Fuente: Molecules - Revista científica (MDPI) Molecules, Vol. 31, Pages 602: Antioxidant Potential of Myrciaria tenella Fruit Extracts: In Vitro and In Vivo Protection Against Oxidative Stress
Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules31040602
Authors:
Verônica Giuliani de Queiroz Aquino-Martins
Maria Lúcia da Silva Cordeiro
Ariana Pereira da Silva
Georggia Fátima Silva Naliato
Elielson Rodrigo Silveira
Raquel Cordeiro Theodoro
Deborah Yara Alves Cursino dos Santos
Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
Katia Castanho Scortecci

Myrciaria tenella (cambuí) is a native Brazilian fruit traditionally recognized for its sensory attributes and medicinal properties, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and gastroprotective activities. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity of unripe and ripe M. tenella fruits using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Four extracts were prepared: aqueous unripe (VA), aqueous ripe (MA), hydroethanolic unripe (VE), and hydroethanolic ripe (ME). Antioxidant activity was assessed through biochemical assays and cellular models using NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and RAW 264.7 macrophages. In RAW 264.7 cells, oxidative stress modulation was investigated using hydrogen peroxide-induced stress and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production. In NHI/3T3 cells, wound healing, copper sulphate (CuSO4)-induced oxidative stress, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and nuclear morphology following DAPI staining were evaluated. Total phenolic content was quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and analyzed by HPLC-DAD. In vivo toxicity and antioxidant protection were assessed using Tenebrio molitor larvae exposed to CuSO4-induced oxidative stress. Among the extracts, VE exhibited the highest metal-chelating activity (Cu: 78.6%; Fe: 37.7%) and total phenolic content (50.64 mg GAE/mg). HPLC-DAD analysis identified gallic acid in all extracts, kaempferol derivatives in hydroethanolic extracts (VE and ME), and catechin derivatives in aqueous extracts (VA and MA). All extracts were non-cytotoxic and demonstrated protective effects against oxidative stress in vitro. In vivo assays confirmed the absence of toxicity and significant antioxidant protection, with VE resulting in 80% larval survival.