Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of fruits and by-products from Mauritia flexuosa, an exotic plant with functional benefits^#

ABSTRACT

Mauritia flexuosa L., traditionally known as “buriti”, exhibits chemoprotective properties including antioxidant, antithrombotic, and nutritional actions. The aim of this study was to examine the oral anti-inflammatory activity of epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp obtained from M. flexuosa fruits using in vivo models to verify physiological benefits. The anti-edematogenic action was determined using phlogistic agents to induce paw edema and peritonitis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, cell migration of peritoneal cells, histological changes, and abdominal swelling induced by acetic acid were also investigated. Carrageenan-induced edema was found to be decreased in mice pre-treated with epicarp by 50.8%, 53.7% and 39.2% and mesocarp by 41.8%, 65.3% and 71.9% after 2, 3, and 4 hr stimuli, respectively. Edema initiated by specific agents such as compound 48/80, histamine, serotonin, and prostaglandin E₂ were also reduced, and better outcomes were found against histamine-induced edema, as evidenced by the decline at all times analyzed (30–120 min) with both doses of water extract of mesocarp (500 or 1000 mg/kg). Mesocarp-pre-treatment reduced inflammatory tissue parameters such as number of peritoneal leukocytes and TNF-α levels, but only epicarp diminished abdominal pain. In summary, M. flexuosa fruits, especially mesocarp, exhibited oral physiological benefits and capacity to modify biochemical and cellular steps in the inflammatory cascade, indicating that dietary supplements containing these fruits may be combined with pharmacological tools to ameliorate or prevent diseases of inflammatory origin.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-edematogenic action
• leukocyte extravasation
• physiological benefits
• food supplement
• regional communities

Acknowledgments

We thank Leane Brunelle dos Santos Alves for technical assistance. Dr Paulo Michel Pinheiro Ferreira (#303247/2019-3) and Dr Antonia Amanda Cardoso de Almeida (#88882.317433/2019-01) are also grateful to the Brazilian agency “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for their personal scholarships, respectively.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

Ethics approval

All procedures were approved by the Committee on Animal Research at UFPI (#492/2018) and followed Brazilian (Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência em Animais de Laboratório - SBCAL) and International (Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes) rules on the care and use of experimental animals.

Authorship contributions

VRA and DCNR performed phlogistic-induced paw edema experiments. VRA, CLSR and JNS collected fruits and carried out the cleaning, separation, lyophilization, packaging, refrigeration, and pulverization of the samples. JNS, LMNA, and AACA made writhing tests induced by acetic acid. DCNR and FRP-N determined the levels of leukocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. FRCA managed funding and scientific supports. MSR executed histopathological analysis. JAP-F gave prized scientific supports and writing suggestions. PMPF planned the research, managed funding and scientific supports, supervised all steps, analyzed the results and wrote the article. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Submission declaration and verification

The work described has not been previously published or submitted for publication elsewhere. The publication is approved by all authors.

Additional information

Funding

This investigation was partially supported by the Brazilian agencies “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior” [RENORBIO-CAPES-PROAP (#23038.011373/2017-31)] at Federal University of Piauí (Teresina, Piauí, Brazil) and “Fundação do Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Piauí” [FAPEPI (Public Call 006/2015, grant number 004/2016).