Extratos de pitanga roxa (Eugenia uniflora) e Bougainvillea glabra Choisy atenuam fenótipos e melhoram a qualidade de vida nos modelos de hiperplasia e agregação de β-amilóide em Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the elderly hampers aging with quality of life. Drugs for treating these diseases have limited therapeutic scope and significant side effects, prompting the search for alternative therapies, especially plant-based. This approach aims to reduce side effects and enhance therapeutic efficacy on molecular targets in disease pathogenesis. This study evaluated the safety and pharmacological effects of Eugenia uniflora (Purple Pitanga) and Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (BGC) extracts in beta-amyloid (AD) and hyperplasia (cancer) models in Caenorhabditis elegans. The BGC extract showed anticancer, anti-aging, and antioxidant effects, albeit with toxicity at high concentrations, overcome by liposome formulation. The Purple Pitanga extract demonstrated anti-aging properties, and when encapsulated in liposomes, it reduced aggregates and improved memory. In cancer models, PR extract exhibited antitumor properties by reducing multivulva formation and modulating antioxidant pathways. This pioneering study demonstrated the extracts’ antitumor and lifespan-extending effects, along with improvements in locomotion and memory.