Costa, PatríciaGonçalves, SandraRomano, Anabela2015-06-182015-06-1820100032-0943AUT: ARO01015;http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/6426The brain is particularly susceptible to oxidative stress damaging effects due such events as the high consumption of oxygen, limited concentration of antioxidants and a relatively high degree of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are particularly good substrates for peroxidation reactions [1–3]. Oxidative stress could lead to damage biological target molecules, affecting the cellular function and integrity [4]. The ability of natural antioxidants, mainly phenolic compounds, to protect cells from oxidative stress has been previously demonstrated [5]. In this work, the methanol extract from Lavandula viridis L'Hér. (Lamiaceae), a xerophytic aromatic shrub endemic to the south-west Iberian Peninsula [6], was investigated for its effect on deoxyribose degradation, its reducing properties, Fe2+-chelating ability and total phenol content. The capacity of this extract to prevent Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in mouse brain (in vitro) was also evaluated. L. viridis extract showed Fe2+ chelating activity, reducing power and the ability to prevent Fe2+/H2O2-induced decomposition of deoxyribose in a dose-dependent manner. This extract also revealed a high phenol content (893.01±17.09µmol gallic acid equivalents/g extract) evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Moreover, in brain homogenates, the methanol extract of L. viridis caused a high decrease in the MDA production in both the basal and the Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation. The effective protective properties of L. viridis could be attributed to its higher phenol content, Fe2+ chelating ability, reducing properties and HO· radical scavenging ability. The findings suggest that methanol extract from L. viridis could be a potential source of natural antioxidants.engconference objecthttp://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1264659