Abstract
Banana inflorescences are a byproduct of banana cultivation consumed in various regions of Brazil as a non-conventional food. This byproduct represents an alternative food supply that can contribute to the resolution of nutritional problems and hunger. This product is also used in Asia as a traditional remedy for the treatment of various illnesses such as bronchitis and dysentery. However, there is a lack of chemical and pharmacological data to support its consumption as a functional food. Therefore, this work aimed to study the anti-inflammatory action of Musa acuminata blossom by quantifying the cytokine levels (NOx, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) in peritoneal neutrophils, and to study its antiparasitic activities using the intracellular forms of T. cruzi, L. amazonensis, and L. infantum. This work also aimed to establish the chemical profile of the inflorescence using UPLC-ESI-MS analysis. Flowers and the crude bract extracts were partitioned in dichloromethane and n-butanol to afford four fractions (FDCM, FNBU, BDCM, and BNBU). FDCM showed moderate trypanocidal activity and promising anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. BDCM significantly inhibited the secretion of TNF-α, while BNBU was active against IL-6 and NOx. LCMS data of these fractions revealed an unprecedented presence of arylpropanoid sucroses alongside flavonoids, triterpenes, benzofurans, stilbenes, and iridoids. The obtained results revealed that banana inflorescences could be used as an anti-inflammatory food ingredient to control inflammatory diseases.
Highlights
Several nutritionists and food chemists have been working intensively with non-conventional food plants (NCFPs)
Since inflammatory cytokines are produced during parasite infections and these cytokines are manifestly related to their virulence [12,13,14,15], this study aimed to investigate whether fractions from banana blossom could exert antiparasitic effects against intracellular T. cruzi, L. amazonensis, and L. infantum amastigotes
The chemical profiles established by UPLC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-QTOFMS of from the dichloromethane partition (FDCM), from mice treated n-butanol partition (FNBU), BDCM, and BNBU showed the presence of 15, 22, 8, and 9 metabolites, respectively
Summary
Several nutritionists and food chemists have been working intensively with non-conventional food plants (NCFPs). Some NCFPs are only occasionally consumed, while others are daily dishes in rural localities. The intensification of the use of nonconventional food plants has been widely influenced by socioeconomic conditions (decrease of buying power), taste, and natural calamities such as unfavorable dry seasons and flood [2]. These plants play a crucial role as an alternative food supply able to prevent nutritional problems and hunger [2].
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