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 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.6, Issue 1; January - Febuary 2021; 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

  

 

 
 

1 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

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ANTIOXIDANTS FROM AMAZONIAN VEGETABLES: A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF 

NATURAL MEDICINE 
  

Mariana A. Perez-Chavez, Juan C. Ramirez-Gonzalez and Luisa D. Sanchez-Flores 
National University of the Peruvian Amazon, Iquitos Peru 

 

Abstract: The Amazon rainforest is home to a vast diversity of plant species, many of which have been used for 

medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples for centuries. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of plant 

species collected from the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Communal Regional Conservation Area (ACR CTT) in Peru. 

The antioxidant activity of the plant extracts was determined using the DPPH assay. The results showed that the 

plant extracts had significant antioxidant activity, with some extracts exhibiting more activity than commercial 

antioxidants. The findings of this study suggest that the plant species from the ACR CTT have potential as sources 

of natural antioxidants. 

Keywords: Amazon rainforest, Medicinal plants, Antioxidant activity, DPPH assay, Natural antioxidants 

 

  

1. Introduction  

Certain Amazonian plant species among its many utilities that ethnobotany mentions, is its use as medicinal plants 

that have been used by the inhabitants of this region since time immemorial and, thanks to the studies of various 

researchers, it has become known and valued for a proper use of them (Duke & Vasquez, 1994)   

The town of Tamshiyacu is the capital of the district of Sargento Lores in the Loreto Region and its primary forests 

belong for the most part to the Tamshiyacu - Tahuayo Communal Regional Conservation Area of Peru (ACR 

CTT). Located in zone 18 of the UTM projection system, between coordinates 680 075 E, 9 528 176 N and 768 

162 E, 9 444 073 N. It has an area of four hundred twenty thousand and eighty hectares with two thousand five 

hundred square meters (420,080, 25 ha), (Gobierno Regional de Loreto, 2011); (Shoobridge, et al., 2004).   

The antioxidant activity is considered as the sequestration of free radicals, which are found in excess, in the human 

organism they are considered to cause various pathologies that include aging, cancer, arteriosclerosis and other 

diseases in humans, (Ibarra et al., 2011). The main organic molecules provided by the plant species that manage 

to sequester these free radicals are mainly phenolic compounds, some alkaloids and vitamins A, E and C, 

(Coronado, et al., 2015).   

The objective of the present study was to perform the evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the foliar samples 

of 31 plant species of the Amazonian forest of the Tamshiyacu locality and to select the three best with high 

activity,   

2. Materials and Methods   

2.1. Materials   

Collection of plant material: Leaves of 31 plant species were collected in the vicinity of the town of Tamshiyacu 

and are shown in Table 1. The exsicatas were deposited in the Herrerense herbarium of the Research Institute of 

the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP).   

Evaluation of antioxidant activity. with the samples of the dried and powdered leaves, the methanolics extracts 

were prepared with some concentrations of 0.25; 0.1; 0.05 and 0.01 mg/mL. To determine the antioxidant activity, 

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2 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

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we used the UV/Vis spectrophotometer equipment, Specturlamb brand 22 pc. (KERLAB). In a 1.5 mL polystyrene 

cuvette, 25 μL of the methanolic extract and 975 μL of 0.1 mmol DPPH solution were added, then the absorbance 

was measured at a wavelength of 517 ηm, the readings were performed for 5 minutes with 30 second intervals, 

all reactions were performed in triplicate. The inhibition of DPPH radical sequestration by increasing solutions 

of the extracts was determined by the following expression, (Sotero et al., 2011).   

% Inhibition DPPH = [(Ac – Am)/Ac] 100  

Where: Ac, is the absorbance of the control (0.1 mmol of DPPH), and Am, is the absorbance of the sample 

(increasing solutions of the extracts) in a time n.   

