Abstract
Fruits are sources of bioactive compounds that are responsible for several biological activities. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the chemical composition of the pulp of the Brazilian Savanna fruit Dipteryx alata; evaluate its toxic effects, influence on the life expectancy of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and its antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo; and describe the mechanisms involved. The chemical compounds identified include phenols, terpenes, fatty acid derivatives, vitamins, and a carboxylic acid. The in vitro antioxidant activity was demonstrated by radical scavenging methods. in vivo, the D. alata fruit pulp was not toxic and promoted resistance to oxidative stress in nematodes exposed to a chemical oxidizing agent. Furthermore, it promoted an increased life expectancy in wild-type nematodes and increased the expression of superoxide dismutase and the nuclear translocation of DAF-16. These results suggest that the beneficial effects identified are related to these two genes, which are involved in the regulation of metabolic activities, the control of oxidative stress, and the lifespan of C. elegans. These beneficial effects, which may be related to its chemical constituents, demonstrate its potential use as a functional and/or nutraceutical food.
Highlights
Brazil is the country that harbors the world’s greatest plant biodiversity: approximately 20% of the global total
The extract from fruit pulp of D. alata (FPDA) was obtained with methanol and deionized water with 0.1% formic acid added, and it was analyzed by LC-diode array detector (DAD)-MS
From DAD analyses, the UV spectral data were obtained for each constituent, but only chromatograms obtained from MS were illustrated because the sensitivity of MS is higher than UV, and some
Summary
Brazil is the country that harbors the world’s greatest plant biodiversity: approximately 20% of the global total. The search for improved quality of life has stimulated the consumption of natural products, which has made Brazilian biodiversity the focus of several studies in the search for plant species with nutritive and functional properties. It is estimated that a typical diet provides more than 25,000 bioactive constituents, which are usually found in vegetables and fruits and in cereal grains, nuts, and other foods. In this scenario, fruit species play an important role in human nutrition as a source of dietary fibers and essential nutrients. Nutrition may play an essential role in protecting against damage caused by oxidative stress [2]
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