Preprint / Version 1

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Obesity Potential of Extracts Containing Phenols, Chlorophyll and Carotenoids from Mexican Wild Populations of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst

Authors

  • Martha Martínez-García Unidad de Biotecnología y Prototipos (UBIPRO), Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida de los Barrios No. 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
  • Gloria Garduño-Solórzano IZTA Herbarium, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida de los Barrios No. 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
  • Graciliana Lopes Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Begoña Sanchez Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Ralph Urbatzka Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Guilherme Hentschke Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Jorge Campos Unidad de Biotecnología y Prototipos (UBIPRO), Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida de los Barrios No. 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico
  • Vitor Vasconcelos Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

Keywords:

anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antioxidants, Bacopa monnieri, Brahmi, carotenoids, pigment profile

Abstract

Simple Summary Using molecular markers, we confirmed the taxonomic status of Bacopa monnieri from Mexico. We obtained the pigment and carotenoid profiles, total phenols, antioxidants, and bioassayed the biological activities (anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity) of the four wild populations. Our results show the great potential of B. monnieri as a natural source of compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity properties. Therefore, the raw material of this plant may be effectively used as a nutritional and medicinal supplement. Some of the species of the genus Bacopa have been used in Pharmacopoeia worldwide. However, in Mexico, Bacopa monnieri has neither been extensively cultivated nor studied, nor has their use in traditional medicine been reported. The aim of this work was to assess the taxonomic verification of the four wild populations of B. monnieri, the chemical content of their pigments and phenols and to provide an analysis of their potential bioactivity. B. monnieri wild populations from Mexico were validated using molecular markers. Chromatographic profiling using HPLC-PDA revealed 21 compounds comprising 12 chlorophylls and nine carotenoids; of the latter, the major ones were lutein (0.921 ± 0.031 μg/mg of dry extract) and β-carotene (0.095 ± 0.003 μg/mg of dry extract). The total phenolic content, determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, ranged from 54.8 ± 5.8 to 70.3 ± 2.2 µg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mg. Plant extracts scavenged from the free radical DPPH in IC50 ranged from 130.6 ± 3.0 to 249.9 ± 12.1 µg dry extract/mL. In terms of the anti-inflammatory potential, the most effective extract was from a soil-based plant from Jalisco (BS), reduced from nitric oxide in a RAW 264.7 culture medium, with an IC50 value of 134 µg of dry extract/mL. The BS extract showed a significant neutral lipid-reducing activity in the zebrafish model, ranging from 3.13 μg/mL p < 0.05 to 100 μg/mL p < 0.0001. Overall, the extracts analyzed here for the first time seem promising for future use because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity potential. Keywords: anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antioxidants, Bacopa monnieri, Brahmi, carotenoids, pigment profile

Author Biographies

Martha Martínez-García, Unidad de Biotecnología y Prototipos (UBIPRO), Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida de los Barrios No. 1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico

Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Graciliana Lopes, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Ralph Urbatzka, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

Validation, Writing – review & editing

Guilherme Hentschke, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Vitor Vasconcelos, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

Methodology, Writing – review & editing, Funding acquisition

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