This study aimed to verify the chelating, antioxidant and cytoprotective activities of Psidium brownianum Mart. Ex DC against mercury and aluminum. The ethanolic extract, as well as the tannic and flavonoid fractions, were prepared and subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Ferric ion reduction and antioxidant activity measurement using the FRAP method were performed with P. brownianum. After determining the sub-allelopathic doses, germination tests using Lactuca sativa (lettuce) seeds were performed. The main compounds identified in the extract and fractions were: quercetin and its derivatives; myricetin and its derivatives; gallic acid; ellagic acid; quinic acid and gallocatechin. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for all samples were ≥ 1024 μg/mL. The flavonoid fraction in association with mercury chloride demonstrated cytoprotection (p < 0.001). The sub-allelopathic concentration used was 64 μg/mL. The extract and fractions were cytoprotective for radicles and caulicles when assayed in association with mercury and against aluminum for radicles. This suggests that the P. brownianum extract and its fractions present cytoprotective activity, possibly related to the antioxidant effect of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids.
Keywords: Allelopathy; Aluminum; Cytoprotection; Mercury; Phytochemicals; Psidium brownianum.
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