Resumen

AGUADO, María Inés et al. Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of an Aloysia polystachya (Griseb.) Mold. (Verbenaceae) ethanolic extract. Rev. mex. cienc. farm [online]. 2013, vol.44, n.3, pp.46-51. ISSN 1870-0195.

Aloysia polystachya is popularly used to treat various conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition, some physicochemical properties and in vitro antioxidant activity of an ethanolic extract of the species. Extracts retain a higher content of essences that infusions or decoctions. It was detected five groups of metabolites (two of them as traces) and the physicochemical properties were similar to those of the employed solvent. It was quantified total phenols (2.32 ± 0.16 mg GAE/mL E), total flavonoids (0.37 ± 0.01 mg QE/mL E) and in vitro antioxidant activity by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The free radical scavenging capacity would be about three times smaller than the reference substance and the total antioxidant activity equivalent to 0.83 mg of Trolox/mL extract.

Palabras llave : Antioxidant capacity; herbal extracts; total content of phenols; total content of flavonoids.