In vitro antioxidant and cell viability of pyrostegia venusta

Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. The current research is directed toward evaluating the antioxidant potential and phytochemistry composition of P. venusta leaves. In this study, P. venusta leaves were dried and macerated, and the crude extract was partitioned. Phytochemical analysis was performed using standard methodologies, and the total flavonoid content was measured using a calibration curve with rutin. We evaluated the antioxidant potential of P. venusta leaves using 1,1-Diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and a Trolox-like standard. Cell viability (CV) assays were done using macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines and compared to four commercial anti-inflammatories (acetylsalicylic acid, Indometacina, Betametasona, and Piroxicam). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of steroids, coumarins, and flavone. The flavonoid content was 148.5 ± 7.65 µg as a rutin equivalent/mg of crude extract. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the best antioxidant activity in the methodologies of DPPH inhibition ([IC.sub.50] = 38.62 pg/mL) and ABTS radical ([IC.sub.50] = 28.58 µg/mL). Samples of P. venusta had CV values that were better than the commercial anti-inflammatory, which showed CV values below the negative control. The crude extract and the ethyl acetate fraction, showed CV values below the negative control and the hexane fraction obtained values above the negative control, these being best results. Keywords: Pyrostegia venusta; leaves; antioxidant; DPPH; ABTS; cell viability