Application of levulinic acid-based natural deep eutectic solvents for extraction and determination of deltamethrin in food samples

In the study, a fast and green natural deep eutectic solvent based ultrasound-assisted liquid liquid microextraction (NDES-UALLME) were proposed for the determination and extraction of deltamethrin in food samples using UV/Vis spectrophotometry. The extraction step was based on ion-pair formation between deltamethrin and levulinic acid-tetraethylammonium bromide (as extraction solvent) at pH 5.5, and then extraction of deltamethrin into micro-drops of extraction solvent by using tetrahydrofuran. Levulinic acid-based natural deep eutectic solvents composed of natural, green compounds, i.e., choline acetyl chloride, tetrabutylammonium bromide, tetraethylammonium chloride and tetraethylammonium bromide were used for the first time as extraction solvents for extraction of deltamethrin. The NDES-UALLME procedure allowed to exclude matrixes effects and increase enrichment factor (283) of deltamethrin. Several key factors, including the type and the volume of extraction solvent, the pH of sample solution, ultrasound time, extraction temperature, ionic strength and sample volume were optimized in detail. At optimized conditions, the NDES-UALLME procedure was characterized by low limit of detection (2.4 ng mL^?1), a wide linear dynamic range (8–950 ng mL^?1), quantitative recoveries (93 ± 4%-103 ± 2%) and acceptable relative standard deviations (2.9%≤). The validation of NDES-UALLME procedure was carried out using recovery tests, intraday and intraday studies. The applicability of NDES-UALLME procedure was confirmed by the assay of deltamethrin in real food samples.     

Combining natural deep eutectic solvent and microwave irradiation towards the eco-friendly and optimized extraction of bioactive phenolics from Eugenia uniflora L.

To design a green chemistry future, the development of new protocols for standardization of phytomedicines should consider both traditional and environmental parameters. In the present study, we developed a new natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-based microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of phenolics from leaves of Eugenia uniflora L. This species is used in folk medicine and included in the list of potential plants for phytomedicine production by the Brazilian Health System. Both efficiency of extraction and environmental impact were considered throughout the development, as assessed by three complementary multiparameter metrics (HPLC Environmental Assessment Tool, Analytical Eco-Scale, and Green Analytical Procedure Index). Five food-compatible NADES were initially screened, and choline chloride:lactic acid 1:3 (mol/mol) solubilized in 20% of H₂O (wt/wt) obtained the highest extractability of phenolics. Then, a heuristic multivariate optimization of the extraction conditions (plant/NADES ratio, irradiation time, and extraction temperature) was developed by a Central Composite Design with untargeted-targeted purposes. The integrated use of MAE, NADES, and Design of Experiments (DoE) enabled us to obtain a ready-to-use polyphenolic extract from E. uniflora that did not require additional purification steps and employed a more sustainable extraction than other ones previously published in the literature using volatile organic solvents as extraction media. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation demonstrated that this approach has the potential to be applied to other species as an eco-friendly and rational strategy to extract phenolics from plants to search for new active extracts or compounds, and even to the valorization of agro-food residues. The approach also presents a competitive potential over other green methodologies to extract phenolics.     

Study on extraction and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Radix Bupleuri by natural deep eutectic solvents combined with ultrasound-assisted enzymolysis

A green and efficient extraction method for Radix Bupleuri polysaccharide (RBP) by natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) combined with the ultrasonic-assisted enzymolytic extraction (UAEE) was established. Using UAEE, the NADES with different ion combinations were selected to extract RBP. The best technical conditions of NADES combined with UAEE were determined by a single factor experiment and response surface optimization experiment. The results showed that the best extraction process of RBP with NADES was as follows: the molar ratio of urea to choline chloride was 1:3, the water content was 20%, the ratio of material to liquid was 1:30, the ultrasonic power was 400 W, the temperature was 57.34 °C, pH was 4.89, and the amount of enzyme was 2.63%. The extraction rate of RBP was 10.1042%, and the relative error compared with the predicted value was 2.03%. The reuse of NADES not only has little effect on the extraction rate of RBP but also has the highest extraction rate when it is reused for the third time, indicating that NADES has certain recyclability. The in vitro antioxidant activity of polysaccharides extracted from Radix Bupleuri by NADES showed that the extract had a specific ability to DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, this study proposed a new, green, and recyclable extraction method for extracting RBP from Radix Bupleuri, which provided a theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of the physical and chemical properties of RBP and the development and utilization of its biological activities.     

