Caracterização química, atividade antioxidante e segurança de uso de sementes de Licania rigida Benth

Abstract

Free radicals have been associated to the etiology and the progression of various chronic-degenerative diseases, and constitute one of the factors that affect food quality deterioration. There is a growing interest in finding natural and safe sources of antioxidants that are able to neutralize those damaging agents without negatively altering food sensorial characteristics. In this context, plant extracts rich in polyphenols have been investigated to this end. This study aimed to characterize the phenolic composition of the ethanolic extract (EELr) and derived fractions from Licania rigida seeds (aqueous, FALr; methanol, FMLr; ethyl acetate, FAELr; chloroform, FCLr; hexane, FHLr), to estimate the total antioxidant capacity and, at the same time, to evaluate the safe use through in vitro and in vivo toxicity tests. Phytochemical screening has detected three secondary metabolite classes from EELr: tannins, flavonoids and saponins. Moreover, it was determined the amount of total phenols, flavonoids and tannins (from 3.815 to 6.452; 0.006 to 0.135; 0.147 to 0.294 gallic acid, quercetin and tannic acid equivalents in micrograms per gram of sample, respectively). Eleven distinct phenolic compounds, classified as phenolic acids and flavonoids, were identified by HPLC. The caffeic and chlorogenic acid were the major compounds among the phenolic acids, and quercetin and kaempferol among the flavonoids. In general, the EELr, FALr, FAELr and FMLr showed antioxidant activity towards the DPPH free radical with SC50 ranging from 2.79 to 196.6 µg/mL. Regarding the inhibition of lipid peroxidation assay (using TBARS), FALr was capable of preventing lipid peroxidation both in normal conditions and in the presence of stress inducer (iron). There was a clear positive relation between the samples’ tannin content and a good performance in the antioxidant activities. Flavonoids as quercetin, quercitrin and catechin correlated positively with the results of DPPH assay and TBARS assay without iron as a stress-inducer. In the other hand, the phenolic acids, such as chlorogenic acid, showed to be more preponderant when iron was used. EELr, FALr, FAELr and FMLr showed a promising phenolic profile with potent antioxidant activity. The natural composition of L. rigida seeds can be explored in the pharmaceutical industries to produce nutraceuticals. Generally, the EELr presented low toxicity accordingly to the assays used. Nevertheless, more sensitive approaches like toxicogenomics and non-acute toxicity assays with animals must be performed to guarantee its safe use.