2.2. Methods  

Phenolic compounds: For the extraction of phenolic compounds, the technique of (Valls et al., 2000) is as 

followed: 0.5 g of the sample is weighed and extracted successively with 3 volumes of 25 ml of ethanol acidulated 

with 1% formic acid. The extract is concentrated in a rotary evaporator at 40 °C. The dry residue is redissolved 

in a 50% methanol solution acidified with a formic acid solution, and brought to a volume of 10 mL. This is stored 

for subsequent analyzes. 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

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Table 1. List of 31 plant species collected in the vicinity of the town of Tamshiyacu, Loreto-Peru.  

  

Registry 

Collector  
Order/families  Species  

Georeference  

UTM  

1 PAA  Malpighiales/ Euphorbiaceae  Sapium sp.   18M 0714538  9555251   

2 PAA  Magnoliales/ Myristicaceae  Virola. sebifera   18M 0714538  9555249  

3 PAA  Magnoliales/ Annonaceae  Oxandra sp.   18M 0714501  9555241  

4 PAA  Magnoliales/ Myristicaceae  Virola. sebifera   18M 0714495  9557062  

5 PAA  Magnoliales/ Myristicaceae  Iryanthera cf. laevis   18M 0714497  9555242  

6 PAA  Magnoliales/ Annonaceae  Cymbopetalum cf.longipes   18M 0714451  9555237  

7 PAA  Rosales/ Moraceae  Ficus cf. americana   18M 0704508  9560836  

8 PAA  Fabales/ Fabaceae  Parkia cf. multijuga   18M 0704522  9560848  

9 PAA  Rosales/ Moraceae  Brosimum parinaroides.   18M 0704985  9561001  

10 PAA  Gentianales/ Apocynaceae  Couma macrocarpa.   18M 0705215  9561180  

11 PAA  Magnoliales/ Annonaceae  Xylopia cf. benthamii   18M 0705289  9561177  

12 PAA  Malpighiales/ Caryocaraceae  Caryocar  glabrum   18M 0705951  9558757  

13 PAA  Magnoliales/ Annonaceae  Guatteria cf. hyposericea   18M 0705964  9558755  

14 PAA  Sapindales/ Anacardiaceae  Tapirira guianensis    18M 0705988  9558712  

15 PAA  Magnoliales/ Myristicaceae  Virola cf. surinamensis   18M 0706268  9559258  

16 PAA  Gentianales/ Apocynaceae  Llacmelleasp.   18M 0711608  9557071  

17 PAA  Magnoliales/ Annonaceae  Guatteria cf. flabellata   18M 0711617  9557063  

18 PAA  Fabales/ Fabaceae  Dialium cf. guianense   18M 0711612  9557072  

19 PAA  Rosales/ Moraceae  Helicostylis cf. tomentosa   18M 0711610  9557062  

20 PAA  Rosales/ Moraceae  Helicostylis cf. turbinata   18M 0711623  9557049  

21 PAA  Santalales/ Olacaceae  Mnquartia guianensis   18M 0711855  9556913  

22 PAA  Laurales / Siparunaceae  Siparuna cf. sessiliflora   18M 0711854  9556909  

23 PAA  Rosales/ Moraceae  Ficus sp.   18M 0711842  9556901  

24 PAA  Alismatales/ Araceae  Dracontium cf. 

amazonense  

 18M 0711830  9556904  

25 PAA  Malpighiales/ Clusiaceae  Vismia cf. macrophylla   18M 0711852  9556899  

26 PAA  Caryophyllales/ Nyctaginaceae  Neea cf. divaricata   18M 0711864  9556887  

27 PAA  Fabales/ Fabaceae  Zygia cf. macribridei   18M 0711868  9556888  

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28 PAA  Fabales/ Fabaceae  Diaium sp.   18M 0706244  9561454  

29 PAA  Gentianales/ Apocynaceae  Malouetia cf. naias   18M 0706538  9561642  

30 PAA  Magnoliales/ Annonaceae  Unonopsis cf. sitipitata   18M 0706764  9561927  

31 PAA  Ranunculales/ Menispermaceae  Curarea cf. toxicofera   18M 0706669  9561534  

 

Anthocyanins and total flavonoids: The determination of anthocyanins and total flavonoids is performed by 

UV/Vis spectrophotometry in 1mL of the extract prepared for the phenolic compounds by reading the absorbance 

at 535 ηm and 374 ηm respectively, after dilution of the samples. To perform the calculations, the molar extinction 

coefficient of malvidin-3-glucoside is used: 29500 L/mol cm.   

