Characteristics of the fruits of two uvaia populations grown in Salesópolis, SP, Brazil

<div><p>Abstract Uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Cambess) is a fruit tree native to the Atlantic Forest and that features peculiar aroma and flavor. Although this fruit is highly popular locally, its commercial farming is virtually nonexistent. In addition, limited studies on this fruit have been conducted. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the physical, chemical, and functional characteristics of two uvaia fruit populations grown in Salesópolis, SP, Brazil, in order to determine their potential for being consumed both in natura and processed. Uvaia fruits were evaluated as for skin color, whole fruit weight, longitudinal and transversal diameters, seed percentage, pulp yield, pulp firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA), TSS/TTA ratio, total soluble sugars, soluble and total pectins, total carotenoids, yellow flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, and in vitro antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ORAC assays). The total mineral content was also determined. Comparison among the two populations revealed that uvaia fruits showed significantly different firmness values, large fruits showing suitable characteristics for the fresh fruit market. However, small fruits were sweeter and richer in antioxidants, allowing the consumption of both natural and processed fruits. Thus, this native fruit denotes an important source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, especially iron.</p></div

Content of total phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruit species.

<p>Content of total phenolic compounds in the ethanolic extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruit species.</p

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Unexplored Brazilian Native Fruits

<div><p>Brazilian native fruits are unmatched in their variety, but a poorly explored resource for the development of food and pharmaceutical products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic composition as well as the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruits (<i>Eugenia leitonii</i>, <i>Eugenia involucrata</i>, <i>Eugenia brasiliensis</i>, and <i>Eugenia myrcianthes</i>). GC—MS analyses of the ethanolic extracts showed the presence of epicatechin and gallic acid as the major compounds in these fruits. Antioxidant activity was measured using synthetic DPPH free-radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROO·, O₂·⁻, and HOCl). The fruit extracts also exhibited antioxidant effect against biologically relevant radicals such as peroxyl, superoxide, and hypochlorous acid. In general, the pulps were the fruit fractions that exhibited the lowest antioxidant activities, whereas the leaves showed the highest ones. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in an <i>in vivo</i> model using the carrageenan-induced neutrophil migration assay, which evaluates the inflammatory response in the acute phase. The pulp, seeds, and leaves of these fruits reduced the neutrophil influx by 40% to 64%. Based on these results, we suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of these native fruits is related to the modulation of neutrophil migration, through the inhibition of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, as well as to the antioxidant action of their ethanolic extracts in scavenging the free-radicals released by neutrophils. Therefore, these native fruits can be useful to produce food additives and functional foods.</p></div

Antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruit species measured using synthetic DPPH free-radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, and reactive oxygen species (ROO·, O₂·⁻, and HOCl) assays.

<p>Antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruit species measured using synthetic DPPH free-radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, and reactive oxygen species (ROO·, O₂·⁻, and HOCl) assays.</p

Effect of the oral administration of ethanolic extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruit species on the inhibition of neutrophil migration to the peritoneal cavity of mice treated with 500 mg/kg.

<p>(A) <i>Eugenia brasiliensis</i>. (B) <i>Eugenia involucrata</i>. (C) <i>Eugenia leitonii</i>. (D) <i>Eugenia myrcianthes</i>. C: control treated with vehicle; –: carrageenan (500 μg/cavity); Dexa: dexamethasone (2 mg/kg). Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation of the mean; n = 6. Symbols indicate statistical differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05, Tukey’s test): # <i>p</i> < 0.05 compared with the control group; * <i>p</i> < 0.05 compared with the carrageenan group. The symbol % indicates decrease in the number of neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity.</p

GC/MS chromatograms of extracts of leaves, seeds, and pulp of four Brazilian native fruit species and standards of phenolic compounds.

<p>(1) <i>m</i>-coumaric acid, (2) <i>p</i>-coumaric acid, (3) gallic acid, (4) sinapic acid, (5) (-)-epicatechin, (6) quercetin.</p

Total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and scavenging activity of seven variants of Brazilian organic propolis (OP1–OP7).

<p>Total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and scavenging activity of seven variants of Brazilian organic propolis (OP1–OP7).</p

Inhibition of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> biofilm formation by seven variants of organic propolis (OP1–OP7).

<p>Statistical analysis performed using ANOVA followed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Means followed by different letters differ statistically at the same concentrations of different variants of OP (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05).</p

Activity of seven variants of organic propolis in the activation of NF-κB on macrophages.

<p>The groups were: control (vehicle) and organic propolis (OP1–OP7) at the concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/mL. Data were expressed as mean ± SD using ANOVA followed by the Tukey’s test. The results were considered statistically significant when <i>p</i> < 0.05. #<i>p < 0</i>.<i>05 compared to the control group</i> (C); <i>*p < 0</i>.<i>05 compared</i> to LPS (–).</p

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP), obtained from seven variants of Brazilian organic propolis (OP1–OP7), against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>, <i>Streptococcus oralis</i>, <i>Streptococcus sobrinus</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

<p>Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP), obtained from seven variants of Brazilian organic propolis (OP1–OP7), against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>, <i>Streptococcus oralis</i>, <i>Streptococcus sobrinus</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Escherichia coli</i>.</p