Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae): Uma planta alimentícia não convencional com potencial medicinal

Abstract

Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae) is an unconventional food plant (UFPs), popularly known as “ora-pro-nobis”, found in Brazil. In addition to the wide food use, its leaves have also been used in kidney disorders, inflammatory processes, and wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile, the antioxidant, antiglycant and cytotoxic potential of the hexane fraction (HF) from the leaves of P. aculeata. This is an experimental study in which the following methods were used: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPHH•) neutralization assay, inhibition of nitric oxide production, and linoleic acid oxidation; fructose and glucose-induced protein glycation model; and cytotoxicity in fibroblasts (L929) and keratinocytes (HaCaT). The chemical characterization revealed the presence of twelve compounds, such as the phytosterols campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol, and the triterpenes taraxerol and taraxasterol. HF showed antioxidant potential in all methods and antiglycant activity at a concentration of 1.50 mg/mL, inhibiting the formation of advanced glycation end products. In the cytotoxicity assay, HF maintained cell viability above 70 %. These results suggest that P. aculeata is a natural source of bioactive substances, with a predominance of phytosterols and triterpenes, outstanding antioxidant and antiglycant potential, and no cytotoxicity to skin cells. This work improved the knowledge of the plant species by chemically characterizing the substances present in HF and correlating them to the biological activities found, in addition to broadening new horizons for in vivo investigations related to the biological activities described.