Quantification, chemical and biological characterization of the saponosides material from Sida cordifolia L. (escobilla)

Resumen

Introduction: Sida cordifolia L. (Malvaceae) is a weed about which not much is known in Colombia. This plant is used in folk medicine to treat oral mucosa, blennorrhea, asthma and bronchitis. In Brazil it finds application as an anti-inflammatory, while in Colombia its "baba" is used for treating hair loss, constipation and internal fever, among other ailments.
Objectives: to quantify the saponoside content and evaluate its antioxidant and antifungal functionality.
Methods: we prepared organic, aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from the aerial section of the plant. The saponoside material was quantified by the DNS and p-anisaldehyde methods. The most concentrated extracts were selected for antioxidant and antifungal assays.
Results: it was found that Sida cordifolia, collected in Ibague-Colombia, is a good source of saponins with diverse chemical structures, mainly of steroidal nature, some of which may be hecogenin, diosgenin or a homologue.
Conclusions: these factors may contribute, at least in part, to the antioxidant and antifungal functionality of Sida cordifolia L., but this capacity may be modified if these saponins act independently or together with some other metabolites of the plant such as tannins, flavonoids steroids, and alkaloids among others.