RESUMO

In this study, Eugenia calycina and Eugenia stigmatosa, native Brazilian berries, were explored regarding their proximal composition, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activities. The edible parts of both fruits presented a low content of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, resulting in a low caloric value (<70 kcal/100 g fw). E. stigmatosa fruit showed a high total fiber content (3.26 g/100 g fw), qualifying it as a source of dietary fiber. The sugar profile was mainly monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, and rhamnose). Significant contents of total phenolics and flavonoids, monomeric anthocyanins and, condensed tannins, were observed in both fruits. E. calycina contains a high level of anthocyanins, primarily cyanidin-3-glucoside (242.97 µg/g). Other phenolic compounds were also found, the main ones being rutin and ellagic acid. In contrast, E. stigmatosa is mainly composed of rutin and gallic acid. Furthermore, these fruits showed expressive antioxidant activity, evidenced by ORAC, FRAP, and ABTS. These Eugenia fruits are promising sources of bioactive compounds and have a low caloric and high dietary fiber content, making them interesting options for inclusion in a balanced diet, contributing to the promotion of health and the valorization and conservation of Brazilian biodiversity.

RESUMO

Solanum is the largest genus within the Solanaceae family and has garnered considerable attention in chemical and biological investigations over the past 30 years. In this context, lobeira or "fruta-do-lobo" (Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill), a species predominantly found in the Brazilian Cerrado, stands out. Beyond the interesting nutritional composition of the fruits, various parts of the lobeira plant have been used in folk medicine as hypoglycemic, sedative, diuretic, antiepileptic, and antispasmodic agents. These health-beneficial effects have been correlated with various bioactive compounds found in the plant, particularly alkaloids. In this review, we summarize the alkaloid composition of the lobeira plant and its biological activities that have been reported in the scientific literature in the last decades. The compiled data showed that lobeira plants and fruits contain a wide range of alkaloids, with steroidal glycoalkaloid solamargine and solasonine being the major ones. These alkaloids, but not limited to them, contribute to different biological activities verified in alkaloid-rich extracts/fractions from the lobeira, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antigenotoxic, antidiabetic, antinociceptive, and antiparasitic effects. Despite the encouraging results, additional research, especially toxicological, pre-clinical, and clinical trials, is essential to validate these human health benefits and ensure consumers' safety and well-being.

RESUMO

Araticum is a native species of the Brazilian Cerrado with a high potential for exploitation. Several studies have stated that araticum is a rich source of phytochemicals with multifaceted biological actions. However, little information is available regarding the characterization of phytochemicals found in the pulp of this fruit. In this context, this study aimed to carry out a comprehensive characterization of phytochemicals present in the araticum pulp using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). The antioxidant potential of araticum pulp was also evaluated. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS profiling of the phytochemicals allowed for the identification and annotation of 139 phytochemicals, including organic acids, jasmonates, iridoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, fatty acid derivatives, and other compounds. Among them, 116 compounds have been found for the first time in araticum pulp. Phenolic compounds and their derivatives represented about 59% of the phytochemicals identified in the extract. Moreover, araticum pulp showed high total phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity. The majority of identified phytochemicals have been associated with key roles in the plant's defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stress factors in the Cerrado environment. Furthermore, many of these phytochemicals found in the araticum pulp are already widely recognized for their beneficial effects on human health. Our findings showed that the araticum fruit contains different classes of phytochemicals that exert various biological activities, both in the plant itself and in humans.

