Abstract

YAMAGUCHI, Klenicy Kazumy de Lima; ALCANTARA, Joelma Moreira  and  VEIGA JUNIOR, Valdir Florêncio da. Antioxidant and anticholinesterasic effects of 20 species of the family Lauraceae. Acta Amaz. [online]. 2012, vol.42, n.4, pp. 541-546. ISSN 0044-5967.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0044-59672012000400012.

Lauraceae is one of the most important families in the Amazon rainforest. Several substances with strong pharmacological properties have been isolated from the species of this family. In this study, ethanol extracts of branches and leaves of 20 Lauracea especies were collected in the Reserva Florestal Ducke and evaluated for antioxidant activity of extracts using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. The branches extracts from Licaria martinianal showed the highest capacity to scavenge the DPPH radical (6.96 µgmL^-1), but Ocotea iminor extracts were the most active in inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, with also pronounced antioxidant activity. The antioxidant and acetylcholinesterasic activities profile of these extracts is being reported in the first time in this paper.

Keywords : Lauraceae; DPPH; antiacetylcholinesterase; Licaria martinianal; Ocotea iminor.