Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reiss, the true "espinheira-santa" is widely used for treating gastritis and stomach ulcers. Its therapeutic values are due mainly polyphenols (flavonoids and tannins) and triterpens. Polyphenols are largely studied and they are related to the antioxidant activity of the plants. There are several methods for evaluating the antioxidant activity, which can measured the total antioxidant capacity through the formation of a phosphomolybdenum complex and the antioxidant activity related to the reduction of one radical, using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The antioxidant activity of "espinheira-santa" dried leaves in different temperatures was measured in order to evaluated the possible influence of drying temperatures under its antioxidant power. Five temperatures used were (40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 ºC) and a drying routine of medicinal plants as well. Lower temperatures showed the highest antioxidant activities.
Maytenus ilicifolia; Maytenus ilicifolia; Celastraceae; drying temperature; antioxidant; DPPH; phosphomolybdenum
