Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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POLYPHENOLIC PROFILE AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE LEAVES AND AERIAL PARTS OF ECHINOCYSTIS LOBATA (MICHX.) TORR. ET A. GRAY (CUCURBITACEAE)

IRINA IELCIU1,2, LAURIAN VLASE3*, MICHEL FRÉDÉRICH2, DANIELA HANGANU4, RAMONA PĂLTINEAN1, EWA CIECKIEWICZ2, NELI-KINGA OLAH5, ANA-MARIA GHELDIU3, GIANINA CRIŞAN1

1.“Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, 23 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2.Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, University of Liège, 15 Avenue de Hippocrate, B36, Tour 4 (+3), 4000, Liège, Belgium
3.“Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4.“Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
5.PlantExtrakt Ltd, 407059, Rădaia, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and Department of Pharmaceutical Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, "Vasile Goldiș" West University of Arad, 1 Feleacului Street, 300041, Romania

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The aim of the present study consisted in the quantification of the polyphenols in leaves and aerial parts of Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) Torr. et A. Gray and testing its biological potential. The analysis of polyphenols was performed by a HPLC-MS method. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was tested by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), CUPRAC (modified cupric reducing antioxidant capacity), FRAP (the ferric reducing ability of plasma), TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance method) and SNPAC (silver nanoparticles antioxidant capacity) assays. Cytotoxic activity was assessed on cancerous and healthy cell lines. Anti-plasmodial tests were performed on two strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Ethanolic extracts of E. lobata contain mainly p-coumaric acid, isoquercitrin, rutin, quercitrin and kaempferol. Biological assays showed a significant antioxidant effect and no cytotoxic and anti-plasmodial activity. These results offer a new perspective on E. lobata, proving it as an important source of antioxidant compounds.