Abstract

DETERMINATION ON THE CHEMICAL GROUPS IN THE LYOPHILIZED AQUEOUS EXTRACT OBTAINED FROM THE LEAVES OF Piper amalago L.

Vera Lucia Pereira dos Santos*, Cristina Peitz de Lima, Célia Regina Cavichiolo Franco, Luciane Mendes Monteiro, Jane Manfron Budel and Iara Messias Reason

ABSTRACT

Piper amalago L. (Piperaceae) is a medicinal plant found in Central and South America that possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antilithiasic, and healing activities, as well as is used as a digestive and in the treatment of heart and kidney problems. The purpose of this study is to analyze the main chemical groups and amount of flavonoids and total phenolics in the lyophilized aqueous extract obtained from the leaves of P. amalago. The phytochemical analysis proved to be negative for anthocyanidin heterosides and positive for tannins. The total content of the flavonoids found in the aqueous extract was 3.4% and 12.1% for the total phenolics. The results of the lyophilized aqueous extract obtained from the leaves of P. amalago showed that this species is an important source of phenolic compounds, containing tannins and flavonoids that may are responsible for a wide range of biological activities showed by this species.

Keywords: Jaborandi-manso, Jaborandi-falso, Phenolic compounds, Piperaceae, Tannins.