Argentinean Puna plants with in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as a potential nutraceutical

ROJAS-MÁRQUEZ, JORGE DAVID; ISLA, MARÍA INÉS; ANA, YAMILE; ZAMPINI, IRIS CATIANA; TORRES-CARRO, ROMINA; STEMPIN, CINTHIA CAROLINA; ALBERTO, MARÍA ROSA

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2019 vol. 84 p. 3352 - 3363

0022-1147

Parastrephia lucida (Compositae), Tessaria absinthioides (Compositae), and Ephedra multiflora (Ephedraceae), three plant species from the Argentinean Puna (3600 m.a.s.l.) were selected for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to prepare mixtures to evaluate their use as nutraceuticals. Seven binary and ternary herbal mixtures made of ethanol 20% extracts of the selected plant species were prepared (mixtures A to G), and they were analyzed for their effect on pro-inflammatory enzymes and their antioxidant activity in two cellular systems and in cell free systems. Toxicity tests were also carried out, and they were analyzed by HPLC-DAD to quantify chemical markers. Mix A (equal parts of the three selected plant species) showed an important inhibitory capacity of different pro-inflammatory enzymes. Its potency on COX-2 was also higher than that of ibuprofen. Mix A and Mix G (P. lucida and T. absinthioides 1:1) showed a high antioxidant capacity in cellular and in cell-free systems. Toxicity assays further demonstrated their safety. This work shows the potential use of herbal mixtures made of medicinal plant species from the Argentinean Puna as nutraceutical or dietary supplements with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.