Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of chemical constituents from Croton zehntneri (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Croton zehntineri is an aromatic plant native to the northeast of Brazil which is popularly used in folk medicine as a sedative and for the relief of gastrointestinal disturbances. The present work deals with the chromatographic analysis of the ethanolic extract of roots and stem of C. zehntineri allowed the isolation and characterization for the first time for this species of seven compounds named trans-docosanyl ferulato, acetyl aleuritolic acid, 3-O-methylquercetin, E-anethole, 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyacetophenone and a mixture of b-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Structural elucidation was done on the basis of spectral data, mainly by high field NMR and EIMS. The antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity) was determined, only compound named 3-O-methylquercetin showed antioxidant activity (IC50 2.76.10-3 ± 9.6.10-5 mg/mL).