Physicochemical Characterization, Microbiological Quality and Safety, and Pharmacological Potential of Hancornia speciosa Gomes

Abstract

Hancornia speciosa Gomes is a fruit tree, commonly known as the mangaba tree, which is widespread throughout Brazil. The leaves of this plant are used in traditional medicine for medicinal purposes. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform a physicochemical characterization, identify the lipophilic antioxidants and fatty acids, and determine the microbiological quality and safety of H. speciosa leaves. In addition, the antioxidant, antimutagenic, and inhibitory activities of the ethanolic extract of H. speciosa leaves (EEHS) against enzymes related to neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, obesity, and diabetes were investigated. Furthermore, this study aimed at assessing the in vivo effects of the EEHS on the glycemia of normoglycemic and diabetic Wistar rats. Physicochemical characterization was performed by colorimetry and gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The total number of colonies of aerobic mesophiles, molds, and yeasts was determined. The total coliforms and Escherichia coli were counted using the SimPlates kit, and sulphite-reducing Clostridium spores were quantified using the sulphite-polymyxin-sulfadiazine agar method. Salmonella spp. were detected using the 1-2 Test. The antioxidant activity of the EEHS was measured by its inhibition of 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride- (AAPH-) induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes. The antimutagenic activity was determined using the Ames test. The acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, lipase, α-amylase, and α-glycosidase enzyme-inhibiting activities were assessed and compared with commercial controls. The in vivo effects of the EEHS were assessed using the oral glucose tolerance test in normoglycemic Wistar rats and measuring the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The results demonstrated physical-chemical parameters of microbiological quality and safety in the leaves of H. speciosa, as well as antioxidant and antimutagenic activities and inhibition of enzymes related to neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, obesity, and diabetes. In in vivo assays, it was shown that the normoglycemic rats challenged with glucose overload show significantly decreased blood glucose levels when treated with the EEHS. Taken together, the results ensure the microbiological quality and safety as well as showing the contents of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids of H. speciosa leaves. Additionally, the antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-Parkinson's disease, antiobesity, and antihyperglycemic activities of the EEHS were demonstrated.

Microbiological quality, chemical profile as well as antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi

“…Many of these contaminants in non-sterile pharmaceuticals can alter their therapeutic properties and damage health (Ratajczak et al, 2015). The presence of the pathogenic microorganism Bacillus cereus exclusively in the S. terebinthifolius root powder and the absence of microbial growth in the extracts of all plant parts may indicate the microbiological safety of these plant materials, characterizing them as high-quality natural products (Santos et al, 2018). Furthermore, the absence of toxicity signs in the acute toxicity test supports the pharmacological potential of S. terebinthifolius.…”

Microscopic Analysis Applied to the Quality Control ofHancornia speciosaGomes

“…The dichloromethane fraction is also composed of esters of lupeol and/or α/β-amirin. Through gas chromatography, Santos et al (2018) identified 22 lipophilic compounds from H. speciosa leaf extract, where the α-linolenic acid was the predominant fatty acid identified, followed by palmitic and linoleic acids. The sample had a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; 48.82%), followed by saturated fatty acids (SFAs; 39.19%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs; 11.86%).…”

“…Several studies have been conducted to investigate the biological activities of H. speciosa leaves, demonstrating antibacterial (Barbosa et al, 2019), anti-diabetic (Pereira et al, 2015), antihypertensive (Silva et al, 2011, 2016; Moreira et al, 2020), antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic effects (Santos et al, 2016). Santos et al (2018) also identified that the plant leaf extract has antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-Parkinson's disease, antiobesity, and antihyperglycemic activities.…”

Medicinal Plants from Brazilian Cerrado: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential and Protection against Chemotherapy Toxicity

“…Extracts prepared from the leaves of S. velutina in an ethanol solvent were found to be very potent inhibitors of radical scavenging activity by the DPPH (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, and the concentration necessary for the 50% inhibition (IC 50 ) of DPPH of these extracts was lower than that of the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (6.3 ± 1.3 versus 21.3 ± 1.2 μ g/mL). Similarly, Dos Santos et al [46] evaluated the antioxidant capacity of a leaf extract of Hancornia speciosa in an ethanolic solvent and also observed a potential activity by the DPPH method and improved IC 50 values in relation to BHT (9.4 ± 0.8 versus 66.1 ± 23.6 μ g/mL).…”

“…Dos Santos et al [46] evaluated the cell death profile of an extract from H. speciosa in an acute myeloid leukaemia cell line, Kasumi-1. The extract from H. speciosa promoted caspase-independent apoptosis because the pancaspase inhibitor did not inhibit the cytotoxic activity of these extracts.…”