Proanthocyanidin Characterization and Bioactivity of Extracts from Different Parts of Uncaria tomentosa L. (Cat's Claw)

• Published in: Antioxidants Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 12
• Main Authors: Navarro-Hoyos, Mirtha, Lebrón-Aguilar, Rosa, Quintanilla-López, Jesús E, Cueva, Carolina, Hevia, David, Quesada, Silvia, Azofeifa, Gabriela, Moreno-Arribas, M Victoria, Monagas, María, Bartolomé, Begoña
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.02.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: Absorbance; Adenocarcinoma; Alkaloids; antimicrobial; Antimicrobial activity; antioxidant; Bark; Biological activity; Catechin; Colon; Cytotoxicity; degree of polymerization; direct-injection mass spectrometry; Phenolic compounds; Polymerization; Polyphenols; Proanthocyanidins; propelargonidins; Respiratory diseases; Tumor cell lines; U. tomentosa; U. tomentosa; antimicrobial; antioxidant; proanthocyanidins; propelargonidins; degree of polymerization; direct-injection mass spectrometry; cytotoxicity
• ISSN: 2076-3921; 2076-3921
• DOI: 10.3390/antiox6010012

Apart from alkaloids, bioactive properties of L. have been attributed to its phenolic constituents. Although there are some reports concerning low-molecular-weight polyphenols in , its polymeric phenolic composition has been scarcely studied. In this study, phenolic-rich extracts from leaves, stems, bark and wood ( = 14) of plants from several regions of Costa Rica were obtained and analysed in respect to their proanthocyanidin profile determined by a quadrupole-time-of-flight analyser (ESI-QTOF MS). Main structural characteristics found for proanthocyanidins were: (a) monomer composition, including pure procyanidins (only composed of (epi)catechin units) and propelargonidins (only composed of (epi)afzelechin units) as well as mixed proanthocyanidins; and (b) degree of polymerization, from 3 up to 11 units. In addition, phenolic extracts were found to exhibit reasonable antioxidant capacity (ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) values between 1.5 and 18.8 mmol TE/g) and antimicrobial activity against potential respiratory pathogens (minimum IC of 133 µg/mL). There were also found to be particularly cytotoxic to gastric adenocarcinoma AGS and colon adenocarcinoma SW620 cell lines. The results state the particularities of proanthocyanidins and suggest the potential value of these extracts with prospective use as functional ingredients.