Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the bioactive and nutritional properties, as well as rapid chemical characterization of aqueous extract of Annona muricata leaf from Mexico
 Methods: The crude aqueous extract of A. muricata leaf was obtained by decoction. Cytotoxicity was tested against cervicouterine cancer cells (HeLa) using methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Nutritional evaluation was carried out according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) procedures. Rapid qualitative chemical characterization of the extract was carried out by direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) method.
 Results: The aqueous extract of A. muricata leaf showed cytotoxicity against HeLa cells and also antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Nutritional analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates, vitamin C, Na, and Fe in the aqueous extract. DART-MS spectra showed the presence of alkaloids and phenols as the major components.
 Conclusion: The cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of A. muricata leaf lend some support for its traditional uses as anti-cancer remedy. These activities are probably due to its active secondary metabolites. Thus, the aqueous extract is a source of healthy nutritional components as well as a potential anti-cancer agent for humans.
Highlights
Annona muricata L. is an important tropical species from the family of Annonaceae, and the most commercialized and cultivated species of the genus Annona
The leaves of A. muricata had carbohydrates as the major components, while fat, fiber, proteins and minerals were present as minor components
A portion of each component was lixiviated in the aqueous extract of the leaves
Summary
Annona muricata L. is an important tropical species from the family of Annonaceae, and the most commercialized and cultivated species of the genus Annona. The use of A. muricata to treat cancer has motivated some researchers to study the phytochemicals components and the bioactivity of extracts from this plant. The principal bioactive compounds have been identified from organic extracts of A. muricata leaf using chromatographic methods [1 – 5]. New advances in molecular ionization within mass spectrometry have allowed the rapid chemical profiling of plant species and their extracts sometimes without the need for sample preparation [6]. An example of this procedure is Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) [7]
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