ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND TOXICITY OF EXTRACTS FROM EXOCARP OF NEPHELIUM LAPPACEUM L. (SAPINDACEAE), FROM SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL.

Abstract

Nephelium lappaceum L., known as rambutã, is an attractive tropical fruit, and contains phenolic compounds (tannins and flavonoids) and alkaloids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity, by the method of 2.2-diphenyl- 1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the toxicity to brine shrimp Artemia salina, of Nephelium lappaceum L. (Rambutã) exocarp, marketed in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, It was used the hexane and ethyl acetate phases, obtained from the ethanol extract partition. For the biological evaluation, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test and toxicity to Artemia salina were used. The ethyl acetate phase showed higher antioxidant power and less toxic effect when compared to hexanic phase. In the DPPH test, ethyl acetate and hexane phases showed EC50 =373.72 μg/mL and 1207.4 μg/ mL, respectively. The hexane phase (LD50=705.72 μg/mL) was more toxic to Artemia salina than ethyl acetate phase (LD50= 799.28 μg/mL). The results indicated the potential use of this fruit (peels) as a natural source of antioxidants.