Characterization of Fruit Development, Antioxidant Capacity, and Potential Vasoprotective Action of Peumo (Cryptocarya alba), a Native Fruit of Chile

Abstract

The peumo (Cryptocarya alba) is a native fruit from central Chile that belongs to the Lauraceae family. To characterize the development and the potential health benefits of this edible fruit, quality and physiological parameters, along with antioxidant capacity, were evaluated during three clearly defined developmental stages of the fruit in two seasons. The most distinguishable attributes of ripe fruit were the change in size and color. Low CO₂ production and no detectable ethylene levels suggested non-climacteric behavior of the peumo fruit. Peumo demonstrate a significant increase in their antioxidant capacity per 1 g of fresh weight (FW) of the sample, from small to ripe fruit. Higher values in ripe fruit (FRAP: 37.1-38.3 µmol FeSO4/gFW, TEAC: 7.9-8.1 mmol TE/gFW, DPPH: 8.4-8.7 IC₅₀ μg/mL, and ORAC: = 0.19-0.20 mmol TE/gFW) were observed than those in blueberry fruit (FRAP: 4.95 µmol FeSO4/gFW, TEAC: 1.25 mmol TE/gFW, DPPH: 11.3 IC₅₀ μg/mL, and ORAC: 0.032 mmol TE/ gFW). The methanol extracts of ripe fruit displayed the presence of polyphenol acids and quercetin, an ORAC value of 0.637 ± 0.061 mmol TE per g dried weight (DW), and a high cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, the latter exceeding the effect of quercetin and indomethacin used as standard molecules. Also, the assay of isolated rat aorta with endothelium-dependent relaxation damage demonstrated that the peumo extract induced vascular protection, depending on its concentration under a high glucose condition. These results demonstrate that these endemic fruits have a good chance as ingredients or foods with functional properties.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory activity; antioxidants; bioactivity assessments; functional food; polyphenols; vascular protection.

Figure A1

PCA biplot for antioxidant indices in the three development stages of peumo fruit of two harvest seasons, 2017 (A) and 2018 (B).

Figure A2

PCA biplot for antioxidant (A) and anti-inflammatory (B) indices of methanol peumo extract.

Figure 1

Leaves and fruits of peumo tree. (A) Leaves and fruits of peumo [Cryptocarya alba (Molina) Looser]; (B) Three different development stages of peumo fruit. Photography credit: Lida Fuentes.

Figure 2

Total ion chromatogram (TIC) for peumo, presented in negative and positive modes.

Figure 3

Effect of peumo extract on relative production of TNF-α (A) and IL-6 (B), by LPS-stimulated RAW 265.4 macrophages. Data represent the average of three repetitions, with a corresponding standard error of the mean.

Figure 4

Vasoprotector effect of peumo extract on aortic rings. Concentration-response curves to ACh (0.0001–10 µM) in precontracted rings with 0.1 µM of PE. Before performing the concentration-response curves to ACh, the rings were pre-incubated for 3 h under the following conditions: control, high glucose (5 mM D-glucose) (HG), and in the presence of HG plus extracts of peumo (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL) (Ca3 stage). The results (mean ± SE) are expressed as a percentage of relaxation (% relaxation).