Atividade antioxidante das folhas de Eugenia uniflora e redução do estresse oxidativo em modelo pré-clínico Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

The accumulation of oxidation products compromises several cellular structures and is related to the development of chronic diseases. When there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant mechanisms, oxidative stress occurs, which induces deleterious processes in the main biomolecules of the organism. Antioxidants, both endogenous and exogenous, neutralize these ROS, playing an essential role in the prevention and reduction of oxidative damage and related diseases. In this context, the present study focused on evaluating the antioxidant activity, toxicity and resistance to oxidative stress of Eugenia uniflora. For this purpose, the leaves were used as plant material for the preparation of the hydroethanolic extract of E. uniflora (EHEu). From EHEu, its sub-chronic toxicity in an in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model and antioxidant activity, in vitro and in vivo, were investigated. EHEu presented toxicological alterations in C. elegans at the highest concentrations analyzed, generating initial data on the safety of the extract. Regarding the antioxidant potential of EHEu in vitro, the extract was able to decrease the reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in the ferric reducing power assay. In vivo, EHEu reduced the impact of the pro-oxidant agent juglone on the viability of C. elegans. Together, this study expands the understanding of the antioxidant potential of Eugenia uniflora leaves.