Antioxidant properties of proanthocyanidins of Uncaria tomentosa bark decoction: a mechanism for anti-inflammatory activity

摘要: Decoctions prepared from the bark of Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) are widely used in traditional Peruvian medicine for treatment several diseases, particular as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, main purpose this study was to determine if well-known activity cat's claw decoction related with its reactivity oxidant species generated inflammatory process and establish relationship between such antioxidant ability phenolic composition. We observed that according presented radical scavenger activity, suggested by high capacity reduce free diphenylpicrylhydrazyl, reaction superoxide anion, peroxyl hydroxyl radicals well species, hydrogen peroxide hypochlorous acid. It also protected membrane lipids against peroxidation induced iron/ascorbate system, evaluated formation thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs). The profile established chromatographic analysis (HPLC/DAD TLC) revealing essentially presence proanthocyanidins (oligomeric procyanidins) acids, mainly caffeic Thus, our results provide evidence an mechanism underlying support some biological effects proanthocyanidins, more exactly scavenging activities.