Potential of different species of the genus Talinum as antioxidant: use as a functional foodHerbal medicines, antioxidant enzymes, therapeutic potentialThe world herbal market moves billions of dollars each year. However, little is known about the efficacy and safety of these compounds since the sale need not be regulated in Brazil. Therefore it is necessary to identify and describe the metabolism of the active ingredients and the way they interact with biological models. Some plant secondary metabolites are capable of altering the cellular redox balance directly or by controlling the gene expression of antioxidant system components. This has aroused interest in the use of these compounds to treat oxidative diseases such as diabetes, cancer and inflammatory diseases. In Brazil, herbal medicines are used indiscriminately to treat different types of diseases. However, the metabolism of molecules present in some plant types is still poorly understood. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the effects caused by the consumption of extracts of Talinum triangulare and Talinum paniculatum (leaves and stem) on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in rat liver. Later we intend to identify the active principles for future use in models of diseases with oxidative character. This knowledge will help to elucidate the real effects of these herbal medicines as well as evaluate their therapeutic and toxicity potential.