Garcinia macrophylla: a Promising Underutilized Source of Bioactive Compounds in the Amazonia - A Review.

Native species from the Amazonia are still unknown or underutilized and few information about their chemical and biological properties are available in the literature. Among the underutilized plant species in the Amazonia, Garcinia macrophylla can be seen as a promising source of bioactive compounds with relevant biological properties. The stem bark and leaves were the main investigated plant parts, mainly concerning the antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxicity and antidiabetic properties. However, the bioactive compounds and biological properties of the edible fruits were not yet reported. Systematic investigations covering the Amazonia biome, concerning plants and vegetables as strategic resources are of paramount importance for the sustainable development of the forest. Therefore, this review gathered the available information in the literature concerning general aspects, chemical profile and biological properties of G. macrophylla, for the first time, which highlighted that systematic and robust in vitro and in vivo research, are still needed to elucidate the phytochemical profiles and associated relevant biological properties.

Scavenging Capacity of Extracts of Arrabidaea chica Leaves from the Amazonia against ROS and RNS of Physiological and Food Relevance.

Arrabidaea chica, a medicinal plant found in the Amazon rainforest, is a promising source of bioactive compounds which can be used to inhibit oxidative damage in both food and biological systems. In this study, the in vitro scavenging capacity of characterized extracts of A. chica leaves, obtained with green solvents of different polarities [water, ethanol, and ethanol/water (1:1, v/v)] through ultrasound-assisted extraction, was investigated against reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species, namely superoxide anion radicals (O2•-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-). The extract obtained with ethanol-water presented about three times more phenolic compound contents (11.8 mg/g) than ethanol and water extracts (3.8 and 3.6 mg/g, respectively), with scutellarein being the major compound (6.76 mg/g). All extracts showed high scavenging efficiency against the tested ROS and RNS, in a concentration-dependent manner with low IC50 values, and the ethanol-water extract was the most effective one. In addition, all the extracts were five times more efficient against ROO• than Trolox. Therefore, the extracts from A. chica leaves exhibited high promising antioxidant potential to be used against oxidative damage in food and physiological systems.

Chemical characterization and protective effect of the Bactris setosa Mart. fruit against oxidative/nitrosative stress.

Bactris setosa Mart. is a Brazilian tree from the palm family (Arecaceae), whose fruits are scientifically underexploited. Here, we report, for the first time, the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in the pulp, seed, and peel extracts of B. setosa fruits and their in vitro biological activity. The anthocyanins cyanidin deoxyhexose hexoside and cyanidin hexoside and other phenolic compounds were detected mainly in the peel but also in the pulp extracts. All-trans-lutein was the unique carotenoid identified and quantified, and only in the peel extract. All extracts were able to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively), to modulate human neutrophils' oxidative burst and to protect Caco-2 cells against oxidative damage, the peel extract being the most efficient. This study indicates that extracts from B. setosa fruits, especially the peel extract, are a source of bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Solanum diploconos fruits: profile of bioactive compounds and in vitro antioxidant capacity of different parts of the fruit.

Solanum diploconos is an unexploited Brazilian native fruit that belongs to the same genus of important food crops, such as tomato (Solanum lycorpersicum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum). In this study, we determined, for the first time, the profile of bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and tocopherols) of the freeze-dried pulp and peel of Solanum diploconos fruits, as well as of an extract obtained from the whole fruit. Additionally, the antioxidant potential of the whole fruit extract was evaluated in vitro, against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Eighteen phenolic compounds were identified in the peel and pulp and 6 compounds were found in the whole fruit extract. Coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acid derivatives were revealed to be the major phenolic constituents. All-trans-ß-carotene was the major carotenoid (17-38 µg g(-1), dry basis), but all-trans-lutein and 9-cis-ß-carotene were also identified. The peel and pulp presented <2 µg per mL of tocopherols, and ascorbic acid was not detected. The whole fruit extract exhibited scavenging capacity against all tested ROS and RNS (IC50 = 14-461 µg mL(-1)) with high antioxidant efficiency against HOCl. Thus, Solanum diploconos fruits may be seen as a promising source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant potential against the most physiologically relevant ROS and RNS.

The seed of the Amazonian fruit Couepia bracteosa exhibits higher scavenging capacity against ROS and RNS than its shell and pulp extracts.

