Bioactive compounds and scavenging capacity of pulp, peel and seed extracts of the Amazonian fruit Quararibea cordata against ROS and RNS

•The phenolic compounds of Q. cordata fruit were identified for the first time.•The seed extract presented the highest phenolic compound and carotenoid contents.•The seed extract was the most effective scavenger against all tested RNS.•The peel extract presented the highest efficiency against ROS, especially HOCl.

Quararibea cordata, an unexploited Amazonian fruit was investigated regarding the identification of phenolic compounds and the scavenging capacity of its pulp, peel and seed extracts against reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). The major phenolic compound in the pulp extract was epicatechin (320 μg/g extract), while A-type proanthocyanidin dimer was the major one in the peel and seed extracts. Regarding the carotenoid composition, all-trans-zeaxanthin (2.5-42 μg/g extract), all-trans-lutein and all-trans-β-carotene were the major compounds in all extracts. The seed extract, which presented the highest content of phenolic compounds and carotenoids, was the most effective scavenger against all RNS (IC50 from 19.5 to 37.6 μg/mL), while the peel extract presented the highest efficiency against ROS, especially HOCl. Thus, Q. cordata fruit may present an excellent potential to be used as a bioactive compound source with high antioxidant capacity.