Standardisation and evaluation of the antioxidant efficacy of phenolic extracts from <i>Bionia coriacea</i> (Nees) Benth

The Caatinga, the only exclusively Brazilian biome, is mainly located in the Northeast region of Brazil. Although often considered arid and low in biodiversity, it harbours species adapted to drought and poor soils, such as <i>Bionia coriacea</i>, whose chemical composition and biological activity remain unexplored. This study demonstrated that the roots of <i>B.coriacea</i> contain a significant amount of rutin. Along with rutin, five other flavonoid glycosides were isolated and structurally elucidated from a phenolic-enriched fraction (Fr30%MeOH). The research was conducted in two stages: (1) obtaining and standardising the phenolic-enriched fraction by HPLC-DAD-MS, using rutin as a biomarker, and (2) evaluating its antioxidant potential using DPPH, ABTS, and DMPD assays. The results showed that the 30%MeOH fraction (<i>phenolic-enriched fraction</i>) exhibited higher antioxidant activity than both the crude extract and isolated rutin, suggesting a possible synergistic effect. These findings highlight the potential of standardised phenolic fractions for enhanced antioxidant efficacy and simplified extract processing.