Compostos bioativos e potencial antiparasitário da cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) contra Strongyloides venezuelensis in vitro

Abstract

Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) is a fruit tree from the Cerrado, belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Its fruits have a high variety of antioxidants in their composition, such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds. Aiming to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the compounds present in the pulp of cagaita, this study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antiparasitic capacity of the bioactive compounds present in the pulp of cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) in vitro against Strongyloides venezuelensis. For this, hydrophilic (methanolic and aqueous) and lipophilic extracts of cagaita pulp were prepared and analyzes were performed to determine total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total phenolic acids, condensed tannins, total carotenoids and volatile compounds, as well as the determination of antioxidant capacity by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric Reduction Antioxidant Power) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) methods and analyzes of antiparasitic activity. For the latter, L3 stage larvae were obtained and incubated for 24 h. Total carotenoid content (13.58±6.08 μg of β-carotene/100 g of sample) was found in the lipophilic extract of cagaita. The hydrophilic extract showed a high amount of phenolic compounds, especially the aqueous hydrophilic extract (378.21±36.49 mg gallic acid/100g), of which the condensed tannins (231.42±2.65 mg epicatechin/ 100g). Regarding the antioxidant capacity, both the hydrophilic extracts and the lipophilic extract showed the highest value by the DPPH method, highlighting in this case the methanolic hydrophilic extract (3918.92±27.04 µmol equivalent Trolox/100 g). Regarding the in vitro antiparasitic activity, they were analyzed at different concentrations of aqueous hydrophilic extract of cagaita (0.2; 2; 200 mg/mL) in which it was observed that only the concentration of 200 mg/mL was able to inhibit the Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs hatch, also showing inhibition of larval motility, together with the concentration of 2 mg/mL, this effect being attributed mainly to the presence of gallic acid and quercetin in these extracts. This indicates, therefore, that these concentrations are the ones that have the greatest potential for follow-up to in vivo studies. Furthermore, inhibition of larval motility was more satisfactory than inhibition of egg hatching. Suggesting that it is the option of choice in a future use of this extract as a potential medicine.