The EtOH crude extract from the leaves of Nectandra grandiflora collected in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil, showed antioxidant activity towards b-carotene in a TLC assay. The bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of protocatechuic acid and two flavonol glycosides: afzelin and quercetrin, which showed free radical scavenging activity towards DPPH (DA 32, 16 and 73% at 50 µmol L-1) and were compared to commercial antioxidants rutin (81% at 50 µmol L-1) and BHT (9% at 50 µmol L-1), used as standard compounds. Additionally, three inactive neolignans, including the new bicycle[3.2.1]octane neolignan 2'-oxo-piperol B were obtained and characterized by spectrometric methods.
Nectandra grandiflora; Lauraceae; neolignan; flavonoid; radical scavenging activity; antioxidant
