The methanolic extract of Cnidoscolus chayamansa leaves from Mexico was screened for antioxidant and antimutagenic properties by the DPPH, ABTS, iron chelating, and Kado microsuspension assays, respectively. The hypoglycemic effect was also studied. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as HPLC identification and quantification of protocatechuic acid and rutin were also carried out. The C. chayamansa leaves extract contained 71.3 +/- 1.7 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 42.6 +/- 3.7 mg (+)-catechin equivalent/g extract of total phenols and flavonoids, respectively. Concentrations of 0.242 +/- 0.001 mg/g and 2.00 +/- 0.097 mg/g were found for protocatechuic acid and rutine, respectively. The extract was capable of scavenging DPPH and ABTS(+) radicals in a concentration dependent manner. The extract was not toxic to TA100 and TA98 strains at the concentrations tested; moreover, the extract at a concentration of 1000 microg inhibited 24% and 39% the mutagenicity induced by 4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine and sodium azide, respectively. An acute hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats was observed.
Practical application: C. chayamansa has been proposed as an herbal medicine to treat diabetes; however, the reported results are not conclusive and further studies need to be performed. Despite this fact, chaya leaves can be commercialized as tea in a dried presentation since the dried leaves conserve high polyphenol contents.