Catechin and Proanthocyanidins: It is done by the vanillin test. 0.5 ml of the extract is mixed with 1.25 ml of 

vanillin in 1% methanol (w/v) and with 1.25 ml of 25% sulfuric acid (v/v) in methanol. The white is prepared 

simultaneously in the same way, but replacing the vanillin solution with methanol. It is left to rest for 15 minutes 

and then the absorbance reading is made at 510 ηm.  

Total phenolic compounds: Measurement of the Folin index is carried out, for which 40 μl of the extract prepared 

for phenolics are treated, with 0.5 ml of Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and 2mL of 20% sodium carbonate (w/v), and 

they are taken to 10 ml. After half an hour, the absorbance reading is carried out at 765 ηm. To establish the 

calibration, catechin standards of concentrations between 0 - 100 mg/L are used. 

Alkaloids: The method indicated by Shamsa et al., (2008), is used, 5 g dry pulverized sample is weighed and 

extracted with methanol in soxhlet equipment for 12 continuous hours. The extract was filtered and the methanol 

was separated in a rotavapor at 45 ºC, redissolved with 2N HCl and then filtered, 1 mL of this solution was 

transferred to a decanting pear and washed three times with 10 mL of chloroform. The pH of this solution is 

neutralized with 0.1 N NaOH, 5mL of BCG and 5mL of phosphate buffer are added, the mixture is shaken and 

the complex formed is extracted with 1, 2, 3, and 4mL of chloroform with stirring. The extracts are collected in a 

10mL vial and then filled to volume with chloroform, in this solution is proceeded to perform the absorbance 

reading at 470 ηm. The data are quantified with a standard curve of atropine.  

Chromatographic fractionation and identification of polar molecules by gas chromatography coupled to 

mass spectrophotometry (CG-Ms). The chromatographic fractionation of methanolic extracts, in open column 

with silica gel No. 100, of the three species with high antioxidant activity was performed, and identification of 

the molecules by thin-layer chromatography, grouping the fractions with similar molecules, then they were 

subjected to Gas chromatography equipment with mass spectrometry, using Agilent Technologies 7890ª ® with 

an Agilent 122-5532 DB 5MS ® capillary column of 30 m, with internal diameter of 0.25 mm. The initial 

temperature of the oven was 100 °C/03 min, followed by a ramp of 20 °C/3 min up to 300 °C/19 min; the 

maximum temperature of the oven was 325 °C. A Split injection was used and the helium gas flow was 2 mL/min. 

The fragments for the analyses were recorded with the parameters for a scan of 50 to 500 m/z, Sotero et al., 

(2016).  

3. Results  

Table 2 shows the antioxidant activity of the leaves of the 31 plant samples studied, ordered by families, where 

all the evaluations of the antioxidant activity of this species are summarized, it is observed that the three species 

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5 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

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that exceed 50 % inhibition of antioxidant activity at a concentration lower than 5.0 mg/ml are, Virola sebifera, 

Caryocar glabrum and Tapirira guianensis. 

Tables 5, 6 and 7 show the molecules identified by the GC-Ms of the extracts of the species Virola sebifera, 

Caryocar glabrum and Tapirira guianensis, respectively.  

 

Table 2. Percentages of Inhibition of the methanolics extracts of the leaves of the 31 plant species under 

study at different concentrations, using the DPPH method.  

