Aim of the study
To characterize the biocompounds in extracts from leaves, pseudobulbs, and flowers of P. karwinskii and evaluate their ROS inhibition capacity to associate it with medicinal uses. Materials and
Conclusions
It was found that the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of each part of the plant were associated with its traditional medicinal use. A pharmacological potential was also found in P. karwinskii for further biological studies because of the type of compounds it contained.
Methods
The compounds present in extracts from leaves, pseudobulbs, and flowers of P. karwinskii were identified by UPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS. The chemical differentiation of each extract was tested by principal component analysis (PCA) using compound intensity values. For each extract, total phenol and flavonoid contents were quantified. Their antioxidant capacity was evaluated ex vivo by inhibition of ROS with DCFH-DA and in vitro with DPPH radical.
Results
Based on the PCA, it was observed that some compounds were completely separated from others according to the correlation that they presented. The compounds common to all three plant parts were quinic, malic, succinic, azelaic, and pinellic acids. Among the compounds identified, two were exclusive to leaves, four to pseudobulbs, and ten to flowers. Some of the identified compounds have well-known antioxidant activity. The leaves had the highest content of total phenols and flavonoids, and the highest in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant capacity. A strong correlation was observed between phenol and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity ex vivo and in vitro. Conclusions: It was found that the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of each part of the plant were associated with its traditional medicinal use. A pharmacological potential was also found in P. karwinskii for further biological studies because of the type of compounds it contained.