Pterospartum tridentatum Willk. (prickled broom) is an autochthonous
plant, common in Portuguese territory.
The yellow flowers are widely used in traditional medicine, as a potential cure for all
body illnesses, mainly for throat irritation treatment or for diabetes, hypertension and
hypercholesterolemia therapy.
Despite its wide traditional use, no toxicological assessment of this plant has been
performed, as far as we know. The major goal of this work was the P. tridentatum water
extracts safety assessment.
Methodology: Chemical characterization of MS analysis of P. tridentatum flower
extract was performed by ESI-MS spectroscopy; phenols and quercetins content were
also determined. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through -carotene bleaching test
and ABTS radical-scavenging activity. Oxygen consumption of isolated mitochondria
was determined polarographically with a Clark oxygen electrode and mitochondrial
respiratory rates evaluated accordingly to Chance and Williams (1956) and
mitochondrial swelling was evaluated the apparent absorbance changes at 520 nm.
Results and discussion: A high antioxidant activity of P. tridentatum flower water
extract was assessed in good agreement with its ESI-MS spectrum that revealed the
presence of several flavonoids, as luteolin-O-(O-acetyl)-glucuronide, luteolin-Oglucuronide
or isorhamnetin-O-hexoside.
Mitocondrial respiratory rates (state 4, state 3 and FCCP-stimulated respiration) and
respiratory indexes (respiratory control and P/O ratios) showed no consistent decrease
of respiratory and phosphorylative efficiencies for the concentrations tested (up to 500
μg.mL-1). In conclusion, for the concentration range commonly used P. tridentatum
flowers usage can be regarded as harmless and trustworthy and due to its great
antioxidant properties it is useful to counteract diabetes mellitus associated diseases
