Seasonal Variation of Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Papache Extracts (Randia echinocarpa Moc. & Sessé ex DC 1830): Plant Used in Traditional Medicine

The HPLC-DAD analysis identified eight phenolic compounds in the leaf and fruit pulp of Randia echinocarpa, highlighting chlorogenic acid with the highest concentration, followed by ferulic acid and rutin. Previous analyses have reported similar phenolic profiles in R. echinocarpa and other species of the same genus, such as Randia monantha, where chlorogenic acid and rutin were the predominant compounds. The concentration of total phenolics was found to vary depending on the plant tissue and season, being highest in the leaf during autumn and lowest in the bark during winter. In the present study it is reported for the first time that tannin and flavonoid concentrations in R. echinocarpa. The highest concentration of tannins was determined in the leaf during the fall, although these may have anti-nutritional effects, the concentrations found do not represent a significant risk to human health. Using HPLC-DAD, five compounds were identified in its leaves and three in the fruit pulp during the autumn. This study expands the knowledge on phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins in R. echinocarpa, providing valuable data on their concentration, seasonal variability, and highlights the importance of these compounds with potential health benefits.