Phytochemical profiles and inhibitory effect on free radical-induced human erythrocyte damage of Dracaena draco leaf: A potential novel antioxidant agent
The present study reports for the first time the metabolite profile and antioxidant activity of aqueous
extract obtained from Dracaena draco L. leaf. Volatiles profile was determined by HS-SPME/GC-IT-MS,
with 34 compounds being identified, distributed by distinct chemical classes: 2 alcohols, 5 aldehydes,
16 carotenoid derivatives and 8 terpenic compounds. Carotenoid derivative compounds constituted
the most abundant class in leaf (representing 45% of total identified compounds). Phenolics profile was
determined by HPLC/DAD and 9 constituents were identified: 2 hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives – 5-
O-caffeoylquinic and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acids; 4 hydroxycinnamic acids – caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic
and sinapic acids and 3 flavonol glycosides – quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and
kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside. The most abundant phenolic compound is quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (representing
50.2% of total polyphenols). Organic acids composition was also characterised, by HPLC–UV
and oxalic, citric, malic and fumaric acids were determined. Oxalic and citric acids were present in higher
amounts (representing 47%, each). The antioxidant potential of this material was assessed by the ability
to protect against free radical-induced biomembrane damage, using human erythrocyte as in vitro model.
Leaf extract strongly protected the erythrocyte membrane from haemolysis (IC50 of 39 ± 11 lg/ml), in a
time- and concentration-dependent manner. This is the first report showing that D. draco leaf is a promising
antioxidant agent.