Among the large number of scientifically unstudied fruits from the Amazonia biome, Couepia bracteosa acts as an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and carotenoids, which may be used for protecting human health against oxidative damage. For the first time, the phenolic compounds and carotenoids in extracts obtained from the pulp, shell and seeds of C. bracteosa fruits are reported, as well as their in vitro scavenging capacities against some reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The shell extract presented the highest phenolic compound and carotenoid contents (5540 and 328 µg per g extract, dry basis, respectively), followed by the pulp and seed extracts. The major phenolic compound was acacetin sulphate (one methoxy and two OH groups) (62%) in the shells; however, only seeds presented apigenin sulphate (three OH groups), in which it was the major compound (44%). The high content of apigenin sulphate may explain why the seed extract had the highest scavenging efficiency against all tested ROS/RNS among the studied extracts. Regarding carotenoids, all-trans-neochrome (17%) and all-trans-ß-carotene (16%) were the major carotenoids in the pulp extracts, while all-trans-lutein (44%) was the most prevalent in the shell extracts and all-trans-α-carotene (32%) and all-trans-ß-carotene (29%) were the major ones in the seed extracts.

Bioactive compounds and scavenging capacity of extracts from different parts of Vismia cauliflora against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

CONTEXT: Vismia cauliflora A.C.Sm. [Hypericaceae (Clusiaceae)] is a plant from Amazonian forest. It is used by Amerindians to treat dermatosis and inflammatory processes in the skin and has been considered an interesting source of bioactive compounds. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the scavenging capacity of extracts from V. cauliflora (leaf, branch, stem bark, flower, and whole fruit) against reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), namely, superoxide radical ([Formula: see text]), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), singlet oxygen ((1)O2), nitric oxide ((•)NO), and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). In addition, for the first time, the profile of phenolic compounds and carotenoids was determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The scavenging capacities of each extract were determined using specific probes (fluorescent, colorimetric, and chemiluminescent) to detect different reactive species ((1)O2, HOCl, H2O2, [Formula: see text], (•)NO, and ONOO(-)). The identification and the quantification of phenolic compounds and carotenoids were carried out by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD, respectively. RESULTS: (-)-Epicatechin and proanthocyanidin dimers and trimer were the major phenolic compounds tentatively identified in leaf, branch, stem bark, and flower extracts, while dihydroxybenzoic acids were the major compounds in whole fruit extracts. All-trans-zeinoxanthin and all-trans-ß-carotene were the major carotenoids tentatively identified in leaf extracts. All extracts of V. cauliflora showed high efficiency against all tested ROS and RNS, although flower and stem bark extracts exhibited the most remarkable scavenging capacity, especially for (•)NO and ONOO(-). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Vismia cauliflora has great potential to be used in the development of phytopharmaceutical products due to its characteristic of being a promising source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant properties.

Stem bark and flower extracts of Vismia cauliflora are highly effective antioxidants to human blood cells by preventing oxidative burst in neutrophils and oxidative damage in erythrocytes.

CONTEXT: Vismia cauliflora A.C.Sm. [Hypericaceae (Clusiaceae)] is an Amazonian plant traditionally used by indigenous population to treat dermatosis and inflammatory processes of the skin. Previous research on V. cauliflora extracts suggests its potential to neutralize cellular oxidative damages related to the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. OBJECTIVE: To determine the activity of stem bark and flower extracts of V. cauliflora on the modulation of oxidative burst in human neutrophils, as well as its potential to inhibit oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The modulation of neutrophil's oxidative burst by the ethanolic extracts (0.3-1000 µg/mL) was determined by the oxidation of specific probes by reactive species. Additionally, the potential of these extracts to inhibit oxidative damage in human erythrocytes was evaluated by monitoring its biomarkers of oxidative stress. RESULTS: Vismia cauliflora extracts presented remarkable capacity to prevent the oxidative burst in activated human neutrophils (IC50 < 15 µg/mL). However, the maximum percentage of inhibition achieved against hydrogen peroxide was 45%. Concerning the oxidative damage in human erythrocytes, the extracts were able to minimize the tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced hemoglobin oxidation and lipid peroxidation in a very low concentration range (2.7-18 µg/mL). Furthermore, only stem bark extract (100 µg/mL) was able to inhibit the depletion of glutathione (13%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results reinforce the therapeutic potential of stem bark and flower extracts of V. cauliflora to heal topical skin disease, namely in the treatment of neutrophil-related dermatosis and skin conditions related to oxidative stress, including skin aging.