  

   Concentration, mg/mL  

 Family  Species   5,0  0,5  0,25  0,1  0,05  0,01  

 mg/ml mg/ml  mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml mg/ml  

 Annonaceae  Oxandra sp.  32,59  10,01  12,11  18,35  18,37  17,67  

Annonaceae Guatteria hyposericea 44,42 10,37 5,55 3,51 3,17 2,80 Annonaceae Cymbopetalum.longipes 26,19 

0,05 0 0 0 0  

 Annonaceae  Xylopia benthamii  43,70  9,46  0,51  0,43  0  0  

 Annonaceae  Guatteria flabellata  45,56  26,74  7,10  3,68  2,40  1,51  

 Annonaceae  Unonopsis sitipitata  3,15  0  0  0  0  0  

 Apocynaceae  Couma macrocarpa.  19,48  7,18  4,10  3,26  0,55  1,78  

 Apocynaceae  Llacmelleasp.  42,11  17,09  10,75  10,90  10,90  10,50  

 Apocynaceae  Malouetia. naias  27,84  9,52  13,27  21,55  0  0  

 Anacardiaceae  Tapirira guianensis   79.41  23.53  20.59  11.76  11.76  8.82  

 Araceae  Dracontium amazonense  25,82  12,69  7,72  7,11  7,08  8,50  

 Caryocaraceae  Caryocar glabrum  74,25  29.41  23.53  14.71  11.76  5.88  

 Clusiaceae  Vismia macrophylla  23,87  10,43  7,27  6,23  5,83  6,32  

 Euphorbiaceae  Sapium sp.  40,56  7,03  11,98  10,78  11,88  16,04  

 Fabaceae  Parkia multijuga  6,82  1,40  2,81  1,50  0,85  0,10  

 Fabaceae  Dialium guianense  11,41  3,17  2,08  0,71  0,26  0  

 Fabaceae  Zygia macribridei  11,49  0  0,27  0  0  0  

 Fabaceae  Diaium sp.  30,48  5,55  4,09  2,11  2,18  2,42  

 Menispermaceae Curarea toxicofera  22,85  2,91  1,37  0  0  0  

 Moraceae  Brosimum parinaroides.  17,89  3,92  0,84  1,33  1,46  0,36  

 Moraceae  Helicostylis turbinata  22,21  12,94  13,78  2,36  2,85  4,39  

 Moraceae  Ficus americana  9,85  0  0  0  0  0  

 Moraceae  Helicostylis tomentosa  13,10  1,99  4,71  4,56  4,67  4,22  

 Moraceae  Ficus sp.  34,48  23,94  24,97  24,72  18,53  19,23  

 Myristicaceae  Virola. sebifera  81.08  40  32.43  24.32  8.11  5.41  

 Myristicaceae  Virola sebifera  43,16  12,25  9,96  6,52  0,94  0,12  

 Myristicaceae  Iryanthera laevis  35,22  6,42  5,87  -2,54  -5,89  -6,06  

 Myristicaceae  Virola surinamensis  46,19  16,80  13,06  7,44  8,52  6,57  

 Nyctaginaceae  Neea divaricata  10,33  0  0,98  0  0  0  

 Olacaceae  Mnquartia guianensis  42,25  8,38  4,20  1,65  1,41  2,00  

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 Siparunaceae  Siparuna sessiliflora  21,32  4,64  2,01  2,03  2,52  2,78 

Table 3. Phenolic compounds present in the leaves of three plant species with a high percentage of 

antioxidant activity.  

  

Species  
Anthocyanins  Flavonoids  Phenolics  

Catechins and 

proanthocyanidins  

mg /100g  mg /100g  mg/100g  mg/100g  

Virola sebifera   71,38  143,90  18580,87  0,16  

Caryocar 

glabrum  

93,95  144,33  15180,71  0,18  

Tapirira 

guianensis   

41,94  144,12  11568,78  0,10  

 

Table 4. Total Alkaloids present in the leaves of three plant species with a high percentage of antioxidant 

activity.  

