Physalis peruviana L. fruit metabolome profiling via HR-UPLC/MS and its in vitro antiarthritic activity

Abstract

Physalis peruviana is an edible fruit becoming of increasing economic interest for its nutritional and beneficial health effects that even several countries targeted its cultivation recently to fulfill export demands taking the advantage of its adaptable nature to different soil types. Despite previous reports on its chemical content, little or no studies used metabolomics to reveal its chemical reservoir. Herein, the first comprehensive metabolome profiling of P. peruviana fruits via HR-UPLC/MS in both ionization modes that enabled detection of 71 metabolites including first-time reported compounds belonging to flavonoids, coumarins and withanolides. Additionally, 43 lipoidal compounds were identified via GC/MS and quantification of fat-/water-soluble vitamins was performed via HPLC. New evidence on its crude extract antiarthritic activity is presented as well for the first time using bovine serum albumin as it significantly inhibited protein denaturation at 500µg/ml and 1000µg/ml by 86.5± 0.422 % and 99.49 ± 0.426 %, respectively compared to 78.72 ± 1.23% and 97.80 ± 0.393 % for the standard drug acetyl salicylic acid at the same concentration, respectively, with comparable IC 50 values of 246.35 µg/ml and 229.69 µg/ml for the extract and standard drug, respectively; supporting its folk use in treatment of arthritis. • First metabolome profiling of Physalis peruviana fruit primary and secondary metabolites. • 71 metabolites were detected via HR-UPLC/MS including several first reported compounds that belong to flavonoids, withanolides and coumarins. • Total ethanol fruit extract possesses significant antarthritic activity via inhibition of protein denaturation supporting its folk use in treatment of arthritis.