Determination of Bioactive Compounds in Clusia fluminensis Planch. & Triana fruit's arils

Abstract

Brazil is considered the country that has the greatest biodiversity on the planet, with many endemic plant species. The phytochemical study, through the separation and characterization of the substances present in plants, can contribute to increase the economy and the survival of plant species such as Clusia fluminensis Planch. & Triana. This plant, commonly known as abaneiro and mangue-de-praia, belongs to the Clusiaceae family, it is native and endemic from Brazil, found mainly in Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro States. The objective of this study was to characterize, by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the bioactive compounds presents in the arils of the Clusia fluminensis fruit. For this study, the fruits were collected in Barra da Tijuca and Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhoods, in the city of Rio de Janeiro-Brazil. The chromatographic analyzes were performed using the extracts of arils with seeds of the fruit. It was identified some phenolic compounds as protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 4-hydroxycinnamic (p-coumaric) acid, flavonoid rhamnetina (7-methoxyquercetin) and some carotenoids as lutein, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin. A low content of vitamin C in the fruit aryls was quantified (3.77 mg.100 g-1). The high concentration of zeaxanthin (823 μg.g-1) in the arils was highlighted, once it is a carotenoid that plays an important role in the macula, with content 206 times higher than the one found in corn in natura. Few scientific papers published are related to these fruits. Therefore, the results support a better understanding of the chemical composition of this species, describing the occurrence of bioactive compounds in Clusia fluminensis fruit's arils.

The bioprospecting potential of Clusia fluminensis Planch. & Triana: a scoping review

“…The presence of secondary metabolites with recognized biological relevance in C. fluminensis (Table I) suggests future developments of biological trials. For example, the detection of zeaxanthin (823 µg/g, Table I) in seeds arils of C. fluminensis, reaching levels 206-fold higher than those described in corn (Mazza et al 2019) An Acad Bras Cienc (2023) 95(1) e20211605 18 | 25 points to a naturally occurring source of an ingredient with potential applications in skin care preparations, dietary supplements and functional foods (Gale et al 2003, Chew et al 2014, Dini & Laneri 2019. Such finding gains especial relevance when considering that human beings are not able to synthesize such compound with recognized photooxidative protection role (Sandmann 2014, Jia et al 2017, Renzi-Hammond et al 2017.…”

“…Indeed, plant extracts enriched with phenolic compounds demonstrated toxicity and antifeedant properties to larvae of holometabolous insects (Oulebsir-Mohandkaci et al 2018). Phenolic compounds were found in different plant organs of C. fluminensis (Silva & Paiva 2012, Sá-Haiad et al 2015, Mazza et al 2019, Guimarães et al 2021, which are also recognized to exert their toxic role on insect gut as precursors of tannins, compounds responsible for increasing the reactive species of oxygen (ROS) levels, both by autoxidation or by enzymatic catalysis producing quinone or semiquinone species (Barbehenn & Peter Constabel 2011). In addition, sesquiterpenoids are also described as antifeedant agents, which also reinforces further evaluation of essential oil of C. fluminensis for pest control purposes (Nogueira et al 2001, Koul 2008.…”

“…The organic extracts of fruits had the highest flavonoid content (Silva & Paiva 2012). Ascorbic acid, phenolic acids, carotenoids, fatty acids derivatives, terpenoids and benzenoids were also identified in fruits of C. fluminensis (Klump et , Rodriguez-Amaya 2001, Mattila & Kumpulainen 2002, Rosa et al 2007, Pacheco et al 2014, Duprat et al 2017, Camara et al 2018, Mazza et al 2019.…”

“…& Triana belongs to the Clusiaceae Lindley (= Guttiferae Juss.) family, is endemic in the Brazilian flora and is found in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and Bahia (Mazza et al 2019). The Clusia genus is unique with trees performing photosynthesis based on crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and well adapted to areas of high luminosity and water scarcity (Lüttge 2006, Niechayev et al 2019.…”