Manilkara zapota “chicozapote” as a fruit source of health-beneficial bioactive compounds and its effects on chronic degenerative and infectious diseases, a review

Abstract

Manilkara zapota “chicozapote” is an autochthonous evergreen tree from the Southern regions of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Currently, it is widely distributed and extensively grown in Mexico and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, different structures of the plant have been used for medical purposes; seeds have diuretic and purgative properties, aiding in digestive complications and eliminating bladder and kidney stones. Tree bark has antidiarrheal, antipyretic, antibiotic, and astringent properties. Fruits and leaves have been used to treat cold, cough, diarrhea, indigestion, fever, hemorrhages, wounds, and ulcers. Chicozapote fruit is yellow and brown, with an oval shape and rough peel, it is an excellent source of nutrients, such as sugars, proteins, amino acids, and minerals, and is rich in phytochemical components, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. These bioactive compounds exert several biological activities, i.e., as an antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and anti-arthritic agents, to name a few. These beneficial properties assist in preventing chronic and degenerative diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, neurological, infectious, and cardiovascular diseases. The use of chicozapote is still limited to its fresh form, and its non-edible structures produce a lot of waste. Therefore, an alternative valorizing and preserving strategy is to use the fruit as a raw source to design functional foods and pharmacological products. Here, the nutritional and phytochemical profiles and the current view regarding methodologies and conditions, for the extraction and characterization of its bioactive compounds, are described, and focus is placed on their multiple biological effects and specific functional mechanisms.

Selection of Mexican Medicinal Plants by Identification of Potential Phytochemicals with Anti-Aging, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Oxidant Properties through Network Analysis and Chemoinformatic Screening

“…The interest in these properties is consistent with the literature, which shows that various plant compounds possess helpful properties such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer, among others [55]. MMPs such as Ximenia Americana, Manilkara zapota, and Curatella Americana have reported all the studied activities [56][57][58][59][60][61][62].…”

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Manilkara zapota leaf extract for the detection of aminoglycoside antibiotics and other applications

“…NPs need reducing agents and stabilizers for their synthesis and to prevent their aggregate formation after synthesis. 33 The phytochemicals present in plant extracts have a reducing potential because they are responsible for NP formation. Plants such as Manilkara zapota have several phenolic compounds with evident antioxidant activity due to the availability of H + ions.…”

Antioxidant Potential and Known Secondary Metabolites of Rare or Underutilized Plants of Yucatan Region

“…The fruit of A. sapota is classified as a succulent berry, displaying various shapes such as ellipsoidal, conical, and oval, and it typically contains one or two glistening black seeds. The pulp, concealed beneath the skin, exhibits an array of colors, ranging from yellowish and light brown to red hues [59,60,62]. Figure 2 presents the secondary metabolites that were identified; however, there is a need for a more comprehensive investigation of the other known classes of natural products.…”

“…The fruit of A. sapota is classified as a succulent berry, displaying various shapes such as ellipsoidal, conical, and oval, and it typically contains one or two glistening black seeds. The pulp, concealed beneath the skin, exhibits an array of colors, ranging from yellowish and light brown to red hues [59,60,62].…”

“…It is a fantastic source of ascorbic acid (6 mg/100 g) and is laden with minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron, with 28, 27, and 2 mg/100 g, respectively [63]. This rich phytochemical makeup, present in both its edible and non-edible parts, positions A. sapota as a fruit with immense potential for pharmacological applications through various biological activities [62].…”