RESUMO

Fruit-based beverages have been considered excellent food vehicles for delivering prebiotics. However, the conventional thermal processes currently used to microbiologically and enzymatically stabilize these products may cause significant losses in their sensory, physicochemical, nutritional, and bioactive characteristics. Thus, in this study, we evaluate the effect of different levels of pressure (8, 15, and 21 MPa) and temperature (35 and 55 °C) on the characteristics of an inulin-enriched araticum beverage processed with non-thermal supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) technology. The temperature showed a significant effect on total soluble solids, pH, particle size distribution, and kinetic stability. In contrast, pressure affected only the particle size distribution. The interaction between pressure and temperature influenced the total soluble solids, pH, and particle size distribution. Color parameters, ζ-potential, and glucose and fructose contents were not modified after all SC-CO2 treatments. Moreover, the SC-CO2 treatments preserved the inulin molecular structure, thus maintaining its prebiotic functionality. Overall, the SC-CO2 treatment did not alter the sensory, nutritional, and functional quality of the beverage, while improving its physical stability during storage. Therefore, non-thermal SC-CO2 treatment can be an alternative to current conventional processes for stabilizing inulin-enriched fruit-based beverages.

RESUMO

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) is a native and endemic species to Brazilian Cerrado whose fruits have high sensorial, nutritional, bioactive, and economic potential. Its use in local folk medicine, associated with recent scientific findings, has attracted growing interest from different industrial sectors. Therefore, understanding the scientific advances achieved so far and identifying gaps to be filled is essential to direct future studies and transform accumulated knowledge into innovative technologies and products. In this review, we summarize the phytochemical composition, bioactivities, and food products from araticum fruit that have been reported in the scientific literature over the past 10 years. The compiled data showed that araticum fruit parts contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, particularly phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, carotenoids, phytosterols, and tocols. These phytochemicals contribute to different biological activities verified in araticum fruit extracts/fractions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antidyslipidemic, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective, healing of the cutaneous wound, antibacterial, and insecticide effects. Despite the promising findings, further studies-particularly toxicological (especially, with byproducts), pre-clinical, and clinical trials-must be conducted to confirm these biological effects in humans and assure the safety and well-being of consumers.

RESUMO

The Brazilian Cerrado is home to a large number of native and endemic species of enormous potential, among which we can highlight the cagaita, gabiroba, jatobá-do-cerrado, lobeira, and mangaba. In this review, we report the nutritional and phenolic composition, as well as bioactivities of these five Brazilian Cerrado fruits. The compiled data indicated that these fruits have high nutritional, functional, and economic potential and contribute to the daily intake of macro- and micronutrients, energy, and phenolic compounds by inhabitants of the Cerrado region. Phenolic-rich extracts obtained from these fruits have shown several bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidyslipidemic, antidiabetic, analgesic, anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, gastrointestinal protective, and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, these fruits can be explored by the food industry as a raw material to develop food products of high value-added, such as functional foods, and can also be employed as plant sources to obtain bioactive compounds for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical purposes.

RESUMO

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring phytochemicals that have attracted growing interest from consumers and the food industry due to their multiple biological properties and technological applications. Nevertheless, conventional extraction techniques based on thermal technologies can compromise both the recovery and stability of anthocyanins, reducing their global yield and/or limiting their application in food systems. The current review provides an overview of the main innovative processes (e.g., pulsed electric field, microwave, and ultrasound) used to recover anthocyanins from agri-food waste/by-products and the mechanisms involved in anthocyanin extraction and their impacts on the stability of these compounds. Moreover, trends and perspectives of anthocyanins' applications in food systems, such as antioxidants, natural colorants, preservatives, and active and smart packaging components, are addressed. Challenges behind anthocyanin implementation in food systems are displayed and potential solutions to overcome these drawbacks are proposed.

Assuntos

Antocianinas/química , Antocianinas/isolamento & purificação , Produtos Agrícolas/química , Manipulação de Alimentos , Antocianinas/farmacologia , Produtos Biológicos/química , Produtos Biológicos/isolamento & purificação , Produtos Biológicos/farmacologia , Indústria Alimentícia , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Estrutura Molecular , Compostos Fitoquímicos/química , Compostos Fitoquímicos/isolamento & purificação , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Relação Estrutura-Atividade

