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BackgroundFruit consumption is currently considered beyond the nutritional aspects because of the important roles in disease prevention and benefits to health. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical profile and evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different fractions obtained from fruit pulps of Mauritia flexuosa (MFFs).MethodsInitially, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol fractions were obtained from the pulps. Quantifications of total phenols and flavonoids were performed using the methods of Folin-Ciocalteu and complexation with aluminum chloride, respectively. Standard samples were used to identify and quantify phenolic acids and flavonoids using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant capacity of the fractions was verified by sequestration of the free radical 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and iron chelating activity. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the microdilution method and the modulating activity was determined using sub-inhibitory concentrations of the fractions in association with antibiotics.ResultsThe chemical analyzes revealed the presence of catechin, caffeic acid, rutin, orientin, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin and kaempferol, where all are present in the ethyl acetate fraction. The fractions exhibited moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Candida strains in addition to modulating the activity of conventional antibiotics. The most expressive result was obtained from the association of the chloroform fraction with cefotaxime, which produced a synergistic effect, reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antibiotic from 1,024 to 256 μg/mL.DiscussionThe fractions presented a constitution rich in phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids. The data obtained demonstrated that the fractions presented moderate antioxidant activity by acting both as primary and secondary antioxidants. The fractions presented antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiating activities, being the first record of modulating effect of fractions of this species against the studied microbial strains, but failed in modulating the activity of antifungal drugs, indicating that this plant has the potential to be used in the development of therapeutic alternatives against resistant bacteria. The constitution phenolic the fractions may be responsible for their pharmacological properties in vitro.

Species from the Annona (Anonaceae) genus are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Ethnobotanical studies provide information regarding the plant part and the preparation method being used, while scientific studies such as in vitro, in vivo, and clinical tests can provide evidence supporting ethnopharmacological reports, directing studies towards the isolation of compounds which may be active for specific pathologies. Annona muricata and Annona squamosa were the most commonly reported species from those studied, with Annona cherimola and Annona classiflora also standing out. Acetogenins were the most commonly isolated metabolite class due to their cytotoxic properties, with flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and peptides also being reported. Many species from the Annona genus have proven biological activities, such as antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal. The present review had as its objective to facilitate access to ethnobotanical, chemical and biological information in order to direct future researches.

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