Species  Total, alkaloids mg/kg  Total, alkaloids mg/100g  

Virola sebifera  36,03  3,60  

Caryocar glabrum  n.d  n.d  

Tapirira guianensis  74,00  7,40  

  

Table 5. Molecules found by CG-MS in the methanol fractions of the leaves of the 2PAA specie (Virola  

sebifera) 

  F1-2PAA      

Nº  
Retention 

time,     min  
Molecules  Prob. %  

 
Area  

 

1  9.99  (5a) preganane-3,20a-diol, 14a- [4-methyl-

3-oxo- (1-oxa-4azabuten-1,4- (diyl)] 

diacetate  

 63.4   11.5  

2  11.67  4-piperidine acetate, 1-acetyl-5-ethyl-2- [3- 

(2-hydroxyethyl- 

1H-indol-2-yl] -o-methyl-methyl  

 66.8   23.2  

3  11.35  octadecane, 3-ethyl-5- (2-ethylbutyl)   64.0   23.2  

4  14.61  1H-inden-1-one, 2,3-dihydro-5,8-

dimethoxy-3-methyl  

 64.1   12.1  

5  16.62  Folic acid   61.8   19.9  

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 F2- 2PAA      

1  40.16   2'-methylene, bis 6- (1-dimethylethyl) -4-

methyl-phenol  

 85.0   0.01  

2  42.63  3 ', 8,8', trimethoxy-3-piperidine-2,2'-

binaphthalene-1,1 ', 4,4'tetrone  

 70.0   0.01  

3  47.70  3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole   69.5   98.42  

  F4-2PAA      

1  10.91  Copaene   88.50   2.73  

2  12.12  Cariopilene   93.20   12.09  

3  14.65  1,2,3,5,6,8a-hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-1- (1-

methylethyl) (1Scis) -naphthalene  

 91.20   3.08  

4  14.77   1,3,3,4-tetrahydro-1,6-dimethyl-4-81-

methletiy) - (1Scis) naphthalene  

 86.60   1.02  

5  14.94  3-methoxymethyl.2,5,58a-tetramethyl-

6,7,8,8a-tetrahydro-5chromene)  

 76.00   1.65  

6  16.33  (-) espatulenol   88.60   7.32  

7  16.44  cariopilene oxide   87.90   2.71  

8  16.56  Globulol   53.00   0.91  

9  16.83  8S, 14-cedran-diol,   77.60   1.35  

10  17.86  Cubenol   85.50   0.59  

11  18.11  espatulenol   79.90   1.43  

12  18.90  a-cadinol   81.70   0.70  

13  19.60  a-N-normetadol   64.20   0.51  

14  21.65  isoaromadendreno epoxide   84.10   1.11  

15  42.63  Diisooctyl 1,2-benzenedicarbilate   92.30   1.81  

16  47.22  13-docosenamide (Z)   88.30   29.13  

17  47.61  3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole   69.30   25.07  

18  49.91  7-Acetoxy-3-methoxy-2- (3,4-dimethoxy 

penyl) -4-chromen4-one)  

 68.40   0.80  

  F5-2PAA      

1  19.62  1,9,5-cycloheptatriene, 6-methyl-1- (6-

methyl) -1,3,5cycloeptatriene-il)  

 82.00   0.61  

2  42.63  Diisooctyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate   94.10   1.75  

3  47.68  3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole   69.60   97.65  

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  F6-2PAA      

1  12.12  Cariofillene   87.40   52.31  

2  14.65  2,3,5,6,8a-hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-1- (1-

methyl ethyl) - (1Scis) or cadine-3,9-diene-

naphthalene  

 82.40   10.54  

3  16.34  Espatulene   88.00   37.15  

Table 6. Molecules found by CG-'MS in the methanol fractions of the leaves of 12PAA specie (Caryocar 

glabrum) 

