Preliminary evaluation of antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimutagenic activities of pitomba (Talisia esculenta)

- Antioxidant potential and antiproliferative effect of Talisia esculenta extract was investigated.
- Extract of fruit presented good antioxidant activity in ORAC assay.
- Myricetin and quercetin were the compounds found in fruit.
- T. esculenta had antiproliferative activity against melanoma and ovary adenocarcinoma.
- Extract of fruit presented anticlastogenic activity at all concentration levels in micronucleus test.

The present study provides preliminary data about the total polyphenols and flavonoids content, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antimutagenic activities of crude extract of pitomba (Talisia esculenta). Levels of flavonoids aglycons obtained after acid hydrolysis to myricetin and quercetin by HPLC were 89.90 mg/100 g and 30.20 mg/100 g, respectively. Total polyphenols and flavonoid contents found were 105.84 ± 2 .05 mg GAE/g and 88.05 ± 0.04 mg CE/g for the extract, respectively. Average values for the DPPHIC50, TEAC using ABTS and T-ORAC assays were 9.56 ± 6.75 μg/mL, 115.69 ± 4.23 TE μg/g and 1692.96 μmol TE/100 g, respectively. Regarding the ability to inhibit the growth of tumor cell lines, we observed an antiproliferative activity against UACC-62 (2.6 μg/mL), NCI-ADR/RES (3.1 μg/mL), and OVCAR-3 (3.1 μg/mL) cell lines. By micronucleus test, our extract showed anticlastogenic activity at all concentration level tested. These results suggest that T. esculenta extract has great antioxidant potential that could be used as a preventive agent for cancer. However, additional studies are needed to evaluate the mechanism of action of these compounds as well as the adverse effects in other bioassay systems and animal models.