Comparative Analysis of Infusions and Ethanolic Extracts of Annona muricata Leaves from Colima, Mexico: Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

Background: Annona muricata L. (guanabana) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant properties. In the state of Colima, both ethanolic extracts and infusions are traditionally used in folk medicine to address various ailments. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts and infusions of A. muricata leaves from three geographic regions in Colima, Mexico, with a focus on how geographic origin affects their bioactive properties.

Methods: Ethanolic extracts and infusions were prepared from A. muricata leaves and analyzed using phytochemical screening; DPPH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total phenolic content (TPC) measurements; and HPLC. TLC was also conducted to examine the presence of specific compounds, such as flavonoids and phenols.

Results: Both the ethanolic extracts and infusions contained significant levels of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. The infusions demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity, with DPPH inhibition values of 72.5%, 68.3%, and 65.1% in the northern, central, and southern regions, respectively, compared to the ethanolic extracts' values of 50.3%, 48.9%, and 45.0%. HPLC identified quercetin as a major compound across all samples. Geographically, the northern region exhibited higher concentrations of bioactive compounds, particularly total flavonoid content (TFC) and iron-reducing power (FRPA).

Conclusions: Both the ethanolic extracts and infusions of A. muricata leaves exhibited significant antioxidant properties, with the infusions showing superior performance. The results suggest that A. muricata infusions may have potential applications in managing oxidative stress-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Exploring their use in traditional medicine and employing this type of approach can help discern the metabolite profile responsible for these bioactivities. Geographic factors influence the bioactive profile of the plant, and further research is needed to isolate specific bioactive compounds and elucidate their therapeutic mechanisms.

Keywords: Annona muricata; antioxidant activity; flavonoids; phytochemistry; polyphenols; traditional medicine.

Figure 1

Comparison of ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) profiles of ethanolic extracts from the North, Central, and South Zones produced under specific extraction conditions.

Figure 2

Comparison of ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) profiles of infusions from the North, Central, and South Zones produced under specific extraction conditions.

Figure 3

Comparison of HPLC chromatograms (290 nm) for the ethanolic extracts analyzed at 1000 ppm from the three collection zones: North, Central, and South. The chromatogram of the standards includes gallic acid (GA; Rt: 2.385 min), cinnamic acid (CA; Rt: 30.795 min), anthrone (ANT; Rt: 20.000 min), quercetin (Q; Rt: 17.955 min), and 4-methylumbelliferone (4-ML; Rt: 10.908 min). All the standards (quercetin (Q), 4-methylumbelliferone (4-ML), anthrone (ANT), gallic acid (GA), and cinnamic acid (CA)) were injected at a concentration of 100 ppm each.

Figure 4

Comparison of HPLC chromatograms (290 nm) for the infusions analyzed at 2000 ppm from the three collection zones: North, Central, and South. The chromatogram of the standards includes gallic acid (GA; Rt: 2.385 min), cinnamic acid (CA; Rt: 30.795 min), anthrone (ANT; Rt: 20.000 min), quercetin (Q; Rt: 17.955 min), and 4-methylumbelliferone (4-ML; Rt: 10.908 min). All the standards (quercetin (Q), 4-methylumbelliferone (4-ML), anthrone (ANT), gallic acid (GA), and cinnamic acid (CA)) were injected at a concentration of 100 ppm each.

Figure 5

Schematic representation of the ani-browning assay results for the infusions and ethanolic extracts of A. muricata.

Figure 6

The overall color difference (∆E²) in the anti-browning assay of apple slices treated with the A. muricata ethanolic extracts (EEs) and infusions was evaluated. All the treatments were tested at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, with distilled water as the control and ascorbic acid (0.5 mg/mL) as a reference. The statistical analysis was performed using Tukey’s post hoc test: * statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the control; ^a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to ascorbic acid; ^b statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the infusion from the North Zone; ^c statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the infusion from the Central Zone; and ^d statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the infusion from the South Zone.