<i>In vitro</i> antioxidant potential and <i>in vivo</i> effects of <i>Schinus terebinthifolia</i> Raddi leaf extract in diabetic rats and determination of chemical composition by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS

<p>The present study investigated the <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> antioxidant potential and phytochemical composition of <i>Schinus terebinthifolia</i>, which is widely used in folk medicine for various therapeutic purposes. The <i>in vitro</i> analyses indicated that the hydroethanolic extract (HE) had 312.50 ± 0.50 mg GAE/g of total phenols. It also presented anti-DPPH• and anti-ABTS•⁺ activity, reduced phosphomolybden and metal ions and blocked the bleaching of β-carotene. The HE at concentrations of 3.0 and 2.0 μg/mL had TRAP values of 2.223 ± 0.018 and 1.894 ± 0.026 μM Trolox, respectively. The HE increased the availability of antioxidants in plasma in treated animals <i>in vivo</i>. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS indicated the presence of 11 phenols: cumaric acid, (+)-catechin, myricetin-3-<i>O</i>-glicuronide, kaempferol-3-<i>O</i>-glucoside, myricetin, myricitrin, quercetin, gallic acid, methyl galate, pentagalloyl glucose and ethyl galate. Thus, <i>S. terebinthifolia</i> has potential for the prevention or treatment of diseases that are related to oxidative stress, such as diabetes mellitus.</p