, is among the main causes extrinsic ageing of skin2. Knowledge of beneficial effects of flavonoids and polyphenols as antioxidants and anti-ageing actives, have attracted attention of the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry2. Passiflora cincinnata Mast. is one of the brazilian wild species of the Passiflora genus that has a great potential as well as a rich content of phytochemical compounds, mainly flavonoids and poliphenols3.
Methods: The crude extract of the aerial parts (leaves and stems) P. cincinnata was prepared by maceration with methanol. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging activity4, inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS - thiobarbituric acid reactive substances)5 and by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)6. Total polyphenols content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method7 and, the total flavonoids content by spectrophotometric method, based on flavonoid-aluminum chloride (AlCl3) complexation8. Tests were performed in triplicate at concentrations of 3, 5 and 10 mg / ml.
Results: P. cincinnata crude extract exhibited highest antioxidant activity in the concentration of 10mg / mL (84.07%) for DPPH test and (178,67 µM TE/ g) for FRAP assay. The concentration of 5mg/mL showed the best activity in the TBARS assay (60.3% inhibition). The determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids content for the concentration 10mg / mL of dry extract was 395,78 µg of GAE/g dry extract and 475.38 µg of RE/g dry extract respectively.
Conclusion: P. cincinnata crude extract showed potential for their use in antioxidant and anti-ageing formulations. The evaluated activity can be correlated to the polyphenols and flavonoids quantified in the extract.