Proceedings Volume 2010 (format .pdf) - SimpBTH

molecules, such as proteins, DNA, and lipids. Cells express several defencemechanisms, including antioxidant enzymes and nonenzymatic compounds, thathelp prevent the damaging effects of ROS [3,4]. However, these endogenoussystems are often in sufficient for complete scavenging of ROS. Their excess hasbeen implicated in the development of chronic diseases, such as cancer,arteriosclerosis and rheumatism [5,6].Oxidative stress can also play an important role in the development ofneurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases [7,8].There is an increasing interest in natural antioxidants, namely phenols, present inmedicinal and dietary plants, that might help prevent oxidative damage[9-11].Many investigations have correlated the pharmacodynamic properties of someplant extracts with their antioxidant activity and the capacity to defend theorganism against oxidative stress. Among the plants of interest, the speciesAgrimonia eupatoria L. and Hypericum perforatum L. is also situated, whosechemical composition rich in flavonoids and polyphenols components confersantioxidant and curative properties. [12,13].For obtaining of the flavonoid pigments were used two vegetal species Agrimoniaeupatoria L. and Hypericum perforatum L.The aerial parts of agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L., Rosaceae) are used asinfusions, decoctions or tinctures (aqueous-alcoholic extracts) in traditionalmedicine, for their anti-inflammatory, astringent and diuretic properties [14, 15].Agrimonia eupatoria L. contain aromatic acids, triterpenes, tannins, and flavonoidpigments. The presence of kaempferide, kaempferol and their derivatives, such askaempferol 3-glucoside, kaempferol 3-rhamnoside and kaempferol 3-rutinoside,have also been reported [16].Hypericum perforatum, (St. Jons’s wort) is a vegetal species, from which theflowering part is used, which contains: naphtodiantrone (hyipericin,pseudohypericin, protohypericin, isohypericin), anthranols (emodol, anthranol),Flavonol glycosides ( hyperoside, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetin 3-glucuronate,quercetin 3-galacturonate, hyperoside-acetyl, rutin-acetyl, kampferol 3-rutinoside,quercetin 3-rhamnoside), flavonoid aglycones (quercetin, kaempferol, biapigenin,amentoflavone) essential oil, proantocianidoli, cinnamic acid, cafeic acid,chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid.Hypericum perforatum L. extracts contain many phenolic compounds, namelyflavonoids and phenolic acids, suggesting that they could have importantantioxidant properties. Previous reports indicate that these extracts show significantscavenging capacity for the superoxide radical, produced by the xanthine/xanthineoxidase system [17].The complex pharmacological action, of choleretic, cholagogue, antiinflammatory,anti- depressive, cicatrizant is attributed to the active principlesmentioned.231