Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activities, Antidepressant Effect, and Lipid Peroxidation of Peruvian Blueberry: Molecular Docking Studies on Targets Involved in Oxidative Stress and Depression.

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are cultivated worldwide and are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the components of Peruvian blueberry using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), identifying 11 compounds. Furthermore, we assessed in vitro the antioxidant activity and in vivo the antidepressant effect using a rat model and protective effect on lipid peroxidation (in the serum, brain, liver, and stomach). We also conducted molecular docking simulations with proteins involved in oxidative stress and depression for the identified compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazin (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS•+), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Peruvian blueberries demonstrated higher antioxidant activity than Vaccinium corymbosum fruits from Chile, Brazil, the United States, Turkey, Portugal, and China. The results showed that oral administration of Peruvian blueberries (10 and 20 mg/kg) for 28 days significantly (p < 0.001) increased swimming and reduced immobility in the forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, oxidative stress was reduced in vivo (p < 0.001) by decreasing lipid peroxidation in brain, liver, stomach, and serum. Molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions were performed. In the molecular docking studies, quercitrin and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid showed the best docking scores for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase; while 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and caffeoyl coumaroylquinic acid had the best docking scores for monoamine oxidase and serotonin receptor 5-HT2. In summary, our results suggest that the antidepressant and protective effects against lipid peroxidation might be related to the antioxidant activity of Peruvian Vaccinium corymbosum L.

Antispasmodic Effect of Valeriana pilosa Root Essential Oil and Potential Mechanisms of Action: Ex Vivo and In Silico Studies.

Infusions of Valeriana pilosa are commonly used in Peruvian folk medicine for treating gastrointestinal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the spasmolytic and antispasmodic effects of Valeriana pilosa essential oil (VPEO) on rat ileum. The basal tone of ileal sections decreased in response to accumulative concentrations of VPEO. Moreover, ileal sections precontracted with acetylcholine (ACh), potassium chloride (KCl), or barium chloride (BaCl2) were relaxed in response to VPEO by a mechanism that depended on atropine, hyoscine butylbromide, solifenacin, and verapamil, but not glibenclamide. The results showed that VPEO produced a relaxant effect by inhibiting muscarinic receptors and blocking calcium channels, with no apparent effect on the opening of potassium channels. In addition, molecular docking was employed to evaluate VPEO constituents that could inhibit intestinal contractile activity. The study showed that α-cubebene, ß-patchoulene, ß-bourbonene, ß-caryophyllene, α-guaiene, γ-muurolene, valencene, eremophyllene, and δ-cadinene displayed the highest docking scores on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels, which may antagonize M2 and/or M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and block voltage-gated calcium channels. In summary, VPEO has both spasmolytic and antispasmodic effects. It may block muscarinic receptors and calcium channels, thus providing a scientific basis for its traditional use for gastrointestinal disorders.

Potential antioxidant effect of fruit peels for human use from northern Peru, compared by 5 different methods / Potencial efecto antioxidante de las cáscaras de frutas para uso humano del norte de Perú, comparado por 5 métodos diferentes

The objective of the work was to determine the antioxidant potential in vitro of freeze-dried peel extracts of 20 fruits from the northern region of Peru through five tests (Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH., ABTS+., FRAP and CUPRAC). According to multivariate statistical analyzes, five groups were found: (i.) peel extracts with the highest values of antioxidant capacity (AC) from custard apple, and star fruit; (ii.) rind extracts with high AC values from quince, sweet granadilla, guava, and black grape; (iii.) husk extracts with middle values of AC from passion fruit, and red mombin; (iv.) shell extracts with low AC values from tangerine, mandarine, and bitter orange; and, (v.) coating extracts with the lowest AC values from pawpaw, red pawpaw, muskmelon, dragon fruit, yellow and red indian figs, pear, apple, and green grape. To conclude, the fruit lyophilized-husk extracts of custard apple, star fruit, quince, sweet granadilla, guava, and black grape obtained the best AC.

El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar el potencial antioxidante in vitro de extractos de cáscara liofilizada de 20 frutos de la región norte del Perú mediante cinco pruebas (Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH., ABTS+., FRAP y CUPRAC). Según análisis estadísticos multivariados, se encontraron cinco grupos: (i.) Extractos de piel con los valores más altos de capacidad antioxidante (CA) de chirimoya y carambola; (ii.) extractos de cáscara con altos valores de CA de membrillo, granadilla dulce, guayaba y uva negra; (iii.) extractos de cáscara con valores medios de CA de maracuyá y mombina roja; (iv.) extractos de cáscara con valores bajos de CA de mandarina, mandarina y naranja amarga; y (v.) recubrir extractos con los valores de CA más bajos de papaya, papaya roja, melón, fruta del dragón, higos indios amarillos y rojos, pera, manzana y uva verde. Para concluir, los extractos de cáscara liofilizada de chirimoya, carambola, membrillo, granadilla dulce, guayaba y uva negra obtuvieron el mejor CA.

Antioxidant effect and chemical composition of Ananas comosus [L.] Merr. peels from Peruvian northern / Efecto antioxidante y composición química de las cascaras de Ananas comosus [L.] Merr. del norte peruano

Pineapple peels has several beneficial properties including antioxidant activity. We investigated the antioxidant effect of five different peels of pineapple lyophilized extracts, not adsorbed and adsorbed onto Amberlite. They were examined using total phenolic contents (TPC), antioxidant effect by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). In addition, we analyzed the chemical composition by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. The main constituents of pineapple peels were tentatively identified as quercetin glycosides and N,N'-diferuloylspermidine. We conclude that the antioxidant activity in pineapple peels from District of Poroto, Province of Trujillo, Region of La Libertad, can be associated with the presence of flavonoid and spermidines.

Las cáscaras de piña tienen varias propiedades beneficiosas, incluida la actividad antioxidante. Investigamos el efecto antioxidante de cinco exfoliaciones diferentes de extracto liofilizado de piña, no adsorbidas y adsorbidas en Amberlita. Se examinaron utilizando los contenidos fenólicos totales (TPC), el efecto antioxidante mediante la eliminación del radical 1,1-difenil-2-picril-hidrazilo (DPPH) y el poder férrico antioxidante reductor (FRAP). Además, analizamos la composición química por HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Los principales constituyentes de las cáscaras de piña se identificaron tentativamente como glucósidos de quercetina y N,N'- diferuloylspermidina. Concluimos que la actividad antioxidante en las cáscaras de piña del Distrito de Poroto, Provincia de Trujillo, Región de La Libertad, puede estar asociada con la presencia de flavonoides y espermidinas.