Summary: | Several species from the genus <i>Tragia</i> L. in the family <i>Euphorbiaceae</i> are part of the ethnomedicine of traditional cultures, and have a variety of uses. <i>Tragia volubilis</i> L. is a species spread through tropical America and Africa with several ethnomedical uses, particularly for wound healing and reproductive issues. In this study, we assess the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of <i>T. volubilis</i> collected in southern Ecuador. The phytochemical screening of the extract shows the preliminary presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins. The extract shows an Antioxidant Activity Index of 1.14, interpreted as strong antioxidant activity. Four flavonoid compounds were isolated through chromatographic procedures and identified through NMR spectroscopy: avicularin, quercitrin, afzelin, and amentoflavone. The biological activity of these compounds matches the ethnopharmacological uses of the species. This is the first phytochemical study of <i>T. volubilis</i> and supports its traditional medicinal uses.
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