RESUMO

The Eugenia calycina Cambess, also known as pitanga-do-cerrado, is an unexplored Brazilian fruit used by native people for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to identify the phenolic compounds from the leaves, pulp and seed of Eugenia calycina by using LC-MS-based targeted and untargeted analysis. The LC-MS-based targeted quantitative analysis showed a high phenolic content in all plant parts in which the ellagic acid was the main phenolic compound with values of 8244.53 µg/g dw (leaves), 5054.43 µg/g dw (pulp) and 715.42 µg/g dw (seed). The leaves, pulp and seed showed a high total phenolic content of 20371.96, 7139.70 and 2204.75 µg/g dw, respectively. In addition, the LC-MS-based targeted analysis showed ellagic acid, myricitrin and epicatechin gallate as the main phenolic compounds in the Eugenia calycina. The LC-MS-based untargeted analysis showed the phytochemical profile of the leaves, pulp and seed in which 153 phytochemicals from different chemical classes were annotated, including organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and other compounds. The Eugenia calycina has high potential as a plant-based food due to its phytochemical profile and high phenolic content.

Assuntos

Eugenia , Brasil , Cromatografia Líquida , Humanos , Extratos Vegetais , Folhas de Planta , Sementes , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem

RESUMO

Iridoid blue-based pigments can be found in fruits of genipap (Genipa americana L.). Besides being a potential source of natural blue colorant in the food industry, they have also been associated with pharmacological effects. Therefore, the recovery of iridoids by ultrasound-assisted extraction from both unripe and ripe fruits was analysed by UPLC-DAD-ESI-(-)-QTOF-MS/MS. Nine iridoids were identified from their exact masses and fragmentation pattern, namely geniposidic acid, gardenoside, genipin-1-ß-gentiobioside, geniposide, 6''-O-p-coumaroyl-1-ß-gentiobioside geniposidic acid, 6''-O-p-coumaroylgenipin-gentiobioside, genipin, 6'-O-p-coumaroyl-geniposidic acid and 6'-O-feruloyl-geniposidic acid. Among them, genipin (60.77 mg/g fdw) was found to be the most abundant iridoid in unripe genipap extract, while the ripe genipap extract mainly contained geniposide and geniposidic acid (89.48 and 25.04 mg/g fdw, respectively). It was also observed that the iridoids of the unripe genipap extract are able to scavenger DPPH, ABTS and peroxyl radicals as well as exerting a cytostatic effect against both glioma and breast cancer cell lines. This study provided information about the properties of unripe and ripe genipap extracts which can be used as a reference for further studies focusing on the potential application of G. americana L. in commercial products containing natural blue colorant with functional claims.

Assuntos

Antioxidantes , Frutas , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Iridoides , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem

RESUMO

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) is a native fruit from Brazilian Cerrado widely used by folk medicine. Nevertheless, the biological effects of its seeds and peel have not been extensively evaluated. We evaluate herein the antioxidant, antiproliferative and healing potential of araticum peel and seeds extracts. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis showed flavonoids, namely epicatechin and quercetin, as the main compounds in peel and seeds extracts, respectively. These extracts showed high content of phenolic compounds (7254.46 and 97.74 µg/g extract) and, as consequence, high antioxidant capacity. Interesting, the seeds extract was more effective than peel extract against all tested cancer cells, especially on NCI-ADR/RES (multidrug resistant ovary adenocarcinoma) cell line. In the cell migration assay by using HaCaT (keratinocyte), the seeds extract induced migration, while the peel extract showed an inhibitory effect. In this way, phenolic content could be related to antioxidant capacity, but it was not related to antiproliferative and healing effect. The araticum seeds extract showed an interesting response to in vitro biological assay although of its low content of phenolic compounds. Unidentified compounds, such as alkaloids and annonaceous acetogenins could be related to it. Araticum has potential to be used as therapeutic plant especially as antiproliferative and healing drug.

