Avaliação do efeito do extrato de jabuticaba (myrciaria cauliflora) frente a multiplos estresses em Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

High fruit consumption is associated with a reduction in the incidence of non- degenerative diseases, including cancer and heart disease, fruits contain high levels of biologically active components that confer health benefits, as well as the basic nutritional value. Among these, natural antioxidants have attracted attention because of their safety and potential therapeutic effect. These antioxidants are able to act as free radical scavengers, singlet oxygen and oxygen scavengers and enzyme inhibitors. The jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) belongs to the family Myrtaceae and is a native fruit of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, this has been used in the treatment of several diseases, such as asthma and diarrhea. It has been reported that the fruit of the jabuticabeira has high concentration of tannins, vitamin C and flavonoids, especially in its bark, which indicates a great antioxidant potential and, thus, a possible role in the prevention of several diseases related to oxidative stress. To evaluate this, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been widely used in studies and aging and toxicity due to its numerous advantages: reduced size, short life cycle, high reproducibility and genetic manipulation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of jabuticaba extract against multiple stresses. The extract was prepared from an ethanolic extract of the fruits, in which it was measured its phenolic content and its antioxidant activity in vitro by the DPPH and FRAP methods, the animals were exposed to concentrations of 5, 10, 50, 100 and 250 GAE/mL for 30 minutes, after this exposure it can be observed that the extract did not show toxicity to the nematode, through the survival and reproduction tests, and was still able to extend the life of the animal. Faced with the stresses, it was able to protect significantly against the oxidative stress caused by juglone and against the thermal stress caused at 37oC. The mechanism of action of the extract is not fully understood, but there are clues that indicate that it may be modulating daf-16, an important transcription factor responsible for the transcription of several antioxidant proteins.