Bioassay-guided study in leaves of pentacalia nitida (Baskin) and pentacalia corymbosa (Romerillo)

Pentacalia nitida and Pentacalia corymbosa are plant species present in the Colombian páramo regions-moorland areas of the Andes Mountains. These plants are employed in popular medicine as an alexiteric, in edemas or to treat lesions, pharyngitis, sorethroat, as a disinfectant, as a scar forming agent, and to alleviate other affections of the skin. Bioguided fractionation of Pentacalia nitida(baskin) and Pentacalia corymbosa (romerillo) leaves was used to identify the fraction with greatest antioxidant activity employing the DPPH methodology. Fractions obtained were compared to Rosmarinus officinalis, trolox, and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Likewise crude extract preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed in low-,medium-andhigh-polarity fractions. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to identify the chemical composition of fractions with the greatest antioxidant activity. Pentacalia nitida ethyl acetate and ethanol fractions presented the greatest antioxidant activities with IC₅₀ values of 1107±143 and 1460±125 μg/mL, respectively. Results from GC-MS revealed compounds associated with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or antifungal properties; as well as neuroprotection, and other type of biological activity. Major compounds corresponded to ethyl α-D-glucopyranoside, b-D-allopyranose, eucalyptol, camphor,(E)-cinnamaldehyde, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde, 4-hydroxyphenylaceticacid, 3-methyl-6,7-dihydro-1-benzofuran-4(5H)-one, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Result sindicate P. nitida leaves as a potential source of bioactive compounds.