Bioactivity of Talisia esculenta extracts: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action on RAW 264.7 macrophages and protective potential on the zebrafish exposed to oxidative stress inducers.

ABSTRACT

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Talisia esculenta is a fruit tree commonly found in various regions of Brazil. Its fruit is consumed by the local population, and the leaves are used in infusions within traditional Brazilian medicine. These infusions are employed to alleviate pathological conditions such as rheumatic diseases and hypertension, both of which are strongly linked to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The investigation of plant extracts represents a promising field of research, as bioactive compounds abundant in plants exhibit pharmacological effects against a variety of pathological conditions. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, and toxicity of the infusion and hydroethanolic extracts of T. esculenta leaves (IF and HF) and fruit peels (IC and HC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initially, the cytotoxicity and the effects of the extracts on oxidative stress in RAW264.7 macrophages were assessed through exposure to H2O2, as well as their impact on NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to LPS. Additionally, the toxicity and ROS production in zebrafish larvae were evaluated using two oxidative stress inducers H2O2 and CuSO4 combined with ascorbate. RESULTS: The MTT assay indicated that the extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity, with HF and IF demonstrating protective effects against H2O2 exposure. HC reduced NO production in macrophages by 30%. The zebrafish analysis showed that all four T. esculenta extracts (100 µg/mL) were non-toxic, as they did not affect the survival, heart rate, or body size of the animals. Furthermore, all extracts were capable of reducing ROS levels in zebrafish larvae exposed to the H2O2 stressor. Notably, ROS reduction by HF, IF, and HC extracts exceeded 50% compared to the positive control (H2O2 alone). T. esculenta extracts also demonstrated a significant ability to reduce ROS levels in zebrafish larvae exposed to CuSO4, with a 70% reduction observed for leaf extracts and over 30% for fruit peel extracts. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that T. esculenta extracts exhibit significant activity against oxidative damage and contain components with anti-inflammatory properties. Among the extracts, those obtained from leaves were the most effective in providing oxidative protection, supporting the traditional use of leaf infusions.