Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

2011

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Biology

Advisor

Edward J. Kennelly

Committee Members

Dominick V. Basile

Miguel Cervantes Cervantes

David C. Locke

Subject Categories

Biology

Abstract

Antioxidants from plants scavenge free radicals and prevent reactive oxygen species from having damaging effects in common ailments such as inflammation, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. As part of our ongoing studies of antioxidants from tropical edible fruits, we have studied Garcinia intermedia (Pittier) Hammel [synonym: Rheedia edulis (Seem.) Planch. & Triana], native to Central America. In the fruits the following compounds were identified: guttiferone A, guttiferone E, xanthochymol, fukugetin, volkensiflavone and fukugeside. A new compound was tentatively identified in the fruits of this species. The antioxidant activity of guttiferone A in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was IC50 = 46 μM. The antiproliferative effect of guttiferone A against colon cancer cells (HT-29) was IC50 = 15.8 μM.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method with diode array detection (DAD) was developed and validated to quantify seven major phenolic compounds in eight Garcinia species from different geographic regions: G. mangostana, G. xanthochymus, G. spicata, G. livingstonei, G. intermedia, G. hombroniana, G. kola, and G. aristata. Garcina intermedia and G. mangostana had the highest antioxidant activities.

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