Underexploited Brazilian Cerrado fruits as sources of phenolic compounds for diseases management: A review

Scientific Advances in the Last Decade on the Recovery, Characterization, and Functionality of Bioactive Compounds from the Araticum Fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.)

“…Phenolic compounds are an important class of phytochemicals formed from secondary plant metabolites containing hydroxyl (−OH) substituents on an aromatic hydrocarbon chain. This class of bioactive compounds shows a large diversity of structures, including rather simple molecules (phenolic acids) and polyphenols such as stilbenes, flavonoids, lignans, and tannins, that can be found free or associated with carbohydrates, lipids, cell wall components, amines, and organic acids [ 34 ]. Phenolic compounds have multiple biochemical actions as antioxidant agents, and they are involved in the modulation of signaling pathways, gene expression, and the modification of epigenetic changes mainly related to chronic non-communicable diseases (e.g., metabolic syndromes, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases) [ 35 ].…”

“…High exposure to exogenous sources of reactive species or their endogenous overproduction can trigger inflammatory processes through the activation of nuclear factors (e.g., NF-κB) that initiate the transcription of genes related to inflammation, increasing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, especially TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines, CXCL1/KC and CXCL2/MIP-2 chemokines, and lipid mediator leukotriene B4, among others [ 34 ]. In addition to antioxidant effects, some extracts, fractions, or isolated compounds from araticum fruit, particularly from the peel, also presented anti-inflammatory activity ( Table 2 ).…”

“…This study demonstrated that phenolic-rich fractions (ethyl acetate and n -butanol fractions) had the highest carbohydrase inhibitory activity, particularly against α-amylase (IC 50 values of 4.5 and 1.7 μg/mL for ethyl acetate and n -butanol fractions, respectively). Phenolic compounds are effective inhibitors of carbohydrase enzymes due to their ability to bind to the active site of these enzymes or occupy the substrate binding pocket [ 34 ].…”

“…Moreover, the procyanidin-rich fraction decreased the glycation-induced protein carbonyls formation, glycation-induced protein thiol group oxidation, and AGEs-induced protein crosslinks, while attenuating the decrease in glycated CAT activity. Phenolic compounds present in these fractions can be effective antiglycation agents by suppressing AGEs formation through: the capture of precursors (e.g., dicarbonyl intermediates such as methylglyoxal), preventing them from binding and damaging proteins; the interaction with glucose, making it unavailable to bind to proteins; the inhibition of Schiff’s base and Amadori products formation; and the blockade of AGEs receptors [ 34 ]. Moreover, Justino et al [ 55 ] verified that streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats orally treated with a phenolic-rich fraction ( n -butanol fraction) from araticum peel (100 mg/kg bw for 30 days) had lower glycemia and hepatic oxidative damage/inflammation when compared to the untreated diabetic group.…”

“…This phenolic-rich fraction suppressed the hepatotoxic effects of hyperglycemia, reducing serum liver enzyme activities (ALT, AST, and ALP) and improving some hepatic biochemical parameters (reduced lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and nitration, iNOS level, and overexpression and activity of some antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD, and CAT) while increased GR activity, GSH content, and total antioxidant activity). The hepatoprotective effect of phenolic-rich extracts/fractions from araticum peel is due to the ability of their phenolic compounds to modulate several liver biochemical responses such as lipid peroxidation reduction, reactive species neutralization, endogenous antioxidant system regulation, DNA repair, and xenobiotic detoxification activation [ 6 , 34 ].…”