Screening of Polyphenol Composition and Antiradical Capacity of Wild Erica arborea: A Native Plant Species from the Portuguese Flora

Abstract

With this study, we aimed to determine the polyphenol composition and antiradical activity of activity of Erica arborea a native plant species from the Portuguese and Mediterranean flora and often reported as having important bioactivities, but without consistent scientific evidences. The analysis of polyphenol profile and content was performed by HPLC-DAD/UV-Vis and in vitro bioassay of 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) method was used to evaluate the radical scavenging activity. The HPLC analysis showed a great diversity of compounds. E. arborea presented high contents in flavonols (52%) and flavanols (25%) and the average content of antiradical activity higher than 85%. The polyphenols identified are often associated by literature as having preventive properties and protective effect against of degenerative and inflammatory processes, thus, our findings confirm the empirical health properties often associated to this endemic plant. Therefore, based in our study the E. arborea, can be used to extract and purify phytochemicals with potentially beneficial effects on health.