Optimization of natural deep eutectic solvents extraction of flavonoids from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge by response surface methodology

A green and efficient extraction of flavonoids from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge by using ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic solvents combined with response surface methodology. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction process. We aimed to test the scavenging ability of sixteen different NADESs and methanol extracts on DPPH and ABTS free radicals. The optimal extraction solvent was as follows: 1, 4-butanediol-acetic acid. With the best solvent the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: molar ratio 1:3, water content 33%, solid-liquid ratio 1:18 g mL^?1 and extraction time 33 min. Under these conditions, the yields of (?)-epigallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, dihydromyricetin, taxifolin and myricetin were 9.99, 1.38, 11.08, 6.53, 0.84 and 0.54 mg g^?1, respectively. A total extraction yield of 30.37 mg g^?1 was obtained. The IC₅₀ values of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were 3.18 μg mL^?1 and 0.51 mg mL^?1, respectively. This study suggests that the extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity of 1, 4-butanediol-acetic acid were higher than traditional organic solvent methanol and have the advantages of environmental protection. The experiment provided a new method for the extraction of flavonoids from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge.     

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds from Lavandula angustifolia flowers using natural deep eutectic solvents: An experimental design approach

In this study, the green extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds from Lavandula angustifolia was investigated using ultrasound-assisted extraction coupled with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). One variable at a time, fractional factorial design, steepest ascent/descent method, and central composite design were used to optimize the extraction conditions. Eighteen NADESs based on choline chloride, organic acids, and sugars were tested by one variable at a time approach. The NADES composed of choline chloride and glycerol with a molar ratio of 1:2 showed higher extraction performance than other NADESs and benchmark solvents (70 % ethanol and 80 % methanol). After solvent selection, other extraction parameters including ultrasound amplitude (20–100 %), temperature (40–70 °C), time (5–30 min), liquid to solid ratio (10–50 mL/g), and water content in NADES (10–50 %) were screened using fractional factorial design. Subsequently, the steepest ascent/descent method was applied to approach the suitable level of the selected parameters. Finally, response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal extraction conditions. The optimum conditions were ultrasound amplitude of 60 %, temperature of 60 °C, time of 17.5 min, liquid to solid ratio of 31.7 mL/g, and water content in NADES of 33.5 % with the predicted phenolic content of 50.50 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, flavonoid content of 35.79 mg catechin equivalent/g, antioxidant capacity (AC)_DPPH of 41.60 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g, AC_ABTS of 77.13 mg TE/g, and AC_CUPRAC of 163.33 mg TE/g. Phenolics and volatiles were analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS, respectively. The results showed a sustainable, green, and effective extraction of antioxidant phenolic compounds from L. angustifolia.     

A closer look in the antimicrobial properties of deep eutectic solvents based on fatty acids

Microbial infection is a serious and challenging clinical complication that has attracted widespread interest in last decades. In this context, we present a strategy based on deep eutectic solvents (DES) to explore these unmet medical needs. DES systems based on saturated fatty acids, namely, capric acid (CA), myristic acid (MA), lauric acid (LA) and stearic acid (SA) were produced and fully characterized at a physicochemical level. The thermal characterization results indicate a depression of the melting point in DES form when compared with the starting compounds to near-physiological levels, whereas via polarized optic microscopy insights on the homogeneity/separation of the counterparts were obtained. Regarding, physicochemical properties, temperature also has a great effect on the viscosity of the eutectic systems, the higher the temperature the lower the viscosity observed. The antimicrobial potential of DES systems was evaluated against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. The obtained results show that DES retain the antimicrobial of the counterparts possibly present synergistic effects between components, mainly in the CA:MA formulation. The systems revealed significant antimicrobial activity against the tested Gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans, with the CA:LA system showing the greatest overall inhibitory/bactericidal activity. This system was then used for a biofilm removal/detachment assay where relevant activity is evident against the prementioned organisms and E. coli without need of additional physical force. The obtained results illustrate the potential of saturated fatty acid-based DES when compared with isolated fatty acids as preventive/therapeutic options against microbial infections and/or components of novel thermoresponsive biomedical devices for antibacterial purposes.     

