HPLC-DAD profile of phenolic compounds, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the amazon fruit caryocar villosum

Abstract

Piquiá (Caryocar villosum-Caryocaraceae) is a native fruit from the Amazon region rich in bioactive substances. Fruit pulp extracts were analyzed by HPLC, together with extracts obtained from fruit pulp industry residual parts, byproducts such as husks (shells) and seeds. Extracts were prepared with two ethanolic solvent systems. Phenolic substances ellagic and gallic acids were detected with standards and quantifed by HPLC. Cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro were also evaluated. Shell extracts showed free radicals scavenger capacity in ABTS (IC50: 3.93 ± 0.12 μg mL-1) and DPPH models (IC50: 7.81 ± 0.34 μg mL-1), low cytotoxicity in human fbroblasts, but high at tumor strains, and also a high anti-inflammatory potential observed by the inhibition of nitric oxide production. At low concentrations (20 μg mL-1), excellent antioxidant activities were verifed in cellular assays, with percentages of 70.69 ± 2.77%, 79.89 ± 6.50% and 79.48 ± 8.6% for shell, pulp and seed extracts, respectively. With this set of results, C. villosum fruit extracts become a high potential raw material to be used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.