  F2-12 PAA     

Nº  Retention time,     

min  

Molecules  Prob. %   Area  

1  11.17  7,8-epoxylanstan-ol, 3-acetoxy   63.1  0.95  

2  11.172  4,3-ethyl-5-octadecane   66.9  1.79  

3  14.624      72.1  0.62  

4  18.872  1,2,8-trimethyl-4-propenyl- (E) -

naphthalene  

 80.9  0.70  

5  19.64  1,1''bisphenyl, 2,2 ', 5,5'-tetramethyl   81.3  1.78  

6  20.939  1,1'-dodecylidene bis (methyl) -

benzene  

 65.4  1.78  

7  42.638  Mono (2-ethyl hexyl) 1,1'-

benzenedicarboxylate  

 98.1  93.19  

 F3 - 12PAA     

1  14.6  2,4-bis (1,1-dimethyl-ethyl-phenol)   73.3  1.37  

2  42.6  diisooctyl 1,2-benzene dicarboxylate   96.6  98.6  

 F4-12PAA     

1  14.61  3,5-bis (1,1-dimetyl ethyl)-phenol   78.9  2.10  

2  43.63  diisooctyl 1,2-benzene dicarboxylate   96.5  97.0  

 F5-12PAA     

1  14.61  7,8-epoxylanostan-11-ol, 3 acetoxy   60.3  3.71  

2  16.8  chlorotetracycline   62.2  3.62  

3  42.6  Diisoctyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate   95.7  92.59  

 F6-12PAA     

1  23.7  9 H-fluorene, 9-methylene   95.9  11.23  

2  30.7  fluoranthene   95.7  33.14  

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3  32.12  pyrene   93.2  24.65  

4  41.5  benzantrene   90.3  6.48  

5  42.63  Diisoctyl 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate   94.2  24.47  

Table 7. Molecules found by CG-'MS in the methanolic fractions of the leaves of the 14PAA specie (Tapirira 

guianensis)  

  

  F1 -14PAA    

Nº  
Retention 

time, min  
Molecules  

Prob. 

%  
Area  

1  14.02  

decahydro-4a-methyl-1-methylene-7- (1-

methylethylidene) -4 a-trans-naphthalene  80.7  6.7  

2  14.81  2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) -phenol  76.2  11.19  

3  19.65  naphthalene, 1,2,3-trimethyl-4-propanil  70.5  5.84  

4  47.27  Vitamin E  80  76.17  

     

 F2-14PAA    

1  10.93  copaene  81.2  12.41  

2  13.83  

2-isopropyl-4a, 8-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a, 

5,6,7octahydronaphthalene  86.2  8.62  

3  13.94  Eudesna-4 (14), 11dieno  67.8  2.89  

4  14.03  

1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1,8a-dimethyl-7- (1-

methylethyl enyl) - [1R - (1a, 7a, 8a, a)] - 

naphthalene (synonimous 2valenceno)  96.8  33.67  

5  14.73  a-panasinsene  89.3  42.42  

     

 F3-14 PAA    

1  11.58  2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) -phenol  69.2  2.944  

2  14.83  α -patchulene  83.4  9.13  

3  13.93  valenceno  88.6  27.87  

4  14.03  a-panasinseno  88.6  39.596  

5  14,72  diisooctylphthalate  95.0  20.407  

     

 F4 - 14PAA    

1  13.859  α -patchulene  74.2  2.011  

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2  14.058  (+) valencene  91.4  4.086  

3  42.659  diisooctylphthalate  96  93.903  

  

4. Discussion  

Test for antioxidant activity.  

