Phytochemical Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Leaves and Flowers of Tiquilia paronychioides from the Ica Region, Peru

Castillo Morales F.E.; Castro Luna A.J.; Vaisberg Wolach A.J.; Ramos Cevallos N.J.; Zuñiga Santi C.A.; Huacho Inca C.S.; Barrientos Amau A.A.; Solano Canchaya G.N.; Balbin Inga D.L.; Tinoco L.V. · Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (2026) · DOI: 10.26538/tjnpr/v10i3.33

Resumen

The search for plant-derived compounds with potential health-promoting properties has intensified in recent years due to their chemical diversity and biological activities. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and cytotoxic activity of the ethanol–aqueous extract of Tiquilia paronychioides. Phytochemical screening, quantitative determination of phenolic and flavonoid contents, and the evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity were performed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging assay, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) radical scavenging assay, and the ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay. In vitro cytotoxicity was determined using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay in normal Mus musculus embryo fibroblasts (3T3) and tumor cell lines including non-small cell lung carcinoma (H460), prostate carcinoma (DU 145), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), amelanotic melanoma (M-14), and colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29). The extract contained triterpenoids, saponins, glycosides, and anthraquinones, with a total phenolic content of 1173.53 ± 25.12 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract and a flavonoid content of 16.17 ± 1.02 mg quercetin equivalents/g extract. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of 41.63 mg Trolox/g extract in DPPH•, 108.74 mg Trolox/g extract in ABTS•+, and 60.04 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g extract in FRAP), while no significant cytotoxicity was observed up to 250 µg/mL. These findings indicate that Tiquilia paronychioides exhibits considerable antioxidant activity and may have relevance in oxidative stress modulation and chemopreventive research; however, it did not demonstrate direct cytotoxic effects under the experimental conditions evaluated.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos