Antiglycation, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of Uvaria chamae root and essential oil composition.

Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae), is an essential oil bearing plant; the root is acclaimed as an effective remedy for folkloric diabetic therapy. The root extracts were evaluated for composition, antiglycation, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity. Flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and tannins were relatively high in the alcohol extract; benzyl benzoate (23.3%), dimethoxy-p-cymene (14.2%), τ-cadinol (12.1%), and methyl thymol (8.7%) predominated the constituents identified by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ethanol extract demonstrated significant antiglycation activity (IC50, 1.12 mg/mL), and cytotoxicity to brine shrimp (LC50, 25.01 µg/mL). The extract (IC50, 8.0 µg/mL; absorbance 0.531, 100 µg/mL) also exhibited better antioxidant effects compared with the essential oil (IC50, 50.0 µg/mL; absorbance 0.292, 100 µg/mL) using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and ferric reducing power assays respectively. U. chamae root possess antiglycation effect, and may also reduce oxidative stress in patients with diabetes; its antiglycation effect, oil composition, and cytotoxicity are reported for the first time.