Stability of an Aqueous Extract of Larrea divaricata Cav. during a Simulated Digestion Process

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 31; no. 11; pp. 1708 - 1714
• Main Authors: Alonso, María Rosario, Peralta, Ignacio, Monti, Demian, Martino, Renzo, Anesini, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2017
• Subjects: antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - analysis; Argentina; Bioavailability; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Digestion; DPPH activity; Drug Stability; Flavonoids; Flavonoids - analysis; Fluids; freeze drying; Gastric Juice; High-performance liquid chromatography; Immunomodulation; Inflammatory diseases; Intestine; Larrea - chemistry; Larrea divaricata; Liquid chromatography; Masoprocol - analysis; Medicinal plants; Medicine, Traditional; Nordihydroguaiaretic acid; Plant extracts; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Polyphenols; Polyphenols - analysis; polyphenols stability; reducing power activity; simulated gastrointestinal fluids; spectroscopy; Stability; traditional medicine; Water; Zygophyllaceae; Argentina; DPPH activity; Larrea divaricata; polyphenols stability; simulated gastrointestinal fluids; reducing power activity
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5897

Larrea divaricata Cav. (Zygophyllaceae) is a South American plant widely distributed in Argentina that is used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. The aqueous extract is known to have well‐documented biological activities such as antitumour, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant. However, its stability in gastrointestinal fluids is unknown. The latter is an important factor to assure the bioavailability of plant extracts intended to be administered via the oral route. The aim of this work was to study the stability of a lyophilized aqueous extract of L. divaricata compressed as a pill. To this end, the main polyphenol compound found in the extract, that is, the nordihydroguaiaretic acid, the total polyphenols and flavonoids content and the antioxidant activity such as diphenylpicrylhydrazyl scavenger activity and reducing power were assayed after subjecting the extract to different incubation times in simulated digestive fluids. The HPLC and spectroscopic methods were employed. Although the levels of polyphenols and flavonoids decreased upon incubation in gastric and intestinal fluids, the extract maintained its antioxidant activity related to the presence of nordihydroguaiaretic acid. These results are promising and encourage the potential use of the extract by the oral route as a supplement or phytomedicine with antioxidant activity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.