Evaluación de la actividad antioxidante e hipoglucémica in vitro de extractos de Marco (Ambrosia arborescens), Quishuar (Buddleja incana), Cedrón (Aloysia citrodora) y Capulí (Prunus serotina)

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects a long part of de world population. The main symptom of diabetes is high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), which triggers an imbalance in the body, producing secondary pathologies associated with oxidative stress generated by this metabolic dissorder. This research project aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and hypoglycemic capacity of Marco, Quishuar, Cedrón and Capulí leaves. The extracts were obtained through maceration and infusion, yielding between 10.3 percent and 18.30 percent, the phytochemical profile of each plant species was characterized through qualitative tests to determine the presence or absence of metabolites such as, alkaloids, reducing carbohydrates, coumarins, phenols, triterpenes, flavonoids, saponins, resins, free ammonium acids, and antocyanins. Quantitative determinations of total phenols and flavonoid content were also conducted. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the free radical scavenging assay with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), resulting in the percentages of free radical inhibition between 65.40 percent and 84.61 percent. Furthermore, the alpha-amylase inhibition assay was performed to determine de hypoglycemic capacity, with inhibition percentages ranging from 19.35 percent to 48.95 percent. This study results can serve as basis for future research focused on using medicinal plants to create pharmaceutical formulations as an alternative treatment for hyperglycemia caused by diabetes.This study results can serve as basis for future research focused on using medicinal plants to create pharmaceutical formulations as an alternative treatment for hyperglycemia caused by diabetes.