Assuntos

Annona , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Brasil , Sementes , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem

RESUMO

Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Malvaceae), popularly known as mutamba and guácimo, is a tree found in the Latina America, especially in Brazil and Mexico. Mutamba tree has been used as traditional medicine to treat several pathological conditions, such as diarrhoea, coughs, and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders. Phytochemical studies on this plant have resulted in the discovery of secondary metabolites that have shown bioactivities, including antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, and antidiarrheal activities, and cardioprotective effect. The traditional uses of G. ulmifolia have been experimentally proved by in vitro and in vivo studies, in which its bioactivities were associated to its phytochemical composition, mainly proanthocyanidins dimer B and trimer C (condensed tannins). The current review assesses and summarizes the progress about the phytochemical and healthy properties of G. ulmifolia published until 2019. This review intends to present the current knowledge and perspectives about G. ulmifolia and its potential use as food and therapeutic plant.

Assuntos

Malvaceae , Compostos Fitoquímicos , Brasil , Etnofarmacologia , México , Fenóis , Extratos Vegetais , Plantas Medicinais , Proantocianidinas , Taninos

RESUMO

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) is a fruitful tree native to the Brazilian Cerrado biome that holds high nutritional, functional and economic potential. This plant has been used since ancient times by folk medicine for the treatment of several pathological conditions. There has been increasing interest in the development of pulp-based food products as well as the by-products utilization to obtain value-added ingredients. Understanding the chemical composition and biological activities of different botanical parts of Annona crassiflora Mart. provides a basis to support future researches and applications. In this context, this paper carries out an exhaustive review of the scientific literature, on the main phytochemicals of different botanical parts of Annona crassiflora Mart. (fruit, leaves, stem and root) and their biological activities, assessing their potential uses for several industrial segments. Annona crassiflora Mart. fruits and especially their by-products (peel and seeds) and leaves have been shown a wide range of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, tocols, carotenoids, phytosterols, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and essential oils. These compounds contribute to various biological activities, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, analgesic, antidiabetic, skin healing, antidiarrhoeic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, insecticide and herbicide activities of Annona crassiflora Mart. extracts. Therefore, these findings demonstrate that Annona crassiflora Mart. fruit, by-products and leaves can be excellent candidates to be used as functional foods and/or sources for obtaining bioactive compounds for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications.

Assuntos

Annona/química , Frutas/química , Valor Nutritivo , Compostos Fitoquímicos/análise , Alcaloides/análise , Analgésicos/análise , Anti-Helmínticos/análise , Anti-Infecciosos/análise , Anti-Inflamatórios/análise , Antidiarreicos/análise , Antimaláricos/análise , Antioxidantes/análise , Brasil , Carotenoides/análise , Fibras na Dieta/análise , Análise de Alimentos , Hipoglicemiantes/análise , Micronutrientes/análise , Óleos Voláteis/análise , Fenóis/análise , Fitosteróis/análise , Folhas de Planta/química , Raízes de Plantas/química , Caules de Planta/química , Sementes/química , Tocoferóis/análise , Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis/análise

RESUMO

ABSTRACT Lychee fruit has been studied owing to the presence of several bioactive compounds that can contribute to weight loss in obese individuals. However, the anti-obese potential of the fruit has not been explored yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different parts of lychee in reducing the adipose tissue mass of cafeteria diet-fed rats. Phenolic compounds and scavenging capacities were quantified. The food intake, apparent digestibility, weight of the body and liver, body mass, Lee Index, and the mass of epididymal and visceral adipose tissues were evaluated. The results were estimated by Tukey's Test at 5% probability. A higher amount of phenolic compounds and scavenging capacity were observed in the peel of lychee as compared to the other parts of the fruit. The hypercaloric diet with lychee flour resulted in a higher apparent digestibility. There was no difference between groups control (C), hypercaloric (H), hypercaloric with lychee flour - 50.00% peel and 50.00% seeds (H2F), and hypercaloric with lychee flour - 33.33% peel, 33.33% pulp and 33.34% seeds (H3F) with respect to body and liver weight, corporal mass, and Lee Index. The hypercaloric diet-fed group exhibited an increase in visceral and epididymal adipose tissue mass, whereas the group fed with hypercaloric diets and flour made from the peel and seed of lychee presented a lower visceral adipose tissue mass. In conclusion, the use of lychee flour was considered viable because it decreased visceral adipose tissue mass in rats.