Phytochemical Characterization, Pharmacological Properties And Toxicity of Amazonian Fruit Cubiu (Solanum Sessiliflorum Dunal)

Abstract

The cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum) is a tropical fruit native to the Amazon region and widely used in medicine and cosmetics, despite the lack of research regarding the actual safety and effectiveness of its use for these purposes. This study aimed to evaluated the phytochemical characterization, pharmacological properties (skin wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties), and toxicity of cubiu extract. The cubiu antimicrobial capacity was determined against strains of Aeromonas caviae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Additionally, cubiu toxicity (hemolysis, coagulation, cell viability, and genotoxicity tests), antioxidant activity (reactive oxygen species total levels), scratch assay (in vitro skin wound healing), and anti-inflammatory activity against phytohemagglutinin and in the scratch assay (Interleukin 1, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma levels), were evaluated. Human fibroblast cells were used to evaluate skin wound healing, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for the other assessments. Our findings showed that the cubiu extract is rich in phenolic compounds, the major compound being 5-caffeoylquinic acid. In addition, was effective against the three bacterial strains tested and inhibited and destroyed the biofilm formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The cubiu extract also was no toxicity, maintained the hemocompatibility parameters in the biological range, improved cell viability, decreased reactive oxygen species total levels and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, and accelerated the wound healing process. In conclusion, this is the first research to prove that cubiu is an important compound for use in the skin diseases, promoting skin wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities.