Background: This study evaluates the radical-scavenging activity of five plants used as food and medicines in the northeastern region of Brazil.
Materials and methods: Spectrophotometric analysis of the plants' ethanol extracts was carried out. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) test. The antioxidant capacity was measured using ascorbic acid as a positive control.
Results: All tested plant extracts showed an antioxidant activity, but the highest activity was observed with the extracts of Momordica charantia and Eugenia jambolana.
Conclusions: Therefore, these species must be studied as a putative source of products for use in the prevention and treatment of diseases in which oxidants or free radicals are implicated.
Keywords: DPPH; Eugenia jambolanum; Eugenia uniflora; Hyptis martiusii; Mentha arvensis; Momordica charantia; radical scavenging.