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Chemical screening and antioxidant activity of couepia subcordata benth. (Guaijí) harvested in the ecuadorian coast region

Abstract:

Introduction: Couepia subcordata Benth. (Chrysobalanaceae), is a fruit of Amazonian origin, established in the coastal region of Ecuador and consumed fresh or processed in rural areas. Although important compounds such as triterpenes and antioxidants have been studied in wild relatives of the genus Couepia sp., little is known about other metabolites contained in this fruit and their medicinal properties. Objective: To characterize the volatile compounds, antioxidant capacity and the presence of ascorbic acid, coumarins, alkaloids, saponins, reducing sugars, phenols and flavonoids in Couepia subcordata. Methods: About 50 mature fruits of C. subcordata were obtained in the city of Milagro and Naranjito, Ecuador. The pulp of each fruit was dried in an oven and subjected to alcoholic extractions and then analyzed for phytochemical profile by HPLC. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method and volatile compounds were analyzed by solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results: The results showed the significant presence of alkaloids, coumarins, low molecular weight flavonoids, reducing carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds (pyrocatechol tannins), while the levels of precipitates, saponins, and flavonoids were not detectable. The antioxidant capacity of the dehydrated pulp of C. subcordata (Guaijí) was 7.899 umol TE 100 g-1. Conclusions: Couepia subcordata fruits provided new data associated with high contents of coumarins and alkaloids linked to antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic and antioxidant activity. In addition, the fruit presented a richness of volatile compounds that can be used in the pharmaceutical and food industry. These results support efforts to characterize local fruits with potential to develop biodiversity valorization processes.