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Abstract(s)
Borututu ( Cochlospermum angolensis Welw.) is a widespread tree in Angola used since antiquity by
traditional healers for the prevention and treatment of hepatic diseases and for the prophylaxis of
malaria [1]. This plant is mostly consumed as infusions but is also available as dietary supplements,
such as piiis, capsules, and syrups, among others. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate the
proximate composition and energetic contribution of borututu as weii as its composition in
hydrophilic (sugars and organic acids) and lipophilic (fatty acids and tocopherols) compounds, given
the fact that this plant is directly introduced in some dietary supplements. Furthermore, the
bioactivity (antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial activities) of three different formulations
of borututu (infusion, pills, and syrup) was assessed and compared, and since plant beneficial
properties are often ascribed to phenolic compounds [2], the phenolic profile of the formulations was
also analysed. Carbohydrates (88 g/100 g) and fat (2.5 g/100 g) were the major and tl1e minor
components of the studied borututu dry barks, respectively, with an energetic contribution of 384
kcal/100 g. Fructose was the most abundant sugar (1.3 g/100 g), foilowed by sucrose, trehalose and
glucose (1.1, 0.98 and 0.79 g/100 g, respectively). Oxalic (0.70 g/100 g), malic (0.63 g/100 g) and
citric (0.57 g/100 g) acids were present in higher amounts but shikimic and fumaric acids were also
detected. Among the fatty acids found in borututu, a prevalence of saturated fatty acids (SF A;
48.2%) was observed, whereas polyunsaturated (PUFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids
were detected in relative percentages of 30.9% and 20.8%, respectively. P-tocopherol was the most
abundant of the four isoforms found in the sample, foiiowed by o-, a- and y-tocopherol, present in
concentrations of 597,43, 3.7 and 2.0 g/100 g, respectively. Borututu infusion revealed the highest
antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 20 to 600 J.lg/mL and was the only formulation
inhibiting the growth of an HepG2 ceii line, with a Gl5o value of 146 J.lg/mL. This formulation.also
revealed the best antimicrobial capacity and proved to be able to inhibit the growth of Escherichia
coli, E. coli ESBL, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with MIC values of 50,
6.2, 1.6 and 25 mg!mL, respectively. Pills revealed activity against some of the studied bacterial
strains and the syrup did not reveal antimicrobial activity at the studied concentration. Eilagic acids,
methyl ellagic acids, eucaglobulinlglobulusin B and (epi)gaiiocatechin-0-gallate were the
compounds present in all the different formulations. The highest concentration of phenolic
compounds was found in the infusion extract. Protocatechuic acid was the most abundant phenolic
compound in the infusions, the only preparation where it was detected, whereas ( epi)gaiiocatechin-
0-gallate was the main phenolic in the pills and eucaglobulinlglobulusin in the syrup. In a general
way, borututu proved to be a good source of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, with the
infusions revealing the best bioactive properties.
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Citation
Pereira, Carla; Barros, Lillian; Alves, Maria José; Santos-Buelga, Celestino; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R. (2016). Dietary supplements based on borututu: wich is the most suitable choice for bioactive purposes? In 5° Encontro Português de Jovens Químicos (PYCheM) e o 1° Encontro Europeu de Jovens Químicos (EYCHeM). Guimarães