RESUMEN
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are cultivated worldwide and are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the components of Peruvian blueberry using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), identifying 11 compounds. Furthermore, we assessed in vitro the antioxidant activity and in vivo the antidepressant effect using a rat model and protective effect on lipid peroxidation (in the serum, brain, liver, and stomach). We also conducted molecular docking simulations with proteins involved in oxidative stress and depression for the identified compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazin (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTSâ¢+), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Peruvian blueberries demonstrated higher antioxidant activity than Vaccinium corymbosum fruits from Chile, Brazil, the United States, Turkey, Portugal, and China. The results showed that oral administration of Peruvian blueberries (10 and 20 mg/kg) for 28 days significantly (p < 0.001) increased swimming and reduced immobility in the forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, oxidative stress was reduced in vivo (p < 0.001) by decreasing lipid peroxidation in brain, liver, stomach, and serum. Molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions were performed. In the molecular docking studies, quercitrin and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid showed the best docking scores for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase; while 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and caffeoyl coumaroylquinic acid had the best docking scores for monoamine oxidase and serotonin receptor 5-HT2. In summary, our results suggest that the antidepressant and protective effects against lipid peroxidation might be related to the antioxidant activity of Peruvian Vaccinium corymbosum L.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Prosopis pallida (Fabaceae) fruits "algarrobo", in addition to determine their main chemical components. Fruit purified extracts from the regions of Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, and La Libertad (Peru) were evaluated using infusion, decoction, and alcoholic extraction at concentrations of 45, 70 and 96%. To measure the antioxidant capacity of the extracts, the determination of total phenolics content was performed, followed by the antioxidant evaluation using DPPH, FRAP and ABTS. The chemical identification was carried out through UHPLC-UV-MS/MS. The results showed that the decoction of the sample from the region of La Libertad, as well as the ethanol extracts at 45% of the samples from Tumbes and Lambayeque presented greater antioxidant capacity. Moreover, ten major substances of these extracts were identified: nine phenolic derivatives (vicenin II as the main constituent of the extracts) and one diterpene (7-oxodehydroabietic acid).
El propósito de este trabajo fue evaluar la capacidad antioxidante de frutos de Prosopis pallida (Fabaceae) "algarrobo", además de determinar sus principales componentes químicos. Se estudiaron extractos purificados de frutos de las regiones de Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque y La Libertad (Perú), mediante infusión, decocción y extracción alcohólica en concentraciones de 45, 70 y 96%. Para medir la capacidad antioxidante de los extractos, se realizó la determinación del contenido de fenoles totales, seguida de la evaluación antioxidante mediante DPPH, FRAP y ABTS. La identificación química se realizó mediante UHPLC-UV-MS/MS. Los resultados mostraron que la decocción de la muestra de la región de La Libertad, así como los extractos de etanol al 45% de las muestras de Tumbes y Lambayeque presentaron mayor capacidad antioxidante. Además, se identificaron diez sustancias principales de estos extractos: nueve derivados fenólicos (vicenin II como componente principal de los extractos) y un diterpeno (ácido 7-oxodehidroabiético).