Based on the results presented in Table 2, it can be stated that of the 31 species studied, 9.7% exceeded 60% 

inhibition, while 16.1% exceeded 45%. The families with better results, besides those mentioned, of inhibition 

were Annonaceae, Apocynaceae and a species of Euforbiaceae, with inhibition greater than 40%. These results 

are within the expected, since researchers who worked with 25 plants from Colombia, found similar or higher 

percentages of inhibition, and those who also consider that the Euforbiáceaes have good antioxidant qualities 

(Mosquera et al. 2007). According to these results, the three with the best activities were selected: Virola sebifera 

(Myristaceae). Caryocar glabrum (Caryocarceae) and Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae), which present an 

inhibition percentage of 81.08%, 74.25%, and 79.41% respectively, at the concentration of 5.0 mg/ml and the 

IC50 of each of them is 1.5 mg/ml 2.2 mg/ml, and 2.8 mg/ml, respectively.  

Phenols and total alkaloids.  

Several authors agree that the high concentration of phenolic compounds in a plant species has high antioxidant 

activity, this correlation is given for wine, which at higher phenolic concentration improves antioxidant activity. 

This is the case for tea (Camellia sinensis) (Benzie & Szeto 1999), from lime (Tilia argéntea) (Yildrim et al., 

2000), among others. According to Table 3, it can be observed that the concentration of phenolic compounds is 

high in the species Virola sebifera 18580.87 g/100g followed by Caryocar glabrum 15180.71 mg/100g and 

Tapirira guianensis 11568.78 mg/100g. It is worth mentioning the very similar concentration of flavonoids and 

the high presence of anthocyanins, proven compounds with a high antioxidant effect. In the case of C. glabrum, 

researchers found molecules in the bark of this species, such as coumarins, (Aladul et al., 2007), as well as 

(Rodríguez et al., 2017), who found several anthocyanins in T. guianensis, such as quercitin, and derivatives 

thereof.  

It is observed that the concentration of alkaloids is present only in the species Virola sebifera and Tapira 

guianensis, but not in the Caryocar glabrum; indicative that these substances do not play an important role in this 

species, as antioxidants. Reducing its activity with greater certainty to the phenolic compounds present. On the 

other hand, in the other species Virola sebifera and Tapira guianensis, an appreciable concentration of these 

substances is observed, and according to (Chávez et al., 1996), they indicate that many alkaloids of different types 

of structures have been shown to be powerful inhibitors of singlet oxygen.   

Many of these compounds proved to be better inhibitors than the tertiary amine 1,4-diaza [2.2.2] bicycloctane 

(DABCO). Likewise, (Ibarra et al., 2011) found a high antioxidant activity in the alkaloidal fractions of Erytrina 

americana, and when isolating the molecule erisodin, found that it had an IC50 of 150 μg/mL.  

Molecules identified by CG-MS  

The molecules of interest found in the methanolic fractions were a) V. sebifera: folic acid, 3,5-diterbutio-

4hydroxyanisole (phenolic), caryophyllene (bicyclic sesquiterpene) and spatulenol (alcoholic sesquiterpene); b) 

C. glabrum: 2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl) -phenol, 1,1'-benzenedicarboxylate of mono (2-ethyl hexyl), 9 H-

fluorene, 9methylene, fluoranthene and pyrene (these last two, aromatic compounds) and c) T. guianensis: vitamin 

E, copaene (tricyclic sesquiterpene), patchulene and valencene both (sesquiterpenes). Likewise, observing the 

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compounds currently recognized as antioxidants, there is an anisole derivative in fractions F2, F4 and F5 of V. 

sebifera, such as 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole in fraction F3, F4 C. glabrum, phenolic derivatives, such as 

2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl-phenol) and 3,5-bis (1,1-dimethyl-ethyl) -phenol and in the F1 of T. guianensis, the 

Vitamin E.  

  

5. Conclusion   

According with the results, the species Virola sebifera, Cariocar glabrum and Tapira guianensis, present excellent 

antioxidant activity and the chemical analysis showed several molecules of interest, for this activity.  

6. Acknowledgements   

To the National Innovation Program for Competitiveness and Productivity (INNOVATE PERÚ), of the Ministry 

of Production of Peru; for financing this study. 

7. References 

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