Polyphenolic-rich extracts from Ilex paraguariensis and Larrea divaricata leaves and their antioxidant and antiCOVID-19 potential

JUAN C. CONTRERAS-ESQUIVEL; CARLOS N. CANO-GONZÁLEZ; JUAN ASCACIO-VALDES; JORGE A. AGUIRRE-JOYA; DAVID AGUILLÓNGUTIERREZ; JAVIER BRECCIA; JUDITH D. ESPINOZA-PEREZ; CRISTÓBAL N. AGUILAR; CRISTIAN TORRES-LEÓN

Biotecnia

Universidad de Sonora

Lugar: Sonora; Año: 2022 vol. 15 p. 61 - 66

1665-1456

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St. Hil) and jarilla (Larrea divaricata Cav.) leaves are commonly used as tea infusions in some Latin American countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant activity (FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH) and the inhibitory potential of yerba mate and jarillaextracts on the 3CL protease (Mpro) from coronavirus SARSCOV-2 by a molecular docking approach. The main bioactive compounds present in the plant extracts were identified by HPLC-MS. According to the results, the extracts of yerba mate and jarilla showed high antioxidant activity in DPPH (> 91 %), ABTS (> 90 %), and FRAP (> 47 mg TE/g) assays. Additionally, the phenolic compounds present in yerba mate, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin) (-9.60 kcal/mol) and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (- 8.20 kcal/mol) were more effective on Mpro than the antiviral drugs remdesivir and ribavirin. The compounds rutin and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid have a high affinity andinteraction with one of the catalytic residues Cys145 of Mpro. The glycosylation of phenolic compounds affects biological activities: positively anti-COVID-19 and negatively antioxidant. The results suggest that extracts of yerba mate and jarilla leaves could enhance the body’s antioxidant defenses and can be used to improve health.