Ocotea nutans (Nees) Mez: structural elucidation of C-hetorosides flavonoids and evaluation of their antioxidant and antibacterial properties from ethyl acetate extract

The Ocotea genus exhibits a variety of pharmacological, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential and antibacterial properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of Ocotea nutans leaves. Isolation and identification of the phenolic compounds from the fraction was also carried out. The isolated compounds were characterised by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and identified as vitexin (1) and isovitexin (2). The ethyl acetate fraction of Ocotea nutans leaves demonstrated considerable antioxidant potential. The observed minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 mu g.mL(-1) was classified as a moderate antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis. Findings from this study demonstrate the utility of this plant as a potential source of antioxidant and antibacterial agents.