Natural deep eutectic solvents improve the solubility of acetylcholinesterase reactivator RS194B

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were studied as alternative solvents for the preparation of oxime RS194B, which is considered as a potent antidote for organophosphate (OP) poisoning. OPs are irreversible inhibitors of the essential enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and standard oximes used in therapy are insufficiently effective in the central nervous system. Nowadays, the focus is on the centrally active reactivators of phosphylated AChE such as oxime RS194B. The shortcoming of this oxime is its low solubility in water, and the aim of this study was the enhancement of the compound's solubility by preparing oxime formulations in NADES. The solubility of RS194B in various NADES was predicted by the COSMOtherm program and experimentally determined using high efficient liquid chromatography. The best oxime solubility was achieved with NADES citric acid:glucose (1:1) solvent with 30% (w/w) of water. Over a one-month period, there was no difference in the stability of oxime formulations in NADES and a reference solvent. Initial tests on the potential effects on enzyme activity showed that the selected NADES inhibits AChE, and its level should be kept below 0.2% in order for the enzyme to keep above 90% activity. Reactivation kinetic parameters of sarin- and VX-inhibited AChE were determined for both NADES and the reference solvent formulations of the oxime. Results showed an improvement in the AChE reactivation, as a consequence of the higher affinity of phosphylated AChE for the RS194B formulation in NADES. Although further optimizations are needed, this study is the first to show the NADES potential in formulating antidotes for nerve agent poisoning.     

Deep eutectic solvents comprising active pharmaceutical ingredients in the development of drug delivery systems

Introduction: Deep eutectic solvents comprising or acting as solvents of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API-DES) emerged as promising alternatives to improve therapeutic efficiency, with the additional possibility to integrate them in (bio)polymer-based systems to enhance their delivery.

Areas covered: A critical review of the API-DES field evolution is herein presented, namely on the capacity of DES to integrate APIs in their composition and on the use of DES as solvents for APIs. These strategies avoid a current major concern related to drugs and APIs, i.e. polymorphism, and increase the solubility and bioavailability of the target API which leads to increased bioavailability. Owing to their composition versatility, polymerizable API-DES can also be prepared. Finally, the incorporation of API-DES in (bio)polymer-based systems to improve drug delivery is presented and discussed.

Expert opinion: The relatively easy preparation of API-DES and their capacity to tune the API’s release profile when incorporated in (bio)polymer-based systems represent an effective alternative to improve the APIs therapeutic action and to develop controlled drug delivery systems. Given the potential and progress demonstrated so far, the authors foresee further research on novel API-DES and on their delivery routes, envisaging the development of alternative therapies and final approval as therapeutics.     

The evaluation of five bioactive compounds content and in vitro antioxidant of Caryophylli Flos extracts obtained by natural deep eutectic solvents

In this study, a simple, green and efficient method based on ultrasound-assisted NADESs was used to extract ellagic acid, isoquercitrin, myricetin, luteolin and eugenol from Caryophylli Flos. Nine different NADESs were synthesized and screened, and 1,3-butanediol-levulinic acid (molar ratio 1: 3) was selected as the topgallant solvent for maximizing target compounds extraction yields. Single factor experiments combined with response surface methodology and genetic algorithm were applied for efficient optimization of the main variables in the extraction procedure. The optimum experimental conditions were as follows: water content in NADES 29%, liquid-solid ratio 21 mL/g and extraction time 30 min. After the optimization of several main variables, an extract obtained showed higher extraction yields and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rate than conventional organic solvents extracts which were used for comparison. Consequently, this study provides a suitable strategy for efficiently extracting bioactive compounds from Caryophylli Flos, and NADESs can be employed as green extraction media for obtaining other natural products.     

