Antioxidant Evaluation of Eysenhardtia Species (Fabaceae)

The antioxidant activities of plant extracts from Eysenhardtia platycarpa, E. punctata, and E. subcoriacea (Fabaceae) species, used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes complications, were analyzed in a rat pancreas homogenate model. Methanolic extracts of E. platycarpa, E. punctata, and E. subcoriacea protected the pancreatic homogenate from 2,2-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced damage. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent at concentrations of 10--1000 ppm and correlated with 1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) radical scavenger capacity. 3-O-Acetyl-11α,12α-epoxy-oleanan-28,13β-olide (1, EC50=21.2±2.2 μM), (+)-catechin (2, EC50=7.4±1.1 μM), and (+)-catechin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (3, EC50=11.5±1.5 μM), natural constituents isolated from the branches of E. platycarpa, displayed significant antioxidant activity. Compounds 1 and 2 significantly increased (p