Phytochemical profile, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of hydroethanolic extracts of Urera laciniata leaves

Introduction: Ecuador has a rich plant diversity, among which the Urera laciniata, a species with ethnopharmacological potential, stands out. Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of hydroethanolic extracts of Urera laciniata leaves dried at different temperatures. Methods: Total phenols and flavonoids contents were quantified. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH and ABTS assays. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC, MBC) were evaluated by the broth microdilution method. Metabolites were profiled by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). Results: The hydroethanolic extract obtained at 25 °C was the most active in the microdilution test, inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 (MIC 32.25 mg/mL; MBC 62.5 mg/mL). It also presented the lowest IC50 values in antioxidant assays (DPPH 403.82 mg/L; ABTS 894.87 mg/L). Twelve metabolites were identified by UHPLC-MS. The main flavonoids were luteolin-7-glucuronide (match index=0.93) and apigenin-6,8-digalactoside (match index=0.92). Conclusions: The results support the research and potential applications of U. laciniata, especially in the cosmetic and medicinal fields, due to its antioxidant capacity and its effect against a strain of Staphylococcus aureus associated with skin infections.