AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE REDUTORA DE RADICAIS LIVRES DE PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin disease, especially in adolescents. It’s caused by hormonal factors and bacterial proliferation. Phyllanthus niruri is a medicinal plant famously used for kidney stones, indeed, studies have shown its potential for the treatment of acne due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study we investigated the efficacy of two extraction techniques (reflux and pressurized fluid) to obtain bioactive compounds from this plant and evaluate their antioxidant potential. The results showed that pressurized fluid extraction was more efficient than the reflux technique. The extract obtained by pressurized fluid exhibited higher antioxidant activity, evidenced by significantly lower IC50 values. This indicates that the compounds extracted by this technique are more efficient in neutralizing free radicals, contributing to the reduction of inflammation and oxidative damage associated with acne. In addition to higher antioxidant activity, pressurized fluid extraction also provided a especially larger yield of phenolic compounds, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and the superiority of pressurized fluid extraction can be attributed to the extraction conditions such as high pressure and temperature that favor the solubilization and extraction of bioactive compounds of interest. This technique is considered more sustainable, as it uses a smaller amount of solvent and shorter extraction time aligned with the principles of green chemistry. In conclusion, P. niruri extracts suggest having potential for the development of new natural products for the treatment of acne, offering a different alternative to conventional ones.