ABSTRACT

Introduction

In Madeira Archipelago there are four endemic Helichyrsum species and three of them are used in the traditional medicine. Helichrysum monizii is a rare endemism with very scarce information available concerning its uses in the local traditional medicine.

Objective

The aim of this work was to study for the first time Helichrysum monizii in terms of its antioxidant capacity and the identification of the phenolic compounds to which that activity is due.

Methodology

Three different methods of extraction were performed and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of extracts were correlated to radical scavenging and antioxidant capacity by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and β-carotene assays. An HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn method was employed for the separation and identification of the phenolic and flavonoid components.

1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic

acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid (>
98% by HPLC for all) were obtained from Chengdo Biopurify Phytochemicals Ltd