Psidium cattleianum fruit extracts are efficient in vitro scavengers of physiologically relevant reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Psidium cattleianum, an unexploited Brazilian native fruit, is considered a potential source of bioactive compounds. In the present study, the in vitro scavenging capacity of skin and pulp extracts from P. cattleianum fruits against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) was evaluated by in vitro screening assays. Additionally, the composition of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in both extracts was determined by LC-MS/MS. The major phenolic compounds identified and quantified (dry matter) in the skin and pulp extracts of P. cattleianum were ellagic acid (2213-3818 µg/g extracts), ellagic acid deoxyhexoside (1475-2,070 µg/g extracts) and epicatechin gallate (885-1,603 µg/g extracts); while all-trans-lutein (2-10 µg/g extracts), all-trans-antheraxanthin (1.6-9 µg/g extracts) and all-trans-ß-carotene (4-6 µg/g extracts) were the major carotenoids identified in both extracts. P. cattleianum pulp extract showed higher scavenging capacity than skin extract for all tested ROS and RNS. Considering the potential beneficial effects to human health, P. cattleianum may be considered as a good source of natural antioxidants and may be useful for the food and phytopharmaceutical industry.

In vivo genotoxicity and oxidative stress evaluation of an ethanolic extract from piquiá (Caryocar villosum) pulp.

In this study, the ethanolic extract obtained from piquiá pulp was assessed for genotoxicity and oxidative stress by employing the micronucleus test in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells in addition to comet, thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and reduced glutathione assays in the liver, kidney, and heart. Additionally, phytochemical analyses were performed to identify and quantify the chemical constituents of the piquiá extract. Wistar rats were treated by gavage with an ethanolic extract from piquiá pulp (75 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days, and 24 h prior to euthanasia, they received an injection of saline or doxorubicin (15 mg/kg body weight, intraperoneally). The results demonstrated that piquiá extract at the tested dose was genotoxic but not mutagenic, and it increased the TBARS levels in the heart. Further studies are required to fully elucidate how the properties of ethanolic extract of piquiá pulp can affect human health.

The potential of extracts of Caryocar villosum pulp to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Caryocar villosum (piquiá) is a native fruit from the Amazonian region, considered to be an interesting source of bioactive compounds. In this paper, five extracts of C. villosum pulp were obtained, using solvents with different polarities and their in vitro scavenging capacity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) was determined. Additionally, the phenolic compounds and carotenoids in each extract were identified and quantified by a high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array and mass spectrometer detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS). The ethanol/water and water extracts, which presented the highest phenolic contents (5163 and 1745µg/g extract, respectively), with ellagic acid as the major phenolic compound, proved to have the highest ROS and RNS scavenging potential. Nevertheless, in general, ellagic acid was less effective in scavenging ROS (IC(50) from 1.7 to 108µg/ml) and RNS (IC(50) from 0.05 to 0.59µg/ml), when compared to gallic acid (IC(50) from 0.4 to 226µg/ml for ROS and IC(50) from 0.04 to 0.12µg/ml for RNS). The results obtained in the present study clearly demonstrated that the in vitro antioxidant efficiency of C. villosum extracts was closely related to their contents of phenolic compounds.

Antigenotoxic effects of piquiá (Caryocar villosum) in multiple rat organs.

This study investigated the in vivo genotoxicity of piquiá pulp (Caryocar villosum) and its potential antigenotoxicity on doxorubicin (DXR)-induced DNA damage by comet assay and micronucleus test. In addition, the phytochemicals present in piquiá pulp were determined. Piquiá fruit pulp (75, 150 or 300 mg/kg b.w.) was administered by gavage to Wistar rats for 14 days, and the animals received an injection of saline or DXR (15 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) 24 h before they were euthanized. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carotenoids; phenolic compounds, including flavonoids; tannins and α-tocopherol in piquiá pulp. No statistically significant differences were observed in the evaluated parameters, demonstrating the absence of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of piquiá pulp at all tested doses. In liver, kidney, cardiac and bone marrow cells, piquiá significantly reduced the DNA damage induced by DXR. Our results showed that the lowest piquiá dose caused the largest decrease in DNA damage and the highest dose caused the smallest decrease, demonstrating an inverse dose-response of piquiá pulp. Furthermore, we observed a difference in the potential antigenotoxic effects in several tissues. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that piquiá pulp was not genotoxic and inhibited the genotoxicity induced by DXR, but some of the protective effects that were observed depended on the doses and experimental conditions. Therefore, further investigations are needed to clarify how piquiá pulp positively affects human health.