In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Biofilm, and Solar Protection Activities of Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Pulp Extract

Abstract

Cactaceae plants are important due to their nutritional and therapeutic values. This study aimed to identify the phytochemical profile and biological activities of six Melocactus zehntneri pulp extracts: hexane extract (HE), chloroform extract (CE), ethanol extract (EE), methanol extract (ME), final water extract (FWE), and water extract (WE). Sugar, phenolic compounds, and protein content of the extracts were determined. Then thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed to detect the presence of terpenes (ursolic and oleanolic acids), saponins, sugars, and glycoproteins. These extracts were analyzed for antioxidant activity via in vitro assay. HE showed 75% ferric chelating activity. All extracts showed 80–100% superoxide and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activities, respectively. Further, all extracts at 25 µg/mL showed 60% activity against DPPH. Moreover, in the 3T3 cells lines, no cytotoxicity was observed; however, therapeutic activity against the effects of the H2O2 treatment was exhibited. Finally, the polar extracts (EE, ME, FWE, and WE), particularly WE, elicited activity against the biofilms of Staphylococcus epidermidis, and HE and CE expressed a capacity for solar protection.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Activity of Agave sisalana Agro-Industrial Residue

“…The antioxidant activity of AsRE was evaluated in three stages: initiation (Total Antioxidant Capacity, power reducing and DPPH radical scavenging), propagation (cupric and ferric chelating), and termination (hydroxyl radical scavenging) [ 46 ].…”

“…Cheng et al [ 50 ] showed the activity of flavonoids from Carex meyeriana on scavenging the hydroxyl radical. Melocactus zehntneri ethanolic extract containing phenolic compounds, saponins and polysaccharides showed 100% hydroxyl scavenging activity for polar extract (using 100 µg/mL), whereas the non-polar extracts showed an activity of around 20% [ 46 ]. Therefore, AsRE exerted their antioxidant activity in three stages: initiation, propagation and termination.…”

Phytochemical Screening and Bioactivities of Cactaceae Family Members Endemic to Mexico

“…Their methanol extracts showed a higher free radical scavenging activity (66.37%) than the analyzed cacti at an extract concentration of 10 mg/mL [ 30 ]. Likewise, pulp extracts from the stems of the Brazilian cactus Melocactus zehntneri also showed a depurating activity of DPPH with approximately 60% of activity [ 31 ]. Specifically, for the genus Mammillaria , lower values ranging between 4–10 mg of Trolox equivalent/g sample with ethanol extracts of different species of that genus were reported [ 25 ].…”

The action of phytochemicals in biofilm control

“…Despite several studies about the antibiofilm effect of these phytochemicals, little is known about their mechanisms of action against biofilms. 236–238 However, in the case of thymol, some authors have demonstrated the ability of this compound to interfere with QS and cell motility. 239–241…”