Anais do Simpósio Latino Americano de Ciências de Alimentos
Anais do 14 SLACA - Simpósio Latino Americano de Ciência de Alimentos

The species Curcubita moschata (CMO e CMV), Juniperus chinensis (JC), Peucedanum ostruthium (PO), Pinellia ternata Breit. (PTO e PTV), Rubus coreanus (RC), Rubus chingii Hu (RCH), Solanum tuberosum (STV e ST) e Viola mandshurica (VM) are plants rich in phenolic compounds used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. However, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential has been poorly studied. The aim of the study was to determine the in vitro antioxidant (AA) and anti-inflammatory activity of commercial plant extracts used in Chinese medicine. The presence of phenolic compounds was determined by RP-HPLC. AA was determined by the method Folin-Ciocalteu reagent reducing substances (FCRRS), FRAP and ORAC. In vitro production of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages was determined Griess reagent (NO) and TNF-α/IL-10 by ELISA. The PTO, RCH, RC, PTV and VM extracts had the highest FCRRS and FRAP values. RCH, RC and VM had the highest ORAC values. The chromatographic profiles of these extracts indicate the presence of compounds varying in mass and polarity suggesting that they have different classes of compounds acting synergistically or by more than one mechanism. All the extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the production of NO and TNF-α or increasing IL-10. RC and JC treatments presented the highest inhibition of NO production, 68.63% and 64.91%, respectively. TNF-α secretion was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by STV-treatments (30 to 40%) while PTO and PTV treatments increased up to four times the production of IL-10. Possibly, the anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts are not merely due to its antioxidant activity, and may related to its ability to modulate intracellular pathways. In conclusion, STV, JC, PTO e PTV are potential anti-inflammatory, since inhibition of these inflammatory mediators correlates to reduced oxidative stress, inflammatory response and risk of developing various chronic diseases.