Green and eco-compatible iron nanocatalysed synthesis of benzimidazole: A review

Benzimidazole moiety occupies a prominent position among all heterocyclic compounds along with N-containing heterocycles due to its widespread use in the medical field. In addition to medical uses, this bioactive heterocyclic moiety is also found in many important biological compounds, which are present in nature. Because of these diverse characteristics, chemists drew attention to the synthesis of benzimidazoles. As a result, benzimidazoles derivatives started being synthesized with the help of various chemical methods but these conventional processes were plagued with several drawbacks such as low atom economy, severe reaction conditions, long reaction times, by-product formation, non-recyclable catalysts, unsatisfactory product yield, hazardous solvents etc. So to overcome this problem, chemists are focusing their efforts on inventing synthetic approaches that are primarily based on the principles of green chemistry. We have focused in this review paper to systematically demonstrate several greener and more efficient approaches for the preparation of benzimidazoles from o-phenylenediamine by using Iron-based nanocatalysts. Finally, this review will also help the researchers to develop more efficient and simpler routes for synthesizing benzimidazoles and their derivatives.     

Rapid and eco-friendly high yield synthesis of dihydroquinazolinones mediated by urea/zinc chloride eutectic mixture

In this contribution an efficient and environmentally friendly one-pot multicomponent synthesis of dihydroquinazolinones is reported. Several deep eutectic solvents were studied as alternative reaction media for the three-component reaction between isatoic anhydride, amines and aldehydes or ketones. Among the low melting mixtures, the mixture urea/zinc chloride efficiently catalyzed the reaction affording a variety of dihydroquinazolinones in excellent yields with short reaction times. In addition, this alternative solvent was recycled and reused in three cycles showing a good performance in the catalytic activity. The versatility of the eutectic solvent was further explored for the obtention of the biologically active compounds methaqualone, mecloqualone and the natural alkaloid tryptanthrin giving an excellent yield.     

A novel strategy to improve the recovery of phenolic compounds from Pistacia lentiscus L. fruits using design-based statistical modeling for ultrasound-deep eutectic solvents extraction and the evaluation of their antioxidant potential

Recently, there has been increasing interest in using alternative green technologies for the isolation of bioactive metabolites from medicinal plants. This study was designed to select the optimal solvent for phenolic compounds (TPC) extraction from Pistacia lentiscus L. black fruits (PBF) and the development of an experimental model by response surface methodology using ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents (UAE-DES). The characterization and the antioxidant capacity of PBF phytochemicals using a multi-test system in-vitro were investigated. The highest amount of phenolic compounds (TPC: 183.95 ± 0.01 mg GAE/Gdw) was obtained using choline chloride-acetic acid solvent DES, under the optimum extraction conditions: 28.3% of water percentage, 40 °C of extraction temperature, and 18 min of extraction time. Moreover, DES extract had a more important antioxidant capacity with no significant difference compared to the control (Ascorbic acid). Furthermore, HPLC-DAD and TLC analysis indicated the presence of rutin and Cyanidin-3-glycoside in fraction number 4 after fractionation using the HP-20 diaion resin column. This extraction media has proved to be an alternative approach for the extraction of bioactive compounds as a sustainable and safe extraction media for pharmaceutical and industrial applications.     

Dissolution of cellulose in ionic liquids and their mixed cosolvents: A review

Because of increasing environmental awareness and over-extrapolation of non-renewable materials, the application and processing of carbohydrate polymers (polysaccharides) have attracted immense courtesy as they are most abundant natural and biorenewable materials on the Earth. However, insolubility of the most of the polysaccharides in most of the common solvents including water limits their applications. Limited solubility of the polysaccharides is attributed because of the strong intermolecular interactions between polymeric chains that offer them high degree of crystallinity. More so, some organic solvents such as morpholine, N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), N-methylmorpholine (NMM), urea and thiourea in association with sodium hydroxide etc. were used to solubilise carbohydrate polymers with particular emphasis of cellulose. However, processing of the polysaccharides with these solvents is not only toxic to surrounding environment and living beings but also release several environmental malignant chemicals that can cause several side reactions and adversely affect their physiological properties. Present review paper features the collection of some major works that have been carried out in the area of cellulose dissolution in ionic liquids with and without co-solvents (DMSO, DMF, DMAc etc.).     

A clean and green technology for oleuropein rich extract from Olea europaea by-product

Considering the intense trend towards nutraceuticals and functional foods enriched with natural additives, and the great development in the cosmetic industry, it is obvious that it is necessary to study on the extraction of natural products. The current challenge is to develop the most effective alternative method by employing less energy, chemicals and unit operations. In the present study, automatic solvent extraction (AMSE) has been operated as a Green Extraction technology. Olive tree (Olea europaea) by-product (leaf) has been extracted by AMSE. Its yield has been evaluated according to its total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC) and oleuropein contents. Free radical scavenging activity of the product was also quantified by two different in vitro tests (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS)). 3-factor and 3-level Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to design the experimental study as well as modelling the experimental data and optimizing the AMSE process. The concentration of ethanol (solvent solution) was statistically the most significant (p < 0.0001) parameter affecting the AMSE of bioactive ingredients from olive leaves. The optimal conditions (~0.7 mm olive leaf particle with 80 % (v/v) ethanol solution for 30 min) have been determined to achieve the highest yields (216.39 mg gallic acid equivalent of TPC, 338.21 mg catechin equivalent of TFC and 67.25 mg of oleuropein per gram dried leaf), which are in convincing agreement with the actual values (<2 % error).     

Green approach to extract bioactive compounds from orange peel employing hydrophilic and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents

Consumer interest in natural products with advantageous biological impacts on their health has increased in recent years. Therefore, academic and industrial communities have concentrated their research on developing sustainable techniques for extracting bioactive compounds from natural resources. In the present study, extracts rich in bioactive compounds from orange peel were obtained using novel hydrophilic and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and polyphenols, their stability, antioxidant capacity, permeability, and biological activity were determined to consider their inclusion in food formulations. The results demonstrated that the highest total carotenoid values were obtained with hydrophobic DESs using DL-Menthol: camphor (163.5 ± 1.1 mg/100g_fw), DL-Menthol: Eucalyptol (168.7 ± 1.7mg/100g_fw), and lauric acid: octanoic acid (153.1 ± 7.1 mg/100g_fw). Total polyphenols were higher in hydrophilic DESs such as proline: malic acid (282.8 ± 7.3 mg/100g_fw). The antioxidant values showed that hydrophobic extracts have higher antioxidant activity than traditional solvents. Carotenoid stability was also improved using DL-Menthol: camphor, while lactic acid: glucose and proline: malic acid showed a better capacity to stabilize polyphenols. To simulate carotenoid and polyphenol permeation, the Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) was used and demonstrated that DESs can enhance the permeability of these bioactive compounds. Biological tests were also performed, and the antiproliferative effect in HeLa cells showed only 26.70% cell viability in DL-Menthol: camphor extracts. Based on the presented results, DESs can be used to extract hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds from orange peels, and the obtained extracts could be included in food formulations, avoiding the solvent elimination process.     

Evolution of green chemistry and its multidimensional impacts: A review

The growing process of industrialization was a milestone for world economic evolution. Since the 1940s, social movements have revolutionized green chemistry and provided shifts in industrial positions and sustainable processes with advances in environmental impact and awareness of companies and population. Paul Anastas and John Warner, in the 1990s, postulated the 12 principles of Green Chemistry, which are based on the minimization or non-use of toxic solvents in chemical processes and analyzes, as well as, the non-generation of residues from these processes. One of the most active areas of Research and Development in Green Chemistry is the development of analytical methodologies, giving rise to the so-called Green Analytical Chemistry. The impacts of green chemistry on pharmaceutical analyzes, environmental, population, analyst and company are described in this review and they are multidimensional. Every choice and analytical attitude has consequences both in the final product and in everything that surrounds it. The future of green chemistry as well as our future and the environment is also contemplated in this work.     

A systematic review of the green and sustainable chemistry education research literature in mainland China

This paper describes state-of-the-art green and sustainable chemistry education (GSCE) research in mainland China based on a systematic review of the literature. The current situation in secondary and tertiary education is explored and compared. Our analysis found that research in GSCE for secondary education basically focuses on the introduction of teaching strategies and on ‘greening’ required chemistry experiments. Socio-scientific issues-based teaching is initially concerning. Secondary school students' and teachers' awareness of and behaviors surrounding green chemistry are generally weak; related teaching examples or models remain a rare occurrence. In tertiary education, multiple teaching methods are reported and changes in practical work are more elaborated. Overall, GSCE research literature in mainland China is in its preliminary stage, while the currently used chemistry curriculum standards highlight the importance of GSCE at the high school level, which brings a new chance for developing GSCE in Chinese chemistry education. Some suggestions for GSCE in mainland China are derived from the results.     

Ethyl lactate and its aqueous solutions as sustainable media for organic synthesis

Ethyl lactate is an amphiphilic bio-based solvent with beneficial safety characteristics and ecotoxicity profile. The miscibility of ethyl lactate with water allows adjustments of the medium properties using aqueous solutions of various concentrations to achieve the desired reaction outcome. This review discuses current applications of ethyl lactate and its aqueous solutions as media for organic synthesis. The effectiveness of these media has been demonstrated in several coupling reactions, olefin metathesis, carbonyl group reactions, heterocyclizations, various multicomponent reactions and other chemical transformations. These reactions often benefit from the application of non-conventional energy sources (microwave, ultrasound, and visible light irradiation). The reaction yields are typically comparable or higher than that obtained in conventional solvents.     

Investigation of the applicability of fatty acid-based deep eutectic solvent based air assisted liquid liquid microextraction for the rapid determination and extraction of butylparaben in cosmetic products

In this research paper, fatty acid-based deep eutectic solvents (FA-DESs) were prepared and investigated for the extraction of butylparaben (BP) from cosmetic products by air assisted liquid liquid microextraction (AA-DLLME). The amounts of BP were determined by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. By combining single factor optimization and Box-Behnken design based multivariate approach, key extraction parameters affecting the FA-DES AA-LLME procedure were systematically optimized. Under the optimized conditions, wide working range (5–800 μg L^?1) was obtained with a good r²:0.9972 and high enrichment factor (205). For three replications run of 10 μg L^?1 (low), 300 μg L^?1 (medium) and 600 μg L^?1 (high) of BP, the percent extraction recovery and relative standard deviation were in the range of 92 ± 4%-98 ± 2% and 1.8–2.6%, respectively. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 1.5 μg L^?1 and 5 μg L^?1, respectively. The study of the matrix effect showed that the proposed method has high selectivity for measuring BP in the selected samples. Therefore, it has great potential in sample pre-treatment and quantification of trace BP in cosmetic products.     

Angolan Cymbopogon citratus used for therapeutic benefits: Nutritional composition and influence of solvents in phytochemicals content and antioxidant activity of leaf extracts

Folk medicine is a relevant and effective part of indigenous healthcare systems which are, in practice, totally dependent on traditional healers. An outstanding coincidence between indigenous medicinal plant uses and scientifically proved pharmacological properties of several phytochemicals has been observed along the years.This work focused on the leaves of a medicinal plant traditionally used for therapeutic benefits (Angolan Cymbopogon citratus), in order to evaluate their nutritional value. The bioactive phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of leaf extracts prepared with different solvents (water, methanol and ethanol) were also evaluated.The plant leaves contained ∼60% of carbohydrates, protein (∼20%), fat (∼5%), ash (∼4%) and moisture (∼9%). The phytochemicals screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids in all extracts. Methanolic extracts also contained alkaloids and steroids. Several methods were used to evaluate total antioxidant capacity of the different extracts (DPPH, NO, and H₂O₂ scavenging assays, reducing power, and FRAP). Ethanolic extracts presented a significantly higher antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) except for FRAP, in which the best results were achieved by the aqueous extracts. Methanolic extracts showed the lowest radical scavenging activities for